Dr. Tay

Dr. Joan Tay received her Doctor of Musical Arts and Master’s degrees from the University of Oregon, where she studied with Dean Kramer and Claire Wachter. She received a full scholarship as a graduate employee in piano pedagogy and collaborative piano during her studies at the University of Oregon. Dr. Tay studied at the University of

Canterbury and completed her undergraduate studies with a full scholarship at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory in Singapore. Past teachers include Michael Endres and Albert Tiu.

Dr. Tay, an avid solo and collaborative performer, was awarded the “Outstanding Graduate Performer in Collaborative Piano” in 2023 and performed at the School of Music and Dance Commencement. She also received the “Outstanding Graduate Performer in Piano” and “Best Accompanist” awards in 2019. Dr. Tay was a prize winner of the 2022 MTNA — Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition National Final,

2020 Eugene Symphony Guild Young Artist Competition and 2018 Oregon MTNA Young Artist Piano Competition winner. She was a finalist in the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Piano Concerto Competition and performed with the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra in the 2015 Singapore National Piano and Violin Competition Final. She has most recently performed in public masterclasses with Jon Kimura Parker, Natasha Paremski, Jeffrey Kahane, and Anton Nel. Dr. Tay has over five years of experience teaching at the pre-college and collegiate levels.

She has taught students of various ages and backgrounds, ranging from the young beginner to the advanced college student, in private studio, masterclass, and group class settings. Dr. Tay believes that her role as a teacher is to guide students to discover the concepts of music-making for themselves, for a more effective and satisfying learning experience. In lessons, Dr. Tay emphasizes posture and musical skills such as sight-reading, theory, ensemble playing, and rhythm. She believes everyone can learn to play the piano, and progress depends on both teacher and student. Dr. Tay aims to

create a positive and inclusive learning environment in which students can build confidence and develop their own musical voice while emphasizing the life skills of self-motivation, determination, and perseverance. She finds fulfillment when her students learn

and enjoy the process. Dr. Tay likes to bake, play with her friends’ cats, and watch Korean dramas in her free time. She also enjoys working out and re-learning the violin.