Ethan Yi Dong

Performance and Competitions

Ethan Dong began piano studies at an early age and, while at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, won First Prize in the “Pearl River Prize” National Youth Piano Competition. He was subsequently invited to perform solo recitals at Zhongnanhai, the Asian Games Celebration, and China National Radio. He later came to the United States upon the recommendation of legendary conductor Herbert Zipper.

Dong went on to win First Prizes at the Heida Hermanns International Piano Competition and the East & West International Piano Competition, and gave a solo recital at Carnegie Hall. His performances have taken him to Jordan Hall in Boston, Harvard University, Segerstrom Concert Hall, and the Hollywood Ford Amphitheater, and he has collaborated with members of the Boston Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as performing concertos with the Pacific Symphony and the Beijing Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared on New York’s WQXR, KUSC, CBS, and Los Angeles television stations.

Education and Mentorship

Born into a musical family, Dong studied piano with his mother, Professor Feilan Li, and received his early musical foundation from his father, cellist Gangrui Dong. He entered the Central Conservatory Elementary and Middle Schools, studying under Professor Shizhen Ying, and later received guidance from Professors Yiming Pan, Qifang Li, Yuan Ling, and Russian pedagogue Kravchenko.

During this period, he suffered a serious hand injury. He was deeply supported by Professor Guangren Zhou, who personally accompanied him to medical treatment and encouraged his return to the stage. This experience became a turning point in his musical life.

After moving to the United States, he graduated from Crossroads School in Santa Monica, California. He went on to earn his Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from the New England Conservatory and his Master of Music in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. In addition, he earned professional certifications as a Microsoft Certified Systems and Internet Engineer (MCSE/MCP). His principal teachers in the U.S. included Mary Ann Cummins, Russell Sherman, and Claude Frank, with further guidance and support from André Watts and William Grant Naboré.

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Teaching and Contributions

In 2004, Dong co-founded Opus119 School of Music in Orange County, California, and has served as its director ever since. He is also the founder and current Artistic Director of the Opus Music Foundation.
He has held posts as Chair of the Music Department at Crossroads School, President of the Music Teachers’ Association of California (Orange County Branch), and, since 2015, has been on faculty at the Oberlin Conservatory Summer Piano Festival. He has given masterclasses at Boston University, the Colburn School, California State University–Fullerton, and Harvard University, and has frequently served as a juror for international competitions. He also returned to his alma mater, the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, to give lectures and share his experiences.

Additionally, he was invited by the Pearl River Piano Group to present lectures on music education to its dealers and affiliated schools, and he has served as a judge for the “Voice of China” North America competition.
Drawing upon his background in technology, he has also been active in developing music-related software, integrating information technology with music education to advance innovative teaching models.

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Student Achievements

Dong’s students have achieved international recognition:

• Prize winners at the Gina Bachauer, Yamaha/Bösendorfer, Virginia Waring, Rosalyn Tureck, Russian International Piano Competition, and the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition;

• Frequent appearances at Carnegie Hall;

• Recipient of the U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts award;

• Multiple students are named Young Steinway Artists.

In higher education, his students have been admitted to the world’s top conservatories, including Juilliard, New England Conservatory, Eastman, Peabody, and Oberlin, as well as leading universities such as Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, with many receiving full scholarships.
Beyond music, a number of his students have gone on to distinguished careers in medicine, law, and technology, working at international companies such as Google, Apple, and Tesla—demonstrating the far-reaching impact of music education on creativity, critical thinking, and character development.

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International and Public Engagement

Dong currently serves as a Board Member of the Lake Como International Piano Academy and an Affiliated Scholar of the Oberlin Conservatory, where he helped establish the Oberlin–Como Piano Academy Scholarship Program.
In 2022, he played a key role in initiating collaboration between the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the Oberlin Conservatory, creating new opportunities for international higher music education.

He is also deeply committed to community engagement, regularly organizing outreach concerts at senior homes and promoting music education for both children and adults. He continues to dedicate his efforts to nurturing the next generation of young artists while fostering cross-cultural understanding through music.

In 2025, he was inducted into the Steinway & Sons Teachers Hall of Fame, honoring his outstanding contributions to piano pedagogy worldwide.