Eric Fung: Teachers’ Master Class with NEPTA Members

Dr. Eric Fung is a distinguished Chinese-American pianist renowned for his “vibrant vitality, unflappable logic, flexibility in nuances, and requisite lyricism,” as lauded by the New York Concert Review. In 2002, he was awarded the prestigious title of “Bach Prize Winner” at the International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition in Leipzig, Germany, in recognition of his profound interpretation of the composer’s works. His doctoral dissertation, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Overture in the French Manner, BWV 831: A Study in Motive, Harmony, and Rhythm, further exemplifies his dedication to deriving musical interpretation through rigorous research and analysis.

Born in Hong Kong, Dr. Fung began his formal music training at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts under the tutelage of Eva Lue. He earned the Piano Performance Diploma from the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (UK) before pursuing further studies in the United States. He holds degrees in piano performance from the Eastman School of Music (BM, Performer’s Certificate, and MM) and the Juilliard School (DMA), two of the world’s leading conservatories. His principal teachers include Natalya Antonova, Martin Canin (student of Rosina Lhévinne), and Oxana Yablonskaya (student of Tatiana Nikolayeva), linking him to the Russian piano tradition. He has also received coaching from esteemed pedagogues such as Boris Berman, Christopher Elton, Claude Frank, Peter Frankl, and Robert Levin in masterclasses.

During his formative years, Dr. Fung developed a deep interest in music theory and analysis. At Eastman, he studied under Matthew Brown and Steven Laitz, earning a master’s degree in music theory pedagogy. His research at Juilliard was supervised by Carl Schachter, a preeminent authority of Schenkerian analysis.

As a performer, Dr. Fung has received accolades from eminent music critics. Following his performance of Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Juilliard Orchestra at Lincoln Center under Maestro Otto Werner Mueller, Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times praised his playing as “refined and elegant.” Harris Goldsmith of the New York Concert Review, after his Carnegie Hall performance, described him as “a pianist with a musical persona akin to Rudolf Serkin.” The Hong Kong Economic Review noted his unique aesthetic, tracing it back to his study and passion for Bach’s works.

Dr. Fung has collaborated with numerous orchestras around the world, including the Juilliard Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Middle Germany Chamber Orchestra, Manhattan Chamber Orchestra, Hershey Symphony Orchestra, Lebanon Valley College Orchestra, Central Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University Orchestra. He has also been a featured artist at international music festivals such as the Israel Festival in Jerusalem, European Piano Forum in Berlin, Puigcerda Music Festival in Spain, Philadelphia Bach Festival, Kamerman Piano Series in Pensacola, Lancaster International Piano Festival, and the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

In 2022, Dr. Fung broadened his performance horizon by joining the cast of Nadia, a play with chamber music about the legendary French music pedagogue Nadia Boulanger, written by Mina Fisher. He has since become a regular cast member, collaborating with mezzo-sopranos Maria Jette and Adriana Zabala, and violinists Stephanie Arado and Stéphanie Moraly in performances on stages in US and France.

Dr. Fung is currently the Carmean Endowed Professor of Music (Piano Performance) at Lebanon Valley College in Pennsylvania. As an educator, he has conducted masterclasses and lectures at numerous institutions and professional organizations, including the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Israel, Sichuan Conservatory of Music in China, Xinghai Conservatory of Music in China, National Tainan University in Taiwan, National Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, Soochow University in Taiwan, East Tennessee State University, Hope College in Michigan, University of Illinois at Carbondale, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, the Tom Lee Music Foundation, and numerous music teacher associations. He frequently adjudicates competitions, including the Lancaster Symphony Concerto Competition, Greater Princeton Steinway Society Scholarship Competition, New Jersey Music Teachers Association Piano Competition, and MTNA Competition. He was inducted into the Steinway Teacher Hall of Fame in October 2025.

Dr. Eric Fung is a Steinway Artist.

The NEPTA Teachers' Masterclass is an example of Educational Enrichment, and is one of the many benefits provided by NEPTA to its members. This masterclass is a fundraising event and donations are encouraged. Your tax-deductible gift will be used for the Susan B. Demb Teacher Enrichment Program, which awards a $500 yearly enrichment grant to a NEPTA member. You may make a donation or make a donation at the Master Class meeting.