Dr. Qiao-Shuang “Tracy” Xian was born in the city of Shanghai in the Peoples Republic of China and began playing the piano at the age of four. She was quickly accepted into the prestigious pre-college division of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and made her debut as a pianist at the age of six. Following graduation, she came to the United States to pursue work in advanced piano performance and her studies eventually culminated in the doctor of musical arts degree.
During her collegiate career, she presented many solo recitals throughout the southeastern United States and was featured in performances at several national level music conferences including Music Teachers National Association and the American Matthay Piano Association. Dr. Xian has also been a prizewinner in both national and international piano competitions including Silver Medalist in the Beethoven Club International Piano Competition and National Winner of Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Artist Piano Competition.
Dr. Xian has also appeared as chamber musician and soloist with orchestra on various recital series and music festivals throughout the United States and some of her performances have been broadcast on national public radio. She has been described as “a complete pianist whose impeccable technique is exceeded only by the depth of her conceptual insight and musical expression”.
Dr. Xian is also an enthusiastic and effective communicator who is in great demand as a teacher. In 2010, She and her husband Steve Clark founded Artist Studios for Piano Performance Studies. She also teaches piano at the First United Methodist Church of LaGrange, Georgia. As a pianist, Dr. Xian serves for Edgewood United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia and as a collaborative artist in the music department at LaGrange College, in LaGrange, Georgia.
