Interdisciplinary Institute Partners with Local Businesses
We caught up with Dr. Joy Yang (Joy Yang ___ 杨洋), founding director of the Interdisciplinary Institute, to learn about the Institute’s upcoming events in partnership with local small businesses. So far, these include Sound Bath Sundays, Live Jazz Tuesdays, and Animal Music Wednesdays, which are held every second and fourth week of the month. Read on to learn more about Yang and how the upcoming events work to fulfill the mission of the Institute as a “STEAM+ hub for creative play and art–science interchange.”
Yang, a performing artist specializing in piano and theremin, founded the Interdisciplinary Institute shortly after earning her doctorate in jazz piano performance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Yang first came to the University of Illinois in 2016 while studying abroad as an undergraduate. She returned for her master’s in classical piano performance and literature and stayed on for her doctorate, changing her degree from classical to jazz.
She immediately fell in love with the Champaign-Urbana community when she arrived. “During my time here at the U of I as a student, I really loved meeting people from all walks of life, countries, and studies, like physics, chemistry, veterinary science, medicine, dance—everything.”
This diverse and collaborative environment was a natural fit for Yang, given her own upbringing and interests. Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Chinese parents, she moved to Sydney, Australia, when she was seven. Her grandfather, a chemist and painter, inspired her to explore the intersection of science and art from a young age. Although she eventually decided to narrow her focus to piano for her studies, she has always expressed herself through multiple artistic avenues, including theater, fashion design, dance, and the visual arts. Even in her music-making, she does not limit herself to one genre but combines elements of classical, jazz, electronic music, and omni-idiomatic free improvisation.
Her doctoral dissertation, titled “An Autoethnographic Approach to Interdisciplinary Improvisation,” grew out of her encounters with people from across the University and the community. She founded the Interdisciples, a group comprising faculty, students, and community members from various disciplines, including the visual arts, aerospace engineering, science, literature, film, music, and business.
“That became the seed of the Interdisciplinary Institute,” she explained. “What began as just me performing with scientists and composing for dance faculty here became a crucial part of my research, and it became a two-way conversation where people wanted to be interviewed and have our processes documented.”
She founded the Interdisciplinary Institute in after graduating in 2023, unsure of her next steps. “I was having a hard time figuring out what I wanted to do and finding a position that would suit all my varied interests,” she said. “I didn’t feel like I could really fit in a box—there were a lot of different boxes. I felt like I couldn’t feel fulfilled just doing one thing. And because I had spent a lot of time in this area of research, working together to create performances using different disciplines, I decided to start my own institute that would allow me to continue this exploration.”
The Interdisciplinary Institute’s mission is to advance STEM + arts (“STEAM”) education and research to drive innovation across disciplines. The Institute aims to connect the University with the wider community, provide performance opportunities for local musicians and music students, and promote a better future for marginalized audiences in the global community. The Institute takes a three-pronged approach to fulfilling its mission through lessons, workshops, and performances.
As part of its offerings, the Institute has launched a series of events in partnership with local small businesses supported by the City of Champaign’s Sound Check Live Entertainment Grant Program. According to the City’s website, “The Sound Check program helps downtown businesses host live entertainment by reimbursing artist fees, sound equipment, and marketing costs.” Additional funding is available for events that “build community partnerships, highlight diverse voices, or create inclusive experiences.”
The Interdisciplinary Institute hosts Sound Bath Sundays at its new location at 75 East Chester Street every second and fourth Sunday of the month (upcoming: Feb 8, Feb 22). Led by holistic sound healers, the Sound Baths invite participants on a journey of sound “to enter a state of deep relaxation, calm the mind and nervous system, and go within,” the event description reads. Space is limited, so advance registration is required.
Local jazz musicians delight diners at Nando Milano Italian restaurant in Champaign as part of Live Jazz Tuesdays every second and fourth Tuesday of the month (upcoming: Feb 10, Feb 24). The Institute also partners with cat café The Scratching Post for Animal Music Wednesdays every second and fourth Wednesday (upcoming: Feb 11, Feb 25). The event promises “music for animals, music that reminds us of animals, and music that brings out the ‘animal’ inside of you!” The best way to stay apprised of these and other events is to follow the Interdisciplinary Institute on Instagram.
“A lot of these collaborations just come about from me being curious, going to businesses, looking at what they’re doing, what their interests are, what their needs are, and seeing what the gaps are that we can help fill to make it a win-win for everybody,” Yang explained. She is always on the lookout for additional community partnerships. If you are interested in partnering with the Interdisciplinary Institute to host live music at your business, reach out to info@interdisciplinaryinstitute.com.
Performers will include local musicians as well as music students from the University of Illinois. Yang hopes to give students professional performing experience in the real world—something she believes is sorely needed. “When I was a student, I found that there was a need for more paid performance opportunities in the community and various settings, paired with guidance and mentorship on how to navigate those areas outside of academia,” she said.
These opportunities—and the lessons they teach—have already borne fruit, encouraging students to create their own opportunities. For instance, Yang cited a student performer who has since formed her own female DJ collective. The Institute not only elevated the student’s music but also taught her valuable lessons in the business side of things, from securing the opportunity and promoting it, to deciding what to wear to the gig.
In addition to running the Interdisciplinary Institute, Yang maintains an active performing career as a pianist and thereminist. In 2020, she released her first avant-garde CD with Kuroshio under Asian Improv Records, and in 2024, she released an album with her jazz trio titled “Live On” on the same label. The album features Yang’s original compositions and arrangements of jazz standards.
You can hear her perform at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, February 6, where she will be one of ten pianists playing the complete piano etudes of minimalist composer Philip Glass. She will also perform at the Interdisciplinary Institute’s annual fundraising event at the Orpheum Theatre in Champaign. The date has not yet been set, but you can sign up to receive an invite by emailing info@interdisciplinaryinstitute.com.
Revisit Prairie Fire's profile on Dr. Joy Yang here, and stay tuned for further developments from the Interdisciplinary Institute by subscribing to Clef Notes.
