YAO LIN
accompanist
Dr. Yao (Lina) Lin graduated from the University of Maryland (UMD) with a Doctor of
Musical Arts (DMA) degree, majoring in piano performance under the guidance of Larissa
Dedova. Her journey in music began in her early years, having studied with internationally
renowned Soviet piano educators A.A. Krasotov and A.M. Koncharov. Thanks to her
exceptional musical talent, she gained admission to the Odessa National Music Academy in
Ukraine, where she earned both a Bachelor's and Master's degree, and received the
esteemed "Red Diploma."
Dr. Lin has garnered numerous awards in international piano competitions, including the
3rd National Piano Competition in Klaipeda, Lithuania, the International Recital
Competition "Southern Express" in Yalta, Ukraine, the Northern Illinois University Concerto
Competition, and the American International Piano Competition in New York City.
She has performed in various prestigious music venues, including UMD's Gildenhorn Music
Hall, Boutell Memorial Music Hall in Illinois, Carnegie Hall, Thrasher Opera House in Green
Lake, Wisconsin, Singletary Music Hall in Lexington, Kentucky, the Kennedy Center, the
Arts Club, and the Jewish Community Center in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Lin has served as a member of the judging panel for the Chicago Chinese Music Festival
Youth Piano Competition and has conducted numerous piano performances and
masterclasses across various cities in China in 2012, alongside Professor William
Goldenberg. In December 2017, the Maryland State Senate honored her with an official
citation signed by Senator Susan Lee, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the
arts in Maryland. In 2018, she served as the piano accompanist for Wang Liping's work in
the DMV area. In 2023, she served as the piano accompanist for a mass choir of a thousand
people on World Culture Day. She is an active member of the Friday Morning Club, where
she performs solo concerts in the Washington, D.C. area. Additionally, her music studio has
achieved tremendous success, with her students winning numerous awards in
international, national, and state-level piano competitions. In 2022, she founded the Grace
Music School in Germantown, Maryland.
Dr. Lin is fluent in three languages: Russian, English, and Chinese.