A pianist of exceptional ability, Dr. Jiao Sun is equally sought after as a performer, a pedagogue, and a collaborator. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and an Artist Diploma with Soyeon Kate Lee from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she also minored in piano pedagogy with Michelle Conda. Sun gained a Master of Music degree in piano performance and literature with Douglas Humpherys and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance with Rebecca Penneys, both at the Eastman School of Music. From 2021-2024, Dr. Sun served as a piano faculty and collaborative artist-in-residence at the Ohio University School of Music, where she also taught as a master teacher of piano at its affiliated Athens Community Music School. Now, she has established her own teaching studio in Athens, OH and has been serving as a pianist for two churches in Lancaster, OH. Dr. Sun is also a conductor, coaching with the Fairfield String Ensemble to perform at the nationally recognized Lancaster Festival in July 2026.
Laureate of the Washington International Piano Competition, Dr. Jiao Sun has been lauded by New York Concert Review as a pianist "whose gifts are prodigious, who has all the skills needed for a successful career as a performing artist, and who is the perfect ambassador for classical music" and by WFMT Chicago for "expressive range and stunning technique." Born in Harbin, China, she relocated to Beijing after winning the 1st place in admission to the Central Conservatory of Music at age 9 with full scholarship. This was followed by her solo debut with orchestra at age 11. She has won 1st prize at the Memphis International Repertory Orchestra Competition, 1st prize at the Cincinnati Conservatory Concerto Competition, 1st and 2nd prizes at two Chautauqua Piano Competitions, 2nd prize at the Russian “A Step Towards Mastery” International Piano Competition, and 1st prize at the Chinese Golden Bell National Competition for Young Musicians.
Dr. Sun has performed extensively across North America, Europe, and Asia. She recently made her NPR (National Public Radio) debut at the “Live from Hochstein” Series in Rochester, NY. Highlights of recent seasons include appearances at the Dame Myra Hess memorial series, the Liliane Questel Recital Series in New York and “An Die Musik LIVE” in Baltimore (bott having invited her for their 2026-2027 season), the Zemlinsky Prize Concerts in Cincinnati, the Washington competition concert, and the Vivace competition concert in Vancouver, BC. She has soloed with the Memphis Repertory Orchestra, the Cincinnati Conservatory Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Saint Petersburg Academic Philharmonia Orchestra. In addition to performances at prestigious halls such as the Chan Centre, Elizabeth Lenna Hall, Eastman Kilbourn Hall, and Beijing Forbidden City Concert Hall, she has also made guest appearances at institutions such as the University of Chicago, Columbia College, Ohio Denison University, China Conservatory of Music, Tianjin Conservatory of Music, and Beijing People's University.
Dr. Sun is an active chamber musician. Selected as one of the six piano trios worldwide that advanced in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, she also took 1st prize at the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Competition. Dr. Sun has performed at the Ascent International Chamber Music Festival, Cincinnati “La Salle” series, and at Northern Kentucky University. She has performed alongside Toke Møldrup, Vincent and Gabriel DiMartino, and Patricia Seymour Alexander among others. She has been invited to perform at the “Feldman Chamber Music Society” for the upcoming season.
Dr. Sun is recognized as a judge in international standing. She has adjudicated the Vivace International Piano Competition, the Ohio Duo and Duet International Piano Competition, the Hong Kong International Global Music Talent Contest, the Orbifold International Piano Competition (in which she also served as a regional director), and the OhioMTA Buckeye Piano Auditions. She has just been invited to adjudicate the 2027 Denison International Piano Competition at Denison University.
Dr. Sun has also contributed to professional conferences and has grown her professional network. She presented twice at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and at the MTNA Collegiate Chapters Piano Pedagogy Symposium. She won 3rd prize for the poster session at the OhioMTA conference and was published in the MTNA E-Journal for National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum GP3.
Dr. Sun is recognized as a judge of international standing. She has adjudicated the Vivace International Piano Competition, the Ohio Duo and Duet International Piano Competition, the Hong Kong International Global Music Talent Contest, the Orbifold International Piano Competition (in which she also served as a regional director), and the OhioMTA Buckeye Piano Auditions.
Dr. Sun has also contributed to professional conferences. She presented twice at the National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy and at the MTNA Collegiate Chapters Piano Pedagogy Symposium. She won 3rd prize for the poster session at the OhioMTA conference and was published in the MTNA E-Journal for National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum GP3.