10:00 a.m. CAMTA BuSINESS MEETING
11:00 a.m. Professional Development Program
Frank Huang, Associate Professor of Piano, Miami University (Ohio)
“Rediscovering Nikolai Medtner: A Forgotten Master of Russian Romanticism”
Nikolai Medtner was a prolific composer for the piano, writing an astounding nine albums’ worth of music for the instrument. Despite this significant contribution, the Russian Romantic composer remains virtually unknown to the public. In this lecture-recital, I will explore why Medtner’s music has been forgotten, share selections from my recording project of his complete solo piano works, and introduce teaching pieces suitable for students.
BIOGRAPHY
Frank Huang is a Steinway Artist and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Piano at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Previously, he was a faculty member at The College of Wooster and The Cleveland Institute of Music.
Described by New York Concert Review as a “thoughtful and accomplished performer” and that his playing was “impressive for its maturity and refinement,” Mr. Huang has gained international recognition for his artistry and technical command. Others have also acknowledged his talents, as the Chopin Foundation of the United States, Northwest Chapter has commented that “Huang plays with authority and panache” while El Comerico of Lima, Peru praised his interpretation of Mozart’s Piano Concerto, K.482 “with the utmost sensitivity.” Mr. Huang’s performances have led him throughout North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Such notable venues include Weill Hall, Carnegie Hall, Benaroya Hall (Seattle), US Embassy in Warsaw, Zelazowa Wola (Warsaw), Gijon International Piano Festival (Spain), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Holland Music Sessions, Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Dame Myra Recital Series at Chicago’s Cultural Center, Lincoln Center in New York, and St. Martin in the Fields, London, UK. Mr. Huang’s concerts have also been featured on radio and television broadcasts in various cities across the United States and Europe. An avid chamber musician, he has collaborated with eminent artists such as Cho-Liang Lin, Ben Hong--as well as members of the Cleveland Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in recitals.
Huang’s creative interests consist of promoting lesser-known works and music of our time. To that end, Huang is currently recording the complete solo piano works of the neglected Russian Romantic composer, Nikolai Medtner. He released the second installment of the nine-disc project in February 2025. His previous Medtner albums were met with positive reviews as Gramophone described that “Huang and Medtner are made for one another” and that “Huang can hold his own next to Marc-André Hamelin.”
Other albums can be found on the Centaur Records, Nimbus Alliance, and Blue Griffin labels that include a chamber music disc featuring living women composers, an all-Brahms solo CD, and works by Jack Gallagher. These discs have received rave reviews as critics have described Huang’s performances as “thrilling” (The Classical Reviewer) and that “Huang deserves kudos for his sparkling and sensitive playing, and that better performances of these works would be well-nigh impossible to come by.” (Fanfare) Huang has also performed and recorded music of Mark Applebaum, Augusta Read Thomas, Lera Auerbach, and Jennifer Higdon. Recently, he has been performing Frederic Rzewski’s monumental work, “The People United Will Never be Defeated!” in recitals.
Equally dedicated as a music educator, Dr. Huang feels privileged to share his knowledge with students who are passionate about music. At Miami University, he teaches piano, chamber music, and various literature courses. He is also committed to continuing education and has contributed guest articles to UK’s popular magazines: Pianist, Gramophone, and International Piano. He has also produced tutorial videos for G. Henle Verlag’s Urtext Score Reader app.
A native of Seattle, WA, Frank Huang studied extensively with Willard Schultz at the Academy of Music Northwest before obtaining Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School, where he continued his studies with Julian Martin. Following his training at Juilliard, he earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at The Cleveland Institute of Music under the direction of Antonio Pompa-Baldi.