This September, Laguna Woods journeys to Vienna—led by a single piano.
On Sept. 13, pianist Nancy Huang will bring Austrian masterpieces by Haydn, Mozart, Czerny, Schubert and Strauss to the Performing Arts Center, spanning the Classical and Romantic eras.
Early Promise, Lifelong Quest
Nancy Huang’s bond with the piano began in childhood.
She placed third in the Taipei piano competition at 10 and won the youth division at 15.
Yet her early promise led her beyond technique toward a deeper understanding of music.
After graduating from National Taiwan University with a degree in Chinese literature, Huang ranked first in admission to Taiwan’s only graduate arts and music program at the time.
On a full scholarship, she studied musical aesthetics, art theory and criticism.
She later moved to the United States and earned master’s degrees in music librarianship and piano performance from Rutgers University.
Huang studied with Wanda Maximilien, whose musical lineage includes Adele Marcus, Josef Lhévinne and Artur Schnabel, and received guidance from Ilana Vered and Daniel Pollack.
Blending German-Austrian, French and Russian traditions, she seeks color within structure and spirit beyond technique.
She began teaching piano at 13 and has since taught students ages five to 85. More than playing the right notes, she teaches them to understand musical phrases and the composer’s voice.
Huang has taught at Taiwan Baptist Theological Seminary and LOGOS Evangelical Seminary in Los Angeles.
She has also served as an accompanist, church pianist, music director and competition judge, while contributing to music publications.
These experiences bring depth, perspective and sensitivity to her playing.
Hands Tested, Spirit Unbroken
Huang’s musical journey has not been easy. She was once hospitalized in intensive care for an irregular heartbeat and has lived with rheumatoid arthritis for 40 years.
Pain and stiffness in her fingers and wrists have forced her to adapt her technique and rediscover sound within physical limits.
Every performance is both a negotiation with her body and a testament to her enduring passion.
Time may have changed her hands, but never her devotion to the piano. She believes God’s grace has carried her this far.
Now living in Laguna Woods, Huang continues to serve through music. She leads a free community singing class, sharing music with neighbors and bringing joy into everyday life.
For Huang, music belongs not only onstage, but wherever it can warm a heart.
Classical Grace, Romantic Echoes
The Sept. 13 program opens with Mozart’s haunting Fantasia in D Minor, followed by Haydn’s radiant Sonata in G Major.
Mozart’s Sonata in C Major, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star Variations and Rondo in D Major highlight the clarity and vitality of the Classical era.
The second half moves from Czerny’s études and nocturnes to Schubert’s scherzo, impromptu and sentimental waltz. Johann Strauss II’s beloved The Blue Danube brings the journey to a glittering close.
From Classical order to Romantic emotion, Huang will trace two centuries of music across the keys. More than a recital, it is her heartfelt gift to the community.
The concert takes place Sunday, Sept. 13, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the Laguna Woods Performing Arts Center.
Laguna Woods Village residents and their guests are invited to experience an afternoon in Vienna through music.
The recital is free, with optional donations through POP’s Foundation to support the Liouguei Mountain Children’s Home in Taiwan and the Prince of Peace Children’s Home in Tianjin.