Long Tao "Pierre" Tang

Biography

Pierre Long-Tao Tang, DMA oversees the instrumental ensemble program, directs the orchestra and wind ensemble, and serves as the conductor for the annual musical theatre and opera productions at Pepperdine University.  As a passionate educator, Tang is a sought-after guest conductor, adjudicator and clinician for instrumental and vocal ensembles internationally.  In his most recent guest appearance with Diamond Bar High School from California, Dr. Tang conducted Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique at the newly renovated David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center, New York City with a positive critical review.  As a passionate contributor to the field of orchestra directorship, he serves as an advisory board member of the California Orchestra Directors Association.  Selected presentations of his research on instrumental conducting studies include the Oxford Conducting Institute International Conference.

In addition to his orchestral pursuits, Dr. Tang holds master’s degrees in wind conducting and choral music.  As a wind band conductor, he presented his scholarly research on band education at the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles and California All-State Music Education Conference.  As a choral conductor, he serves as director of music and organist at Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church, California.  

As a vocal coach, collaborative pianist and period keyboardist, Tang completed a doctoral cognate in collaborative piano.  He is currently the pianist of the Greenberg-Zukovsky-Tang trio in Los Angeles, performing alongside the distinguished former members of the LA Philharmonic and LA Chamber Orchestra.  Recently, Tang joined the roster of staff pianists at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).  

Tang’s principal teachers include Donald Schleicher, Andrew Megill, Chester Alwes, Linda Moorhouse, Stephen Peterson, Dennis Helmrich and Julie Kuok, and has participated in masterclasses led by Joseph Flummerfelt, H. Robert Reynolds, Jerry Junkin, Larry Rachleff, Osmo Vänskä etc.  He has also worked with such renowned musicians as Joseph Flummerfelt, Roberto Abbondanza, Alois Glaßner, Jacques Mauger and Eric Aubier etc.  Recent performances as keyboardist include St. Michael's Church in Vienna, Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center in New York, Chicago Symphony Center, and in the Krannert Center. 

Education

• DMA (Orchestral Conducting), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• MM (Wind Ensemble Conducting), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• MM (Choral Music), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• BA (Music), The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Licentiate (in Piano Performance) of the Royal Schools of Music (London, UK)