Xu Khuc was born in Paris, France and grew up in Southern California where she started learning how to play the piano at age 5. Her mom, Khuc Lan, is a celebrated Vietnamese lyricist and song writer.
Dr. Khuc earned her Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees in Piano Pedagogy from California State University, Fullerton, where she was awarded the Richard Chronister Piano Scholarship and Undergraduate Keyboard Award. Dr. Khuc has presented at the 2015 Music Teachers National Association National Conference and South Carolina Music Teachers' Association and adjudicated as the Young Jury chair for the Southeastern Piano Festival, the South Carolina Independent School Association, and Music Teachers' Association of California. In 2016 and 2019, she was awarded the SAVVY Musician in Action Scholarship. In 2018, Dr. Khuc has earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina with a Music Education Doctoral Minor. At U of SC, she served as the class piano graduate teaching assistant under the direction of Dr. Sara Ernst. Dr. Khuc was formerly the Fine Arts Director for Northside Christian Academy.
Her former teachers include Alison Edwards, Dr. Martha Baker-Jordan, My Le Nguyen, Eduardo Delgado, Dr. Sara Ernst, and Dr. Scott Price. Her published dissertation is titled "The Effects of Learning by Rote with La-based Minor Solmization on Memory Retention for Pre-College Piano Students".
Ms. Audrey Jiang
Ms. Audrey Jiang started her piano studies at age five. Later on, she studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in China. Ms. Jiang is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Arts degree in piano performance at California State University, Fullerton.
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Ms. Jiang specializes in piano performance, sight-reading, technique, and music theory. She cares about her students, not only making sure they follow her instruction and understand the lesson material, but also to help students improve in every musical way.
Ms. Ariel Qian
Ariel Qian, a pianist hailing from China, is currently in her Junior Year at Cal State Fullerton. Her journey with the piano began at the age of six, sparking a profound interest that has evolved into a flourishing musical career. Under the guidance of esteemed mentors such as Dr. Giorgi Lastso and Dr. Oliver Salonga, Ariel embarked on her musical odyssey. During her Freshman and Sophomore years at Cal State Fullerton, she studied under Ning An, and she continues her piano studies under the tutelage of Dr. Myong-Joo Lee.​
Throughout her academic pursuit, Ariel Qian has actively participated in performances and competitions. A notable achievement in 2022 was her third-place win in the Concerto-Aria Competition at Cal State Fullerton, where she showcased her talent by performing Shostakovich Piano Concerto No.2 in F Major Op.102. This accomplishment stands as a testament to Ariel's dedication and proficiency in the world of piano performance.
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See Ms. Ariel's latest piano performance here: https://vimeo.com/event/4047250/034676cacc