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Amateur Pianists with Remarkable Careers Outside Music
In the world of music, it's not uncommon to find individuals who have excelled in their professional lives while maintaining a passion for the piano. These amateur pianists, with careers spanning various fields, have managed to strike a balance between their commitments and their love for music.
Take Minnie Ho, for instance, who serves as Director of Systems Engineering and Integration at Zoox. Apart from her work on self-driving cars, Minnie is an accomplished pianist who has performed at prestigious venues such as California Concerto Weekend, Piano Texas, and Carnegie Hall. Her musical journey has seen her study under renowned teachers like Thomas Hansen, Sandra Shen, Gwendolyn Mok, Jon Nakamatsu, and Ruth Slenczynska.
Similarly, Diana Cusano, with degrees in Chemistry and Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, has a career in public health. Yet, she too has a deep love for the piano, having studied under Lyn Bronson, Emilio del Rosario, Stephen Perry, and others.
Robert Finley, a retired electronics engineer, is another example. He has performed recitals and concertos in various countries and is the founder of the Boston Piano Amateurs Association. His achievements include winning the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition for Outstanding Amateurs and the 2025 Piano Texas concerto competition.
Brad Arington, with degrees in law and medicine, is another multi-talented individual. He has performed at various venues and continues his musical journey under the tutelage of Erna Gulabyan.
Wei Ling Wang, a telecommunications industry professional, has performed a concerto movement with the Fort Worth Symphony after winning the concerto competition at the prestigious PianoTexas Academy and Festival. She is also an active board member for several nonprofit music organizations.
Carl Rosser, a retired English professor, now spends his time reading, taking nature photographs, and playing piano as a volunteer at several different assisted living communities.
Rita Luo, who re-started piano lessons in 2023 after many years focusing on her professional and family life, performed with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in PianoTexas festival as one of the winners of the concerto competition the same year.
Yuchao Zhou, a software engineer in the San Francisco Bay Area, began playing piano at age 5. He showcased his talent at the 2024 California Concerto Festival for Amateur Pianists, performing the 2nd movement of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with the Mission College Symphony.
Vivian Ku, a mother of four from Hong Kong, is excited to join her first piano festival in the US with Oberlin. Jonathan Shih, a product designer from Seattle, was a finalist in the 2024 WIPAC competition. Heesun Joyce Rogers, an Associate Professor of Pathology at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, has participated in numerous piano competitions in South Korea.
Catherine Doss, a pianist, educator, and creative collaborator based in the Washington, D.C. area, has recently appeared at the Cliburn Amateur Festival, PianoTexas, and the Washington International Piano Artists Competition. Carl Di Casoli, a senior director in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, has won several amateur piano competitions.
Finally, we have Manuel Llorens, a naturalized US Citizen who has worked in the Content Services Software Industry for 30 years and currently works as a Senior Trainer for Hyland Software.
These individuals, though not as renowned in their respective professional fields, have made significant strides in the world of music. Their stories serve as a testament to the power of passion and dedication, demonstrating that one can excel in multiple areas of life with the right balance and commitment.
In the realm of these remarkable amateur pianists, their personal growth and education-and-self-development through music are evident. Despite their successful careers outside music, they have prioritized learning and continued to hone their skills as pianists, resulting in personal achievements in the world of music.
These individuals, though primarily known for their accomplishments in diverse fields, have also made significant strides in the realms of personal growth, learning, and education-and-self-development through their pursuit of music.
