Collaborative pianist Nicole YING 应卿东方 embarked on a transformative journey from her studies in Anthropology to a lifelong devotion to music. After earning a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology with a minor in Korean from UCLA, Nicole explored the complex interplay of human nature, culture, and society—insights that now inform her unique approach to music.
Nicole holds Master’s degree in Piano Performance from California Institute of the Arts, Performer Diplomas in Piano Performance and Collaborative Piano from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and Doctorate in Collaborative Piano with a related field in Music Business from University of North Texas. She is honored to become the first Artist Diploma candidate in Collaborative Piano and the inaugural Renasant Scholar at the McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University. Her primary mentors include Anne Epperson, Jean-Louis Haguenauer, Steve Harlos, Kevin Murphy, Ming Tsu, and Elvia Puccinelli.
Nicole is a founding member of (i)-ll-us-ion, a groundbreaking suona and piano duo. As the first ensemble of its kind, the duo is dedicated to commissioning new works, transcending traditional labels, and fostering cross-cultural and musical connections. (i)-ll-us-ion has successfully completed a residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. During the residency, the duo hosted a two-hour composers’ forum and received seven newly commissioned works - marking the first compositions to enter the suona/piano duo repertoire. The duo premiered five works at their debut concert including Chen Yi’s Chinese Ancient Dances for suona and piano, and is currently in the process of recording three additional pieces dedicated to them.
Nicole served as the keyboardist of the UNT Wind Symphony and substituted with the Premier Lone Star Wind Orchestra under maestro Eugene Corporon. She explored new music with The Ensemble under Nicholas Deyoe and Christopher Rountree, where she participated in premieres such as Jürg Frey’s Vielleicht bin rich wirklich veloren. She continued to push boundaries as a member of the new music ensemble NOVA, engaging in daring performances of works such as Peter Maxwell Davies’ Eight Songs for a Mad King and Arnold Schoenberg’s Pierrot lunaire. Festival fellowships include Music Academy of the West, Eastern Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, and the Castleman String Quartet Program.
As a fervent collaborator and devoted chamber musician, Nicole has had the privilege of performing alongside renowned artists including Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick, Allen Fogel, Lorenz Gamma, Adam Liu, Andrew McIntosh, Mark Menzies, Stephen Miahky, John Michel, Mitchell Newman, Phil O’Connor, Dennis Parker, and Vicki Ray. She has also received invaluable guidance from leading figures in collaborative piano such as Jean Barr, Jonathan Feldman, Martin Katz, Kathleen Kelly, Ana Maria Otamendi, and Howard Watkins, shaping her into the versatile and sensitive musician she is today.
Beyond her endeavors on the keys, Nicole's interests extend to the realm of choral singing. She was a member of the UCLA Chorale and Chamber Singers under maestro Donald Neuen, with whom she performed Brahms Requiem at Carnegie Hall. She also had the honor of performing Mahler Symphony No. 2 with the Cleveland Orchestra. When she's not immersed in music, Nicole finds joy in exploring the world through nature, literature, cinema, and food. Her multifaceted interests and diverse experiences enrich her artistic expression, making her a dynamic force in both the musical and broader cultural landscape. Nicole currently resides in Georgia with her shiba-inu Verse.