Dr. Hui-Ting Yang has been named the Director of Troy University’s John M. Long School of Music.  

She moves into the role that was previously held by Dr. Larry Blocher, who held the position for 17 years before retiring in July 2022.

Yang joined the University in 2007 as a lecturer of piano and served as Interim Director for the School of Music from 2022 to July 2024.

“Hui-Ting Yang is a dedicated leader who is deeply committed to the success of the Long School of Music, said Dr. Michael Thrasher, Dean for the College of Communication and Fine Arts. “She is a fine musician and a relentless advocate for the value of music education. I have complete confidence in her ability to lead the School of Music into the future.”

Dr. Scott Sexton, Assistant Professor of Music Education, is a former student of Yang’s and is excited to see the trajectory of her career continue. 

“She’s a great leader, very fair and supports the faculty 100 percent,” he said. “She’s a go getter and I think this is really exciting for the School of Music.”

Dr. Yang says plans for the future are to further expand the Music Industry Program and to fill positions that will fulfill the needs of the Music Education Program. She also says that she is excited to continue working with her team.

“I’m a strong believer of a team effort because I can’t do it all by myself,” Yang said. “As a good leader, you need to have a clear goal on what you want to achieve, and then find the right people to work with. That’s really important and the key to success,”

Yang believes that she gets the best of both worlds in her role, because while she has administrative responsibilities to complete, she still has the opportunity to teach and interact with students.

Dr. Yang says that the School of Music’s strong alumni network serves as a great reminder and motivator for her.

“When I see our graduates and their students, I see new energy and potential for music educators,” she said. “They remind me of why I’m here, and I see hope for the future through them.”

Yang is an active performer and educator. She has performed, lectured, and conducted master classes throughout the Czech Republic, Korea, China, Taiwan and the United States. 

In Spring 2022, Dr. Yang was selected as a Troy University Chancellor’s Fellow and has been an advocate of the faculty/staff training and readiness in student mental health crisis since then.

She also received the Doctor of Music in Collaborative/Chamber Music and the Master of Music in Accompanying from Florida State University, the Master of Music in Piano Performance from Ohio University, and the Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Taipei.

Dr. Yang is a Steinway Artist and was inducted into the Steinway and Sons Teacher Hall of Fame in 2023.