Dr. Kayla Ham Chon is an accomplished pianist who began piano studies at the age of three. She received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Keyboard Collaborative Arts from University of Southern California where she was awarded the Gwendolyn and Adolph Koldofsky Memorial Endowed Scholarship, Mary Van Lear Memorial Endowed Music Scholarship in Keyboard Studies, and an Outstanding Keyboard Collaborative Artist Award. In addition, she was invited to join the national music honor society, Pi Kappa Lambda. She also holds a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance from Eastman School of Music and a Master of Music degree in piano performance from Westminster Choir College.
Since 2012, Dr. Chon has been on faculty at Austin Chamber Music Center where she teaches both at the Academy and summer Workshop.
Dr. Chon has maintained an active career as a collaborative keyboard artist performing in numerous recitals, chamber, choral, and orchestral concerts, as well as opera and musical theater productions. As a versatile musician, her expertise in literature is expansive in solo piano, chamber music, art songs, opera, musical theater, and choral music. Earning a reputation for her performances, she regularly collaborates with faculty and student artists in the Central Texas region. She has been a guest collaborative artist at University of Texas at Austin and Southwestern University.
Equally active as an educator, Dr. Chon is currently a lecturer in piano at Texas State University. She was previously on faculty at Notre Dame de Namur University and Pepperdine University. She is in demand as a vocal and instrumental coach, adjudicator, and music director for opera and musical theater productions. She has held various accompanying, coaching and music directing positions at Eastman School of Music, Westminster Choir College, University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, San Francisco State University, Stanford University, Bay Area Summer Opera Theater Institute, University of Southern California Chamber Opera, TheatreWorks, Berkeley Opera, Austin Opera, and Spotlight on Opera. As an adjudicator, Dr. Chon is regularly invited to judge for festivals and competitions sponsored by Austin District Music Teachers Association.