Piano Faculty

Dr. Yuru is a pianist, pedagogue, and collaborative artist who has performed at major venues including Carnegie Hall, the Lied Center of Kansas, and Steinway venues across the United States and Asia. She completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Kansas, and also holds degrees from the Mannes School of Music in New York and Wesleyan College in Georgia.

An active performer and scholar, Yuru has presented lecture recitals and research at national and international conferences, including the College Music Society National Conference and the American Matthay Association Festival. Her research focuses on Clara Schumann, collaborative pianism, and piano pedagogy through a Matthay-informed perspective. She also participated in the Yamaha Disklavier Remote Pedagogy Program under the guidance of Dr. Scott McBride Smith, exploring innovative approaches to hybrid and distance piano instruction.

Yuru is the recipient of numerous national and international awards, including prizes in the American Protégé International Music Talent Competition and the 2026 Classical Viennese Festival International Competition. Earlier honors include First Prize in the Georgia Music Teachers Association Collegiate Piano Concerto Competition, which led to orchestral collaboration opportunities in Georgia, as well as awards in the GMTA Solo Competition and the Southeast Young Artist Piano Competition. She also maintains professional affiliations with MTNA, CMS, KMTA, GMTA, and the American Matthay Association.

Alongside her performing and scholarly activities, Yuru has taught students from across Europe, the United States, and Asia, ranging from beginners to university piano majors. Her students have received awards in international competitions, earned distinctions in ABRSM examinations, and gained admission to music schools and university programs internationally.