Lucy Tan
- Contact
- 1700 SW College AveGarvey Fine Arts CenterRoom 224
Topeka, KS 66621785.670.1517
- Degrees & Certifications
- New England Conservatory/MU, Bachelor of Music
- New England Conservatory/MU, Master of Music
- Univ of Colorado-Boulder, Doctor of Musical Arts
- Academic History
Assistant Professor of Music/Artist-in-Residence, Oklahoma Panhandle State University, 2017-2020
- Scholarly Interests/Activities
Colorado State Music Teachers Association 2023 State Conference (Pueblo, CO) and Kansas Music Teachers Association 2022 State Conference (North Newton, KS), invited to present on: “Using Cognitive Science to Facilitate More Efficient Practice”
Colorado State Music Teachers Association 2022 State Conference (Boulder, CO), invited to present on: “Inspiring Artistry Through Elements of Narrative”
Topeka Music Teachers Association and Northeast Kansas Music Teachers Association, workshop for piano teachers (Spring 2022 in Topeka, KS), invited to present on: “A Pianist’s Perspective on Paving a Path Toward a More Efficient Practice”
Kansas Music Teachers Association 2021 State Conference (Manhattan, KS), invited to present on: “Inspiring Students’ Artistry Through Elements of Narrative”
Colorado State Music Teachers Association 2020 State Conference (Highlands Ranch, CO), invited to present on: “Pianist in the Panhandle: Anecdotes of Teaching and Performing in Rural America”
Colorado State Music Teachers Association 2018 State Conference (Greeley, CO), invited to present on: "Unraveling La valse: Analysis and Implications for Piano Performance”
D.M.A. Dissertation: Oiseaux exotiques: An exploration of structure, narrative, and interpretation (2016)
D.M.A. Lecture-Recital Document: Ravel’s La valse, Reconstructing Memory: Analysis and Implications for Piano Performance (2016)
- Service Interests/Activities
Kansas Music Teachers Association (VP of Conferences)
Kansas Music Teachers Association (Composer-Commissioning Chair)
Northeast Kansas Music Teachers Association (President)
Topeka Music Teachers Association (Honorary Member)
Colorado State Music Teachers Association (Advertising Chair)
American College of Musicians/National Guild of Piano Teachers, member
Music Teachers National Association, member
- Career Accomplishments
Pianist, Lucy Tan, has concertized at many notable venues including Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Kennedy Center. Her young performing career began when she made her live WGBH radio debut at age 11 on “Morning Pro Musica” with Robert Lurtzema, followed by her concerto debut at age 12 with the Brockton Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Tan was later featured on NPR’s “From the Top” and WBGH’s “Classics in the Morning.” She can also be heard on the recording, Kuş Dili: The Language of Birds, a CD that integrates global and classical music. Outside of the U.S., Dr. Tan’s performances have taken her to Asia as well as Europe, and she has performed at renowned festivals such as Bowdoin International Music Festival, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, and the Music Academy of the West.
A passionate chamber musician, she had many performances with violinist Dr. Yunjung Lee, performing sonata duo repertoire in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Iowa, and Indiana. She is active as part of the Washburn University Piano Quartet, and also collaborates with Dr. Zsolt Eder, concertmaster of the Topeka Symphony. She was previously featured in Chamber Music Amarillo’s concert series, was a two-time recipient of the Masonic Cultural Enrichment Grant, was showcased at Grace Episcopal Cathedral’s concert series, and was featured on WPTA USA-Missouri’s concert series on the piano sonatas of Mozart. Dr. Tan performed Liszt’s Tötentanz with the Washburn Symphony Orchestra and presented at the KMTA 2022 State Conference on music and cognitive science. She was recently featured on the Ruel Joyce Concert Series in Kansas City, presented a guest artist concert at the University of South Alabama, and was invited to present at the 2023 CSMTA Conference in Pueblo, Colorado.
Dr. Tan won awards at the XXVIII Incontro Internatiozionale Giovani Pianisti, the Chiang Wen Yeh International Piano Competition, the New England Conservatory Piano Concerto Competition, the Bruce Ekstrand Memorial Competition, the Harvard Musical Association Award, and more. Her primary teachers include David Korevaar, Bruce Brubaker, Veronica Jochum, Bob Spillman, Tatyana Dudochkin, and Hui-Yen Chang. She had additional studies with Seymour Lipkin, Jerome Lowenthal, Julian Martin, and Arie Vardi. Dr. Tan received her B.M. and M.M. degrees from NEC, and was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the University of Colorado Boulder. She presented at various music conferences, was a guest panel speaker on NEC’s Piano Seminars, gave masterclasses across the country, and adjudicated events such as the IPPA International Piano Competition, the Greater Southwest Music Festival, MAMTA Piano Concerto Competition, MTNA state competitions, KMTA State Auditions, Bay State Piano Competition, and more.
Dr. Tan is an active member of MTNA and several local and state teacher associations. Her various service activities include serving as President of Northeast-KMTA, serving on the KMTA Board as Composer Commissioning Chair and Vice President of Conferences, and serving on CSMTA’s Advisory Council as Advertising Chair. Dr. Tan is passionate about teaching, fostering creativity in her students, and performing. She is faculty advisor of Washburn Piano and Organ Society, and directs many festivals and camps including Washburn Piano Day, Washburn Summer Keyboard Academy, and PianoFest in Topeka. Dr. Tan’s past teaching experiences include the New England Conservatory, the University of Colorado Boulder, and Oklahoma Panhandle State University. Currently, she is the Director of Keyboard Studies at Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas where she teaches applied piano and a number of keyboard courses. Dr. Tan’s past students have won high marks in piano festivals and competitions, and have been accepted into acclaimed universities and graduate programs.
Certificate of Teaching and Learning 2020-2021
