School of Music alum Joy Yang (DMA '24) was featured both in The Daily Illini and WILL for her work with the Interdisciplinary Institute, bringing jazz performance to the community through local businesses.
School of Music alum Dr. Joy Yang – 杨洋 (DMA ’24) was featured both in The Daily Illini and WILL for her work as founding director of the Interdisciplinary Institute, bringing jazz performance to the community through local businesses.
WILL stated, “We caught up with Dr. Joy Yang (Joy Yang ___ 杨洋), founding director of the Interdisciplinary Institute, to learn about the Institute’s upcoming events in partnership with local small businesses. So far, these include Sound Bath Sundays, Live Jazz Tuesdays, and Animal Music Wednesdays, which are held every second and fourth week of the month.”
“Yang, a performing artist specializing in piano and theremin, founded the Interdisciplinary Institute shortly after earning her doctorate in jazz piano performance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Yang first came to the University of Illinois in 2016 while studying abroad as an undergraduate. She returned for her master’s in classical piano performance and literature and stayed on for her doctorate, changing her degree from classical to jazz.”
The Daily Illini showcased Yang and the institute’s new partnership with Nando Milano, featuring Live Jazz Tuesdays from 6-8 p.m.
“It all started with the founding director of the Interdisciplinary Institute, Joy Yang, a former FAA student and performing artist specializing in piano and theremin, who earned her masters in classical piano and doctorate in jazz piano performance from the University in 2024. The Institute works closely with the community to inspire performers, innovators and creators to leave a unique impact on the Champaign-Urbana area.
‘A lot of these collaborations started because I love exploring new things to do,’ Yang said. ‘Often, I notice how we can make things better for everybody, for the business owners and for the attendees. So that’s how this idea came about.’
Live Jazz Tuesdays is one of the Institute’s community partnership events sponsored by the City of Champaign’s Sound Check Live Entertainment Grant. The event is part of the Institute’s outreach program, aimed at expanding its platform.”
Read the full WILL article online here.
Read the full Daily Illini article online here.
More info about the Interdisciplinary Institute can be found here.