Pianist May Phang enjoys discovering and performing a wide range of repertoire. She continually strives to deeply understand and bring fresh insights to the masterpieces of composers such as Bach and Beethoven, while championing the works of today’s composers. Keen on celebrating diversity through music, and in engaging audiences holistically, her unique programming often features or includes elements with a unique twist, often not at first apparent. The first edition of her concert series, Travels with May Phang, brought audiences the sounds of summer, the beauty of China’s scenery and culture, the suffering yet triumph of Ukraine’s foremost composers. Her 2013 debut CD Travels through Time featured works centered around Mark Twain’s satirical A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. Her 2021 recording on the Centaur label featured Beethoven’s monumental Diabelli Variations (“a fresh and illuminating look at a famous masterpiece” Fanfare Magazine).
Performances as soloist and chamber musician have taken her to international venues in North America, Europe and Asia. Solo performances with orchestras include the Banff Chamber Players, Singapore Symphony, Montreal Symphony, and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Equally committed as a music educator, Dr. Phang frequently adjudicates competitions and presents masterclasses nationally and internationally. During the summers, she is artist faculty at Interharmony International Music Festival in Italy and Germany.