The DePaul University School of Music is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Yi-Yang Chen as Associate Professor of Piano, starting in the fall of 2026. Dr. Chen joins the Music Performance department after most recently serving as a tenured Associate Professor at the University of Kansas, and East Tennessee State University. 

“Dr. Yi-Yang Chen's vision for our piano program is grounded in his brilliance as a pianist, great insight as a teacher, and deep curiosity about the future of our field.” said Dean John Milbauer.  “He is a terrific addition to our faculty and, as a pianist myself, I am delighted that he will be a catalyst at the DePaul School of Music starting this fall." 

Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Dr. Chen has been playing the piano since the age of 8. He completed his BM and DMA degrees at the Eastman School of Music with Douglas Humpherys, and an MM at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald and Jerome Lowenthal. He has had additional studies with Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, Daniel Pollack, Joseph Kalichstein, Glenn Dicterow, Thomas Sauer, and members of the Cleveland, Shanghai, Borromeo, Brentano, Ying, and Guarneri String Quartets.  

Yi-Yang Chen shot onto the international stage with back-to-back victories in the 2017 Washington International Competition, 2018 Sussex International Piano Competition, and the Waring International Piano Competition. He has performed on five continents in acclaimed venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Melbourne Recital Centre, National Concert Hall in Taipei, Banff Music Centre, ZK Matthews Great Hall in South Africa, and the Assembly Hall in Worthing, UK, with such orchestras as the Eastman Philharmonic Orchestra, National Chinese Orchestra, and the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared at the Perlman Music Festival, Taos School of Music Summer Chamber Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Four Seasons Winter Workshop, and Brevard Music Center. 

“I am deeply honored to join the piano faculty at the DePaul University School of Music and to work with the extraordinary students and distinguished colleagues within this vibrant artistic community,” said Dr. Chen. “My hope is to cultivate a piano program that embraces contemporary piano pedagogy, artistic and academic excellence, and meaningful connections to the broader musical profession through performance, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement.”

Visit Dr. Chen’s faculty bio page to learn more about his career and background.