Pianist Joyce Yang Headlines Symphony’s Season Finale

May 30th, 2025

Acclaimed pianist Joyce Yang never tires of performing Edvard Grieg’s only piano concerto. With its soaring melodies, bold flourishes, and heartfelt emotion, the piece continues to captivate both Yang and her audiences. She describes it as the perfect example of a romantic piano work—dynamic, expressive, and full of character.

Yang experiences music through synesthesia, a neurological condition that causes her to perceive sound as color. For her, the concerto’s second movement evokes rich, atmospheric landscapes that feel both foreign and deeply familiar, despite never having visited Norway.

Her musical journey began in Seoul, South Korea, where she started piano lessons at the age of four. By nine, she was in New York, studying at Juilliard’s pre-college division. Her career changed dramatically at 19 when she won the silver medal at the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, which launched her into international recognition.

Since then, Yang has performed with leading orchestras around the world and built a strong discography. In 2017, her collaboration with violinist Augustin Hadelich earned them a Grammy nomination, further establishing her as a distinctive voice in classical music.

Saturday’s Omaha Symphony concert begins with Moriviví, a vibrant piece by Puerto Rican composer Angélica Negrón. Joyce Yang then takes the stage to perform Grieg’s piano concerto, and the evening concludes with Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5, led by Maestro Ankush Kumar Bahl. This marks Bahl’s final concert as the Symphony’s music director, though he will return next season as a guest conductor.

By Coleen Cook.