Hailed by New York Times as “…Hou is a magical pianist who plays with impressive clarity and character…..a commanding, imaginative and impish performance….” pianist Miao Hou captivates audiences with her virtuosity, lyricism, and interpretive sensitivity. After winning the Gold Medal of both Virginia Waring International Piano Competition and Rolf and Brigitte Gardey International Piano Competition, Miss Hou is fast establishing a rising reputation for her fresh and versatile artistry as a soloist and chamber musician. Hou showcases her colorful musical personality in solo recitals and collaborations with the world’s top orchestras and chamber musicians. Born into a musical family, Miss Hou began her piano studies in her native China at the age of four and was awarded a full scholarship to the Shenyang Music Conservatory at age of twelve. In the same year, she won the first prize of Xing Hai Chinese Prodigy Piano Competition. In 1997, Miss Hou received the grand prize at the Pearl River Young Artist Piano Competition and Hong Kong International Piano Solo Competition and by the age of fifteen, she had concertized throughout China. At sixteen, Miao Hou was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music with full scholarship where she was a pupil of Seymour Lipkin and was awarded the Festorazzi Prize as the “Best Pianist of the Year.” She was offered full scholarships from the prestigious Juilliard School where she completed her Master degree and studied with Maestro Jerome Lowenthal . Miss Hou obtained the highest degree in music-Doctoral of Musical Arts degree from Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey and was rewarded “The Most Distinguished Gradate of the Year.” After moving to the United States, Miss Hou won numerous prestigious prizes including the Gold Medal at the Rolf and Brigitte Gardey International piano competition in Florida, the Iowa International and Thousand Island International piano competition, 1st Shen Zhen International piano concerto competition and web hall competition, Kingsville International Young Artist Competition, Isabel Scionti Piano Competition and the Wideman Piano Competition, the “Best Performance of French Music” in the International Russian Music Competition and the Grand prize in Midland National Young Artist Competition. As the Gold Medalist of the Virginia Waring International Piano Competition, she was invited to give a concert tour in Europe. Miss Hou’s solo appearances in US include recitals in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, Chicago, Houston, Seattle, Rochester, Maine, Florida, Ottawa and Philadelphia. She has appeared as soloist with the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Shenyang Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Symphony Orchestra and Shen Zhen Symphony Orchestra. In 2005, she performed for Steinway’s 150th celebration at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. Miss Hou made her Carnegie debut under the baton of the acclaimed pianist and conductor Leon Fleisher playing Mozart Piano Concerto No. 19 with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Zankel Hall. Since her spectacular debut, Hou has blossomed into an astonishing artist and she continues to appear with orchestras around the world. Ms. Hou has participated in many music festivals including the Music Academy of the West, Taos School of Music, Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival as well as the Sarasota Music Festival, Piano Fest in Hampton and The Cliburn Piano Institute. She has collaborated with many artists such as Jaime Laredo, David Soyer, Michael Tree, Mitsuko Uchida, Marilyn Horne, Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Juilliard String Quartet, Brentano String Quartet, Ying String Quartet, Shanghai String Quartet, Borromeo String Quartet. Miss Hou has worked with some of the most internationally renowned artists including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Arie Vardi, Richard Goode, Gary Graffman, Claude Frank, Norma Fisher, Jose Faghali and Yoheved Kaplinsky. She also has been featured as a guest with several radio broadcasts. As an active chamber musician, her Piano Trio was recently invited to participate in the Claude and Pamela Frank Professional Training Workshop at Carnegie Hall. As a music educator, Miss. Hou has taught many courses while working at some prestigious schools. She worked with students from Grade K through Graduate level. Miss Hou has been appointed as the faculty member at Long Island Music Conservatory since 2003 and Long Island Tutoring Academy since 2015. Miss Hou serves as the Artistic Director of New York Aspiring Artists International Competition and Jury member of NYSSMA and New York State School Music Association. For more information, please visit website: www.miaopianist.com. LITA, Long Island Tutoring Academy (516) 280-8688