Yaci Zou

-Doctor of Musical Arts, Piano Performance (Candidate) -Master of Music, Piano Performance 

Yaci Zou is a dedicated pianist and educator. Originally from China, she was exposed to music from the age of four, receiving formal training in both piano and voice. Since then, she has continued cultivating music as an integral art form by performing as a pianist and singer, collaborating in ensembles, teaching, and staying updated with current pedagogical research.

Currently, Yaci is an ABD (all but dissertation) candidate of the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Alabama. She holds her Master’s degree at Missouri State University in Piano Performance where she was awarded as the recipient of the Kiefer-Young Memorial Scholarship and Opera Workshop Scholarship. Yaci has performed at masterclasses with Professor Boaz Sharon, Dr. Ching-Wen Hsiao, Dr. Olga Shupyatskaya and Professor Thomas Kreuzberger. Her previous professors include Dr. Edisher Savitski, Dr. Wei-han Su.

Yaci’s talent has been recognized through several awards and prizes in both piano and voice competitions. These awards include Golden Prize of the 5th Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition, Silver Prize of the 7th Hong Kong International Piano Invitation Competition, Golden prize of the 8th Shanghai International Youth Piano Competition in both solo and four hands categories,Third Prize of the 4th Dalian Piano Competition, Performance award in Ameri-China International Music Festival and Piano Competition, and Silver award in the vocal category at the competition of the Asian Youth Art Festival in China.

Yaci has served as a full time Graduate Assistant/staff pianist at the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Alabama from 2020 to 2023. Her Doctor of Musical Arts project focuses on promoting overlooked female composers through her CD recordings. Additionally, she is currently conducting a research on the intersection between music, body, and disability. She has developed numerous collaborative relationships with colleagues in both the University of Alabama’s School of Music and master’s degree program at Missouri State University. She is an active pianist who collaborates and performs in recitals, competitions, National Opera Association opera scenes, callbacks, and studio classes for both instruments and singers. In 2023, Yaci served as a judge in the Pre-College Finals for the MMTA.

​Through her extensive experience as a performer and educator in both China and the US, she has developed an inclusive teaching philosophy for piano that effectively addresses the specific needs of diverse students. Yaci received her undergraduate degree in Music Education and Teaching License with an emphasis in both piano and vocal performance in China. Over the past 11 years, she has taught numerous students of various ages and skill levels in both the US and China, who have been awarded scholarships for undergraduate programs in the US. Yaci hopes that students will not only refine their musical skills but also discover the immense joy, discipline, and satisfaction that music can bring to their lives. At Orpheus, Yaci teaches piano lessons and musicianship classes.