About
The M2 Piano Intensive
July 12th—26th, 2026
The M2 Piano Program is carefully cultivated by concert pianists to truly provide what Pianists need to thrive and reach their fullest potential. A blend of performance opportunities, dedicated, hands on mentorship, and non-traditional curriculum aims to develop the pianist as a full human and provide a forum for artistic and technical exploration. Aimed towards ambitious pianists seeking to develop their talents further, our participants are chosen based on potential as much as current achievements. At the core of our program is a sense of community, with the goal that fellows can leave the program with faculty members as true mentors.
M2 on Tour
Unique to the program is the importance of stage experience with each pianist expected to participate in multiple tailored opportunities to perform throughout the Santa Ynez Valley in their two week residency.
The M2 Curriculum
While private lessons make up the core of the curriculum, pianists also take part in a wide array of non-traditional workshops such as acting, dance, and various outdoor activities. Our location at Midland nature-based School allows for many special experiences both in and outside of the classroom. Students are also encouraged to participate actively in the community whilst they are in residency and will be offered many opportunities to do so.
Scholarship and Financial Aid
Scholarships are awarded based on students’ potential, performance, and eagerness to grow, as demonstrated in their video submission and short-answer responses.
Financial aid is awarded based on need. If you apply for financial aid, you will be asked to state your household income along with any explanation outlining why tuition or boarding fees are a barrier for attending this program.
faculty
Sylvia Jiang - Program Chair
Yi-Yang Chen - Teaching Artist
Sylvia Jiang - Program Chair
Sylvia Jiang is a young concert pianist from New Zealand and serves as Artistic Director and co-founder of non-profit organization Muffin Music Inc.. Hailed by critics as a ‘gifted young pianist of genuine substance’ and ‘New Zealand’s most notable young emerging pianist,’ Sylvia has been featured on BBC News, The Washington Post, ABC Aus
Sylvia Jiang is a young concert pianist from New Zealand and serves as Artistic Director and co-founder of non-profit organization Muffin Music Inc.. Hailed by critics as a ‘gifted young pianist of genuine substance’ and ‘New Zealand’s most notable young emerging pianist,’ Sylvia has been featured on BBC News, The Washington Post, ABC Australia, Radio New Zealand Concert, and other notable news networks and publications.
Sylvia has performed as a soloist with numerous internationally renowned Orchestras such as the Royal Philharmonic, Queensland Symphony, Music Academy of the West, and Juilliard Chamber Orchestras. Solo performance highlights include Alice Tully Hall in New York City, Auckland Town Hall, and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Sylvia has served as Artistic Director for multiple arts organizations and events, with a focus on her interest in multi-disciplinary collaborative work. She was invited to be a featured soloist in The Kennedy Center’s Ballet Across America with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Miami City Ballet.
Over the years, she has won numerous top prizes at national and international level competitions including the prestigious Lev Vlassenko, Kerikeri, Music Academy of the West, and Hastings International Piano Competitions. She most recently served as the sole Artist Diploma Candidate at Johns Hopkins University.
She is currently on faculty at the University of Aukland School of Music.
Learn more about Sylvia here
Chi-Ho Han - Teaching Artist
Yi-Yang Chen - Teaching Artist
Sylvia Jiang - Program Chair
Korean concert pianist Chi-Ho Han is an artist with an unmistakable personal mark, embracing technical diversity, emotional realness and philosophical depth in all his unique recital programs.
Establishing a firm conviction in German arts at age 20, Han received top prizes at Beethoven Competitions respectively in Vienna and Bonn, and Schu
Korean concert pianist Chi-Ho Han is an artist with an unmistakable personal mark, embracing technical diversity, emotional realness and philosophical depth in all his unique recital programs.
Establishing a firm conviction in German arts at age 20, Han received top prizes at Beethoven Competitions respectively in Vienna and Bonn, and Schubert Competition in Dortmund. Earlier achievements also include 1st prize and Audience Award at International Kissinger KlavierOlympic Competition (Germany, 2013), 1st prize at Seoul International Music Competition (Korea, 2014), top prize at ARD International Music Competition (Germany, 2014) with additional Audience Award and Best Performance on Commissioned Work, Silver Medal at Gina Bachauer International Artists Piano Competition (USA, 2014), and 4th prize at the Queen Elisabeth International Competition (Belgium, 2016).
