Biography
Lauded by the New York Concert Review as "In a word, superb," the accomplished Steinway Artist, Rixiang Huang, has evoked effusive praise from both audiences and critics worldwide. His impeccable artistry and fervent, magnetic performances have captivated audiences across four continents. After clinching the top honors at the 12th Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford and the Los Angeles International Liszt Piano Competition back in 2021, Huang swiftly forged an eminent global standing for himself. As a Naxos recording artist, his discography spans a wide range of repertoire from Scarlatti Sonatas, Chopin Sonatas, Liszt’s transcription works, and Beethoven’s late sonatas.
Winner of an impressive array of prizes, Dr. Huang was a top prizewinner of Paloma O'Shea International Piano Competition, Hastings International Piano Concerto Competition, Dallas International Piano Competition, New York International Artists Piano Competition, International Piano Competition La Palma d'Oro in Italy, along with WPTA International Piano Competition.
Highlights of the 2024-25 season include a ten-city solo recital tour in Asia; solo recital at The Richard Nixon Library & Museum; Prokofiev Piano No.3 with Portugal National Symphony; Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No.3 Performance with USC Thornton Orchestra. Huang joins the artist faculty at Perugia Music Festival in Italy; Euro Arts Academy in Poland; The Piano Concerto Festival in Portugal; Paris International Music Academy in France; Amici International Music Festival in California in 2024; An immersive and versatile soloist, Huang has performed extensively all over the world in prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall in New York, Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center, Universität Mozarteum – Solitär in Austria; Palau de la Música Catalana in Spain; Cecília Meireles Hall in Brazil, Hamamatsu ACT Concert Hall in Japan; China National Center for the Performing Arts and Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay in Singapore. His performances have been broadcast by WQXR-FM, KUSC, KDFC, Classic FM, Cleveland WCLV 104.9, Sarasota WSMR 89.1 & 103.9, and Corporación de Radio y Televisión Española.
As an active soloist, Dr. Huang has appeared with leading orchestras wolrdwide including Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London; China National Symphony Orchestra; Indonesia National Symphony Orchestra; Portuguese Philharmonic Orchestra; Florence Philharmonic Orchestra; Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra in New York; Portuguese National Orchestra; Eastern Music Festival Orchestra in North Carolina as well as USC Thornton Symphony. He has performed alongside preeminent conductors such as Carl, St. Clair, Jac Van Steen, Massimiliano Caldi, Joel Smirnoff, Earl Lee, Maurizio Colasanti, and has performed in master classes with Dang Thai Son, Sergei Babayan, Stephen Hough, Arie Vardi, Dimitry Alexeev, Stanislav Ioudenitch, among others. Huang is represented by Naxos Classical Management.
Dr. Huang is the Founder and CEO of Empire Music Academy in California; he is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Pacific Stars International Piano Competition & Festival. His students have won prizes at numerous international, national, and local competitions such as Los Angeles Liszt International Piano Competition, Seattle International Piano Competition, Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, WPTA International Piano Competition, International New Star Piano Competition, Bay Area Piano Competition, American Protégé, American Fine Arts Festival(AFAF), Satori Piano Competition, and many other MTAC Branch Competitions.
Dr. Huang has also been frequently invited to adjudicate in piano competitions such as the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Piano Competition, the Music Teachers' Association of California Piano Competition, Paderewski International Piano Competition, Pacific Stars International Piano Competition, International New Star Piano Competition, SYMF, and Satori Piano Competition. Huang is a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), the Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC), and the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT).
Dr. Huang received Doctoral of Musical Arts at the USC Thornton School of Music where he served as Studio Teaching Assistant, studying with prestigious conductor and pianist, Jeffrey Kahane and Ick Choo Moon. Dr. Huang received a Master of Music in Piano Performance at The Juilliard School, studying with legendary pianists, Jerome Lowenthal and Matti Raekallio. Previously, he worked with world-renowned pianists, Antonio Pompa-Baldi and Paul Schenly at The Cleveland Institute of Music, where he was awarded the Arthur Loesser Memorial Prize for outstanding achievement in piano performance.
Rixiang Huang is a Steinway Artist.