Born in Urumqi, China, Xiaoya (Sisi) Gao is a dedicated pianist and music educator. Dr. Gao has performed solo and chamber recitals in various prestigious venues including the Lawrence Chapel; Harper Hall in Appleton, WI; Blackbox Theatre in New York City; and Palais Corbelli in Vienna, Austria.
In 2019, Gao earned a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lawrence University in Wisconsin. In 2021, she received her Master’s Degree in Piano Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Piano Pedagogy from New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. As a faculty member at NYU, Dr. Gao taught undergraduate piano lessons and group classes.
In 2024, Dr. Gao received her Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. Her dissertation topic is entitled An Analysis of Akira Yuyama’s Piano Works for Children. Further research areas include an analysis of Liszt’s Piano Sonata in B minor, the integration of dance steps in Baroque pieces, and guiding students in the study of Baroque counterpoint.
Dr. Gao is an active performer and presenter in the New York and New Jersey areas. During her free time, Dr. Gao volunteers for non-profit art organizations, advocating for marginalized voices in the field of music.