Solo recitals took him to prestigious halls in such major cities as Berlin, Brussels, Budapest, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Paris, Seoul, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Taipei and Tokyo. He made orchestral appearances with Austrian Radio Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, National Orchestra of Belgium, Lviv National Philharmonic, Munich Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of Marseille, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra and Utah Symphony Orchestra, on a rich repertory covering complete Beethoven concertos, Romantic and Russian standards to contemporary commissions.
A protégé of pianist-composer György Kurtág, and a former student of Prof. Arnulf von Arnim and Prof. Arie Vardi, Han is currently Associate Professor at Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.
Yi-Yang Chen - Teaching Artist
Yi-Yang Chen - Teaching Artist
Yi-Yang Chen - Teaching Artist
Dr. Yi-Yang Chen is an internationally acclaimed pianist whose career gained major momentum with top prizes at the Sussex, Washington, and Warning International Piano Competitions. Critics have praised his performances for their “flair for the unusual,” “musical and emotional intelligence,” and commanding virtuosity. His appearance as sol
Dr. Yi-Yang Chen is an internationally acclaimed pianist whose career gained major momentum with top prizes at the Sussex, Washington, and Warning International Piano Competitions. Critics have praised his performances for their “flair for the unusual,” “musical and emotional intelligence,” and commanding virtuosity. His appearance as soloist in Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 5 “Egyptian” with the Worthing Symphony Orchestra was lauded for its technical brilliance and expressive depth. Judges at the Pacific International Piano Competition described his playing as “immediately compelling,” noting his natural affinity for the instrument and powerful artistic presence.
Chen has performed on five continents in major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Melbourne Recital Centre, National Concert Hall in Taipei, Banff Music Centre, and ZK Matthews Great Hall in South Africa. He has appeared with orchestras such as the Worthing Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Philharmonic, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, National Chinese Orchestra, and Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra, and has participated in festivals including the Perlman Music Festival, Music Academy of the West, Taos School of Music, and Banff Music Centre.
Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Chen began piano studies at age eight. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Master’s degree from The Juilliard School, and has worked with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Emanuel Ax, and members of leading international string quartets.
Dr. Chen is Assistant Professor of Piano at the University of Kansas and Artist Director of the Orbifold Music Festival in California. He is currently recording for Champs Hill Records, with a release scheduled for 2025.
housing And Travel
Housing
Students are housed in double cabins on the Midland School Campus. As the Santa Ynez Valley is a very rural area, we highly recommend that students take advantage of living on campus- even those traveling with Parents/Guardians. We can accommodate one Guardian per student on campus for an additional fee, and can work with families to offer alternative housing (as detailed below).
- $1,500 for 14 nights
- $800 for Parents/Guardians
- Shared (double) Dorm style housing
- 3 meals/day
- On campus
- Access to gym and hiking
Partner Hotels:
- Santa Ynez Valley Marriott: $189-$229 per night
- Hampton Inn and Suites: $159-$229 per night
AirBnB Rentals
- We have wonderful partnerships with vacation rental companies which offer excellent rates particularly for larger groups. Please let us know of your interest and we can connect you with options.
Travel
Students who will be flying in to attend the program should arrive at Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) where our staff will pick them up to transport them to campus, or can elect to arrive at LAX in Los Angeles and take a shuttle bus or other means of transport to Santa Barbara.
Supervised flying for younger students may be available from New York City on the East Coast and Auckland, New Zealand. Other locations may be available with enough market interest. Please let us know if you are interested in these options.
PLEASE NOTE:
Students who are living on campus will be boarded among students in similar age brackets. Residential assistants will supervise housing of all boarded students to maintain a healthy and happy living environment.
Due to the all day nature of the schedule and the remote nature of the campus, students living off campus must subscribe to the on campus meal plan.
It is highly recommended that families and students who choose to live off-campus should have access to private transport although ride-sharing services are available in the Santa Ynez valley. Please note that there is no access to public transportation to the Midlands Campus and nor is it a pleasant pedestrian environment. Students are welcome to bring vehicles and other legal modes of transportation- but please note that Muffin Music does not take any responsibility for the safety of these vehicles.