Melody Ouyang, pianist/pedagogue

D.M.A. New England Conservatory

M.M. Yale School of Music

B.M. The Juilliard School

Dr. Melody Ouyang began her piano studies at the age of three. A native of Taiwan, she distinguished herself early on as a prizewinner in numerous competitions, including the Taiwan National Piano Competition. In 1990, she came to the United States as a scholarship student at The Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division.

Since then, Dr. Ouyang has garnered top prizes in several prestigious competitions, including the Artist International Piano Competition, Corpus Christi International Young Artists Competition, The Juilliard School Concerto Competition, International Young Artists Piano Competition, and Corpus Christi Concerto Competition, among others. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras such as The Juilliard Symphony Orchestra, The Virginia Symphony, and The Taiwan National Symphony, and has performed in major concert venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Steinway Hall, and The Eisemann Center. Her performance career has taken her across the United States, Europe, and Asia, and she has been featured on New York City’s WQXR classical radio. Dr. Ouyang has also participated in some of the world’s most renowned music festivals, including the Tanglewood Institute, Aspen Music Festival, Blossom Festival, Banff Centre, and Sarasota Music Festival.

As an educator, Dr. Ouyang has served as a teaching fellow at both Yale University and the New England Conservatory. She established her private piano studio in 2000, and her students have since won top prizes at local, national, and international competitions, as well as been admitted to leading universities and conservatories. In 2010, she founded the Music Institute of North Texas in Frisco with the goal of providing children a strong musical foundation and cultivating a lifelong love and appreciation for music. She continues to serve as the school’s Director, fostering an environment where excellence, creativity, and joy in music-making thrive.

Beyond teaching, Dr. Ouyang is deeply committed to community engagement and arts advocacy. She has volunteered extensively with numerous nonprofit and charitable organizations, served on the board of Frisco Arts, and is an active member of the National Charity League. In 2020, she founded the Texas Music Matters Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing music education and providing scholarships to underprivileged pre-college students. In 2024, she joined the PianoTexas International Festival & Academy as Director of Operations, and in 2025, she was appointed Executive Director of the world-renowned institution.

Dr. Ouyang holds a Bachelor of Music from The Juilliard School, a Master of Music from the Yale School of Music, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the New England Conservatory. Her principal teachers include Herbert Stessin, Peter Frankl, Jane Carlson, and Patricia Zander, with additional mentorship from renowned artists such as Claude Frank, Boris Berman, and Leon Fleisher.

Currently residing in Dallas, Texas, Dr. Ouyang enjoys life with her husband, Luke, and their two children: Jaden, a cellist and water polo athlete, and Kaitlyn, a pianist and passionate debater. Together, the family has traveled to over 40 countries across all continents. In her leisure time, Dr. Ouyang enjoys cooking, visiting museums, attending concerts, and spending time with her 1.9-pound micro–teacup Yorkshire Terrier, Peanut.