Meet Yuhan Yeh | Pianist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Yuhan Yeh and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Yuhan, what principle do you value most?
Personal growth matters the most to me at all times. I started school at the age of 7, and eventually completed undergraduate and graduate degrees to be able to do what I do as a professional pianist right now, Looking back, I realize the one thing that never fails to bring me happiness throughout the whole education process is self improvement.

I finished school at the age of 29. I didn’t want my personal growth to cease, and thus decided to spend at least 30 minutes everyday on self-reflection and journaling. During these daily sessions, I review activities, decisions, and feelings I experience throughout the day, and try to analyze the strength and weakness behind my behaviors and emotions. My goal is to understand myself a bit more everyday, and motivate myself to become a better human being over time.

It works quite beautifully. I notice that I become wiser and more open-minded when dealing with the ups-and-downs in life as I age. I have very few material desires, while my overall life quality has improved through intellectual and spiritual growth. Not that many people would be able to say this, but I live a happy life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a professional Classical pianist. I began my formal piano studies at the age of 5. I received my Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in piano performance from Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California. I earned my Master of Music degree from Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and my Bachelor of Music degree from Taipei National University of the Arts in Taiwan.

As a pianist, the exciting and challenging moments are all related to my stage experience. I performed Prokofiev Piano Concerto with USC Thornton Symphony and Maestro Andrés Cárdenes as the first-prize winner of USC Thornton Concerto Competition. I still remember how anxious and nervous I was before going on stage! Fortunately the concert went really well and received positive feedbacks from the audience.

Some other memorable concerts include my performance of Mozart Piano Concerto as both soloist and conductor, which pushed me to my full potential of multi-tasking. I also shared stage with Texas Round Top Festival Orchestra as piano soloist, performing Saint-Saens’ Carnival of Animals under the baton of Emilio Colon in Young Persons’ Concert. My heart was full seeing all the kids in the audience loved the music!

Nothing in my career is easy. I become more realistic and understand how perfection doesn’t really exist, how normal it is to make mistakes, and how to recover after failures. I hope for the best and prepare for the worst. I learn to accept who I am.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
1. Disney Concert Hall: the concert hall itself is beautifully designed. LA Phil always invites amazing conductors and musicians to collaborate with them throughout the whole season.

2. K town Korean BBQ: As a USC alumni, there are just too many good memories in K town. I still remember those days when we had late-night feasts after concerts and recitals.

3. Karaoke in San Gabriel: we sing to express, not to impress. Singing karaoke is the best way to let out our emotions.

4. USC campus: walking around the campus brings back a lot of memories. I like how convenient it is around USC area. Target, Trader Joes, CVS, Chipotle… we have everything on campus.

5. Universal Studio: I used to purchase seasonal pass to it when living in LA. Always looking forward to the fun rides in the Harry Potter castle!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to express my deepest appreciation to my dear friends who have helped me intellectually and mentally throughout my journey. Their talents and wisdom always remind me how much I could still improve and motivate me to become a better version of myself.

I cannot finish this Shoutout series without expressing my forever gratitude to my most beloved parents who have always been there for me unconditionally and supported me in every way they can. Thank you for letting me be myself.

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