Artists in Residence
American Music Institute (AMI) is thrilled to announce its partnership with the esteemed violin and piano duo, Yang and Olivia, as Artists-in-Residence & AMI College Faculty Members.. This collaboration brings together two world-class musicians (Yang Liu and Olivia Tsai) who share AMI’s commitment to fostering a deep love for music and advancing musical education.
Global Music Silver Medalist Yang and Olivia is a dynamic violin-piano duo who create an unforgettable storytelling event in their program, featuring contemporary and classical works from different parts of the world. Violinist Yang Liu is the prize winner of the 12th International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, the first prize winner of the 2022 Medici International Competition, the 2021 International Artists Award Competition, and China’s 5th National Competition. Olivia is a frequent presenter of MTNA, CMS and other music festivals and conferences, promoting music of Chinese and Taiwanese heritage. In recent years, not only have they traveled to more than 30 cities in the United States, they have also been performing and teaching in China, Portugal, Brazil, and Taiwan. Currently they are both faculty of VanderCook College of Music. The duo founded the Yang and Olivia Foundation, advocating diversity, and inclusion through music of different cultures.
AMI Partnership
As Artists-in-Residence at AMI, Yang and Olivia will play an integral role in inspiring and mentoring the next generation of musicians. Through masterclasses, workshops, and special performances, they will share their expertise and passion with students at all levels. This partnership aims to provide AMI students with unparalleled access to world-class musical education, helping them refine their skills, broaden their musical horizons, and achieve their full potential as artists.
Educational Impact
The collaboration between AMI and Yang and Olivia goes beyond performances. It includes interactive sessions where students can learn directly from these distinguished artists, gaining insights into both the technical and expressive aspects of music-making. Their approach emphasizes the importance of musicality, technique, and the connection between artist and audience—values that align perfectly with AMI’s educational philosophy.
Packages / Workshops for Schools
Through this partnership, AMI students will have the unique opportunity to participate in events led by Yang and Olivia, including:
- Performance: Performances by Yang and Olivia, gaining inspiration from their exceptional musicianship and programing
- Masterclass / Coaching: Students can receive personalized guidance and feedback on their performance, individually or chamber music from world-class musicians
- Workshop / Conducting: Focused sessions on specific aspects of violin and piano playing, and conducting by Yang Liu
- Private Lessons: schedule lessons with Yang Liu & Olivia Tsai through AMI’s College Faculty Program
Program Descriptions
Explore brief introductions to Yang & Olivia’s programs below:
- Silence to Hysteria – This program bends time and expectation, inviting the listener into shifting textures and unexpected turns, with repertoire ranging from Chinese folk and European classical to 21st-century multicultural works.
- Storm! – This program explores composers’ creative depictions of storms, both in nature and within the emotional turmoil of their own lives, artistically expressing the physical and psychological realms of human experience.
- Searching the Soul – A soul-searching program, opening with Returning soul by Shi-Hui Chen, based on a Taiwanese indigenous tribe’s legends, followed by Chihchun Chi-sun Lee’s Isolation and Hysteria, a reflection of the soul’s agony during the covid lockdowns.
- Lost in Diversity – This presentation focuses on selected Western composers who are established in Taiwan and Korea, reflecting interesting cultural influences combining musical elements of the East and West, giving the listeners a feast with many different flavors and spices.
- 5000 Mile Journey – This program showcases the richness of different music styles and the stories behind travelling composers, incorporating cultures of the world into their music.