University News Last updated 16 July 2020
RBC graduate Yijiao Feng has been appointed as full-time Dance Pianist at The Hammond School.
Yijiao graduated with an MMus in Instrumental Performance in 2019 and during her course she participated in the Conservatoire's Ballet Piano scheme. Run in collaboration with Elmhurst Ballet School, the scheme offers students mentoring, observation and hands-on experience playing for ballet classes and rehearsals.
Yijiao joined the programme in her second year of the MMus course, and was able to work with Elmhurst Ballet School and observe classes at Birmingham Royal Ballet as part of the scheme. She gained additional experience as part of Elmhurst’s pianist team at their Summer School in 2019, guided by their pianists and ballet tutors, and joined the Royal Ballet School Associate Programme in December of that year.
This valuable experience has landed Yijiao the role at The Hammond School, originally Hammond School of Dancing, a specialist co-educational performing arts school offering vocational training in dance, drama and music, based in Chester.
Yijiao said: “I’m delighted to have been offered this dance pianist post. I cannot thank RBC and the Elmhurst Ballet Piano Scheme enough for enlightening and developing my career.
“The Hammond School is the oldest vocational dance school in the UK and a leading provider of performing arts education. In addition to playing for classical ballet classes, I will play for tap dance, music and musical theatre classes as well. It’s a new challenge for me, but I’m very excited.
“I am forever thankful to the RBC Ballet Piano Scheme for broadening my career options and introducing me to new possibilities as a professional pianist.”