Joy Yang - Musician

Joy Yang, Ph.D., has made a name for herself playing one of the world’s strangest instruments. Oh, and the piano, too.
Yang, who grew up a self-described “multicultural kid”, is an expert theremin player. This electronic instrument is the only musical instrument that can be played without touching. Players manipulate notes and volume by moving their hands over two rods. Yang became interested in the theremin as a music student at the University of New South Wales in Australia. She had just returned from a semester abroad as an exchange student at the University of Illinois.

Before she discovered the theremin, Yang had focused her studies on the pursuit of a career as a classical concert pianist. But she also had a passion for education.

“I wanted a career where I could combine my love of piano with my love of education, “ Yang says. “But it wasn’t easy pursuing all my interests at once.”

After a childhood being raised in China, South Africa and Australia, Yang was used to being flexible with her plans. So when she returned to the University of Illinois for her Ph.D,, theremin in hand, she kept an open-ish mind about what the future would hold. After she discovered a love of jazz performance in Chicago, she altered her educational pursuits to focus on jazz performance, too.  By the time she graduated, she’d fallen in love with the Champaign-Urbana area and had a plan.

In 2024, Yang founded the Interdisciplinary Institute. Its aim is to present cutting-edge research in an artistic and performance setting across STEM and music disciplines. Both youth and adult participants can collaborate at both workshops and private lessons, integrating dance, instrumental and vocal performance, art and science into innovative performances.  Yang has a rehearsal and performance space at the historic Orpheum Theater in downtown Champaign and a new space at a smaller location near campus.
When she’s not leading workshops, she performs with the Joy Yang Trio on piano and theremin and as a solo concert artist.

Visit the Interdisciplinary Institute at www.interdisciplinaryinstitute.com More about Joy Yang, Ph.D. at www.joyyangmusic.com