Victoria Fang ’25 was a three-year Senior from Bronxville, New York. She studied music for the entirety of her time at the school and was a recipient of the Lower Mid and Upper Mid Music Awards. Additionally, Fang was an eight- year piano major in the Juilliard pre- college program, where she studied with pianist Orli Shaham. She was a founder and co-head of the Twinkling Little Stars (TLS) non-profit, a proctor in Tinker, a member of the Student Wellness Council, MB140, and Calliope.
On Friday, May 23, Fang performed the first movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto with the orchestra.
How did you discover your passion for the piano?
My passion started when I was four or five. I remember telling my mom that the sound of her heels clicking on the ground “sounded like a song.” She thought that was a sign I might have an ear for music, so she signed me up for piano lessons.
For a long time, piano was just something I did—it was part of my routine, like brushing my teeth or doing homework. But during quarantine, I lost touch with it. Practice felt repetitive with no motivation.
However, everything changed when I began studying with Professor Orli Shaham at Juilliard. She didn’t just teach me music—she taught me how to enjoy it and how to create my own interpretations. That’s when I truly fell in love with what I was doing.
What do you love most about the piano and music in general?
Music has changed how I see everything—the weather, nature, people, and feelings. It’s like there is a soundtrack behind everything I experience. I love the piano because of its range. I love how I can use my fingertips, my weight, and my body movement to shape a sound into something that feels like a violin or a voice.
One of my most memorable musical moments was during a performance of Olga Kern’s Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto Second Movement. Her interpretation was completely different from mine, and it made me cry. The golden sunlight shining down on the orchestra, the birds chirping outside, the silent yet collective atmosphere in the audience all came together, and for that moment, everything else disappeared. That’s what music does.
What was it like attending both Julliard and Hotchkiss?
It hasn’t been easy. It was a constant routine of discipline. Every Saturday morning, I took the train with Emma Liu ’26. I’ve had to use every pocket of time I have to catch up on work: on the train, Saturday nights; however, it was worth it.
There were times when I seriously thought about quitting Juilliard, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I moved to the U.S. in 5th grade to attend Juilliard. I’ve built so many friendships and learned so much through that program. It has become such a big part of who I am.
How do you deal with stage fright?
Before I step on stage, I try not to think too much. I lock in and get into performance mode. Over time, it has become less about putting on an act and more about naturally stepping into the role of a performer. While stage fright never fully goes away, I’ve learned to be at peace with it. I do box breathing and sometimes even jumping jacks to get my energy up. I also use a shoulder relaxation method where I raise one shoulder really high and release it slowly; it helps me let go of physical and mental tension before I play.
