October 28, 2025

On October 30 in Greenfield Hall at MSM, the ongoing series the Lives of the Piano—directed by Interim Associate Dean of Doctoral Studies and MSM faculty member Lisa Yui (MM ’00, DMA ’05)—will mark its 25th anniversary with a world premiere The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Book III by Canadian composer Vincent Ho, performed by MSM pianists and a guest artist.

The Lives of the Piano series program director Lisa Yui tells us about this special evening featuring six outstanding pianists—most of them current students at the Manhattan School of Music—presented free of charge and open to the public. It can also be watched via Livestream.

This concert marks the silver jubilee of the Lives of the Piano series. Over the past quarter-century, the series has featured more than 200 works spanning five centuries and around 150 pianists—students, alumni, and faculty alike.

Following the performance on October 30, the composer Vincent Ho and performers will join Dr. Yui on stage in a conversation about collaboration, creativity, and the process of bringing new music to life.

What can you tell us about this event?

This concert marks the Silver Jubilee of the Lives of the Piano, a series I began twenty-five years ago as a doctoral student here at MSM. Instead of fulfilling the usual chamber music requirement, I proposed creating a lecture-concert series that traced the piano’s development through history, inviting my colleagues and teachers to perform alongside me. It turned out to be so much fun, and so well attended, that I simply kept going!

For this milestone year, we’re celebrating both tradition and renewal with the world premiere of The Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals, Book III by Canadian composer Vincent Ho, performed by six brilliant pianists.

Meet the performers: In top row on left, Max Hammond, guest pianist; in middle, Baoqi Zhu (MM ’25, DMA Candidate); on right, Tzu-Wei Kang (MM ’24, DMA Candidate). Bottom row on left, Annie Cao (MM ’24, DMA Candidate); in middle, Dayeon Jin (BM ’24, MM ’26), on right, Ziyi Yu (MM ‘24, DMA Candidate).

Can you tell us about the composer, the music, and the performance?

Vincent Ho is one of Canada’s most dynamic composers, known for his vivid imagination and deep engagement with performers. His Chinese Zodiac Animals project began during the pandemic as a way to connect his young daughter to her cultural heritage through music. The first volume included a book of twelve short pieces, portraying the animals in their youth; the second, a set of preludes and fugues, in adolescence; and now, the third volume, the concert études, depicts the animals as adults.

For this world premiere, the six pianists will each bring one of the first six animals to life. These pieces are dazzling, virtuosic, and full of character: from the restless “Rat Race” to the mysterious “Snake Pit.” The pianists are working closely with the composer, offering feedback and collaborating on the music’s evolution—an invaluable experience in which the score becomes a living, breathing work in progress.

The process will continue in the same spirit for February 12, 2026, when six new MSM pianists will premiere the final six etudes, once again in direct collaboration with the composer. Both concerts highlight the creative partnership between composer and performer—music not as a fixed artifact, but as something alive, responsive, and shared.

Why did you choose this theme?

The Chinese zodiac is such a playful and imaginative framework. It’s filled with distinctive personalities, symbolism, and energy. It’s also universal, connecting cultures and generations. Vince Ho’s Twelve Chinese Zodiac Animals is a perfect way to mark this 25th anniversary because it embodies both tradition and innovation—it draws from Chinese culture while exploring a fresh and adventurous pianistic language.

I also love that this project mirrors the spirit of the Lives of the Piano itself: curiosity, collaboration, and discovery. When the series began, I was a newly minted DMA student; now, as Interim Associate Dean of the Doctoral Program, I’m inviting current doctoral students to be part of this creative process. It truly feels like coming full circle. The two linked performances allow even more students to engage directly with the composer and to experience the living evolution of new music in real time.

What has resonated with audiences with the Lives of the Piano series?

The Lives of the Piano began as an experiment—and somehow became a tradition! Each program has its own theme: one year we performed Beethoven’s symphonies for two pianos; another featured Classical Music in Hollywood, complete with film clips; and for our tenth anniversary, every piece had “10” in its catalog number or title.

Why should people come to hear this show?

This concert celebrates everything the Lives of the Piano stands for: creativity, collaboration, and community! In these two concerts, you’ll witness twelve pianists at the start of their professional journeys working directly with a leading composer to bring new music into the world. You’ll also be part of a milestone moment—honoring 25 years of music-making at MSM that connects generations of pianists.

It’s rare to experience a premiere where the ink is still drying, the composer is in the room, and the performers are helping shape the final form. For me, it’s especially meaningful to see this series continue—something that began as a small idea during my student years and has, over time, found its place in the MSM community.