Monica Kang-Sasaki (Monica Kang) is a versatile performer, piano teacher, and avid scholar. She has premiered solo, collaborative, chamber, and ensemble works and has presented on contemporary repertoire in various theory and pedagogy conferences. Her book, “Post-Tonal Affinities in Piano Works of Bartók, Chen, and Crumb,” was published in 2016.
At age thirteen, Monica debuted with the Saddleback College Orchestra playing Beethoven’s Concerto No. 2. She has performed solo recitals in the United States, Taiwan, and Italy. Collaboratively, Dr. Kang has performed with vocal, string, wind, brass, percussion, and mixed ensembles in Austin, Chicago, New York City, and international festivals. One of these festivals led to a tour of the Tuscany region in Italy playing Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 2. She is currently the pianist of the new music ensemble Hear No Evil.
Honors Monica has received include 2012 Franz Liszt International Competition 3rd prize in the concerto division, National Federation of Music Clubs 2011 Collegiate state winner, Leticia Flores Penn Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Piano, President’s Award Merit Scholarship, the federally funded Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship, Thaviu-Isaak Scholarship, and the 2007 Union League Civic and Arts Foundation Scholarship Competition in Chicago, Illinois, where she won first prize.
Monica graduated with a doctorate from The University of Texas at Austin. She has a master’s degree from Manhattan of Music and holds dual bachelor degrees in Mathematics and Piano Performance from Northwestern University. Dr. Kang currently serves as adjunct professor of piano at Concordia University Texas and Texas Lutheran University.