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Yi-Fang Wu

Pre-College
  • Chamber Music
  • Early Childhood
  • Piano
Yi-Fang Wu Headshot

Contact

ywu@sfcm.edu

Departments

Courses Taught

Chamber Music

Piano

Early Childhood

Education

MM, Cleveland Institute of Music

Q&A

What is your hometown?

Taiwan

What is your favorite recording? Why?

Too many, but I can listen to Seong-Jin Cho played Debussy's Bergamesque Suite all day long, he has created such colorful sound that makes every notes so different and interesting. 

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Hiking and food 

Who were your major teachers?

Paul Schenly, Daniel Shapiro and Anita Pontremoli 

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

"To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable." - Ludwig van Beethoven

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

What do you play piano and decide to become a musician?

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

In my sophomore year as an English Literature student, I spent much more time on piano than reading literature, and I can't imagine the day without playing the piano.

What was a turning point in your career?

Too many, first turning point is the first year doing collaborative piano at cim that I met so many great friends/musicians who inspired me to be a better musician/person. Second turning point is after I moved to the Bay Area in 2013, and I have met several great people who are kind and nice to me and helped me to grow my career in a new place.

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Arts Administrator 

What is your daily practice routine?

I usually practice and rehearse in the morning after sending my kid to daycare. I like starting with scales and striking big chords to warm up.

If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?

Bach, Chopin, Debussy.

Biography

Yi-Fang Wu’s musical journey began after earning a degree in English Literature from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan. Her passion for piano led her to the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where she earned a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance under the tutelage of Paul Schenly and Daniel Shapiro. As CIM was her first formal music school, she immersed herself in music theory, history, and performance, rapidly advancing through the rigorous two-year program.

During her time at CIM, Yi-Fang discovered a deep passion for chamber music beyond solo performance. This realization led her to join the Collaborative Piano program, where she trained with Anita Pontremoli. It was during this transformative period that she developed a love for string repertoire, leading to collaborations with esteemed musicians from major orchestras across the United States. Her achievements include winning 3rd Prize in the Chicago International Music Competition (Piano Solo Category), 1st Prize in the Chamber Music Category, 3rd Prize in the Claude Debussy Competition Paris 2025, and 1st prize at The 8th Melbourne Pacific Piano Open Competition.

Yi-Fang has performed at renowned festivals such as the Eastern Music Festival, The Quartet Program, Miami Music Festival, the International Music Festival and Workshop in Germany, and the Savonlinna Music Festival in Finland. In the San Francisco Bay Area, she has been featured in the following concert series, including Noontime Concerts, Old First Concerts, and St. Paul’s Towers Concert Series.

Beyond performance, Yi-Fang is also an active educator and adjudicator. She has served as a competition judge for the United States Open Music Competition and the Young Pianist Beethoven Competition at San Jose State University. She is currently a faculty member at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division, where she is dedicated to mentoring and inspiring the next generation of musicians.