Joanna Chang, Assistant Professor of Music at Fairfield University, teaches music history and theory and is a classically trained pianist with doctorates in piano performance and musicology. Her research explores late nineteenth-century composers influenced by Brahms, as well as the presence and interpretation of symphonic works in Hollywood and East Asian film soundtracks.

This concert brings that scholarship to life, celebrating the piano’s dual identity on the concert stage and in cinema. At once musically satisfying and intellectually engaging, the program reveals how classical music shapes film storytelling—creating emotional depth, dramatic tension, and unforgettable moments on screen. Audiences will leave with a renewed appreciation for the piano’s cinematic power and its enduring role in how we experience stories through sound.