Dr. Tammy Yi

Dr. Tammy Yi

Assistant Professor
College of Performing Arts; Hall-Musco Conservatory of Music
Education:
Azusa Pacific University, Bachelor of Music
University of Southern California, Master of Music
Columbia University in the City of New York, Master of Education
Columbia University in the City of New York, Doctor of Education

Biography

Dr. Tammy S. Yi is a first-gen conductor-educator, string pedagogy specialist and music education scholar from Los Angeles, CA. She is an assistant professor of music education at Chapman University, founding director of Mariachi Panteras and the orchestra conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA Orchestra. Dr. Yi is also faculty at the Colburn Conservatory of Music, teaching graduate courses in music performance research and pedagogy.

Dr. Yi emphasizes the significance of transformative social activism for youth in music, education and the performing arts. She maintains an active conducting schedule with El-Sistema orchestra programs, local school communities and state honor ensembles. As an international conductor, she has performed at prestigious international venues, collaborating with artists including Janet Jackson, Gustavo Dudamel, Ray Chen and Thomas Wilkins, among others. In addition to conducting, she mentors pre-K–12 music teachers in the community, Teaching Artists in the YOLA program, facilitates professional development sessions and designs music education curricula for the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Dr. Yi’s research focus is on ethnic studies, culturally responsive pedagogy and EDIA (equity, diversity, inclusion and access) initiatives as they pertain to music performance and education. She regularly presents her work at music education and conducting conferences worldwide, gaining impressive international exposure for her and her research, including Oxford University, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, National Association for Music Education, California Music Educators Association, Sphinx Organization, and headlining the 2023 Texas Orchestra Directors Association Conference. Dr. Yi continues to serve on the American String Teachers Association's national board to train current and future music teachers in a social justice ethos so that educators can develop culturally and community-responsive pedagogy in orchestra education. Her research has appeared in leading music education journals, including Music Education Research, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Oxford Handbook Series, and Music Educators Journal.

Dr. Yi's musical accomplishments in teaching, scholarship, and youth activism have earned her a number of prestigious awards. She was awarded the Innovation in Diversity and Inclusion Research Award, the Grant for Pedagogical Innovation, which led to the formation of the first collegiate mariachi ensemble in Orange County, and the Award of Excellence from Chapman University. She was also named a finalist for the 2022 GRAMMY Music Educator Award.

Prior to teaching at Chapman University, Dr. Yi taught violin and orchestral conducting at Columbia University, was the conductor of the Manhattan School of Music Pre-college Orchestra and was an assistant professor of string education and conductor of the UA Philharmonic at the University of Arizona. Dr. Yi earned her doctorate in music and music education from Columbia University as a Florence K. Geffen Fellow, and she was awarded the Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship for her master's degree at the University of Southern California.

Recent Creative, Scholarly Work and Publications

Hendricks, K., Freeze, C., Yi, T.S. (In Press). Spaces and Facets of Trust for LGBTQ+ Music Students: A Multiple Case Study. Oxford Handbook of Gender and Queer Studies in Music Education. Oxford University Press.
Yi, T. S. (2023). Headliner at 2023 Texas Orchestra Directors Association Convention. San Antonio, TX.
Yi, T.S. (in Review). Ethnic Studies: A Framework for Music Education Research. Submitted to Action, Criticism, and Theory for Music Education.
Yi, T.S. (2023) Pedagogy of the Back of the Orchestra: Alternative Seating Practices. Music Education Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/14613808.2023.2187042
Yi, T. S. (2023). Challenges and Potential of a Diverse Music Teaching Force: A Review of the Literature. Update: Applications of Research in Music Education. https://doi.org/10.1177/87551233231198242
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2022, December). Invitational Symphony Orchestra Conductor of the Texas Music Educators Association All-Region 24.
Yi, T. S. (2021, November). Instrumental Pedagogy Workshop. Invitational Speaker by California Music Educators Association Collegiate Division.
Chanphanitpornkit, T., & Yi, T. S. (2021). All about that bass, no treble: Shapeshifting from violin to double bass. American String Teacher, 71(3), 33–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/00031313211024541
Yi, T. S. (2021). Confronting Racial Trauma in the Music Classroom: A Call to Action. Music Educators Journal, 108(1), 57–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/00274321211035688
Yi, Tammy. (2019, March). High School Students’ Experiences With Alternative Seating Practices. Conference presentation at the American String Teachers Association, Albuquerque, NM.
Yi, Tammy. (2019, March). Women in Music. Guest Speaker at the Tau Beta Sigma Speaker Series, Tucson, AZ.
Yi, Tammy. (2019, February). Randomization and Its Benefits in the Orchestra. Conference presentation at the Tucson Unified School District Teacher Education Workshop. Tucson, AZ
Yi, Tammy. (2019, June) Social Justice and Orchestra Education. Conference presentation at the International Music Education Summit. Online.
Yi, Tammy. (2019, August) Conducting for Social Justice: Ensemble Seating. Conference presentation at the Oxford Conducting Institute, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Sydney, AU
Yi, T. S. (2019, October) Social Justice in Ensemble Performance, Faculty Research and Creative Expo, Chapman University. Orange, CA
Yi, T. (2019) Exclusive Society vs. Diverse Teaching Force. Manuscript submitted for publication.
Yi, T. S. (2019). Social Justice and Ensemble Success: Implementing Alternative Seating Practices. American String Teacher, 69(4), 43–46. doi: 10.1177/0003131319871449
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2019, February 22) Philharmonic Orchestra. Live performance in Crowder Hall at the University of Arizona. Tucson.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor) (2019, March). TUSD Advanced Honor Orchestra Festival. Live performance at Catalina High School. Tucson.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2019, May 1) Philharmonic Orchestra. Live performance in Crowder Hall at the University of Arizona. Tucson.
Yi, Tammy. 2018. Back of the Orchestra: High School Students’ Experiences with Alternative Seating Practices.
Yi, Tammy. (2018, November). High School Students’ Experiences With Alternative Seating Practices. Conference presentation at the National Association for Music Education. Dallas, TX.
Yi, Tammy. (2018, October). Social Justice and Alternative Seating. Conference presentation at the Music Education Colloquium of the Fred Fox School of Music, University of Arizona. Tucson, AZ.
Yi, Tammy. (2018, September). Alternative Seating Practices with Secondary Ensembles. Conference presentation at California Music Educators Association Southwestern Division. Azusa, CA.
Yi, Tammy. (2018, September). Practice for Social Justice: Alternative Seating in the Orchestra. Conference presentation at the String Symposium of the American String Teachers Association Arizona Chapter. Tucson, AZ.
Yi, Tammy. (2019, August) Conducting for Social Justice: Ensemble Seating. Conference presentation at the Oxford Conducting Institute, Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Sydney, AU
Yi, T. S. (2018, January) Seniors Take the Lead! Tempo Magazine, 48-49.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2018, February 20) New York Chamber Orchestra. Live performance at Carnegie Hall. New York.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2018, April 21) First Children’s Orchestra of Harlem. Live performance at Riverside Church. New York.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2018, May) Manhattan School of Music Precollege Orchestra. Live performance at Riverside Church. New York.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2018, October 11) Philharmonic Orchestra. Live performance in Crowder Hall at the University of Arizona. Tucson.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2018, November 30) Philharmonic Orchestra. Live performance in Crowder Hall at the University of Arizona. Tucson.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2017, December) Manhattan School of Music Precollege Orchestra. Live performance at Manhattan School of Music. New York.
Yi, T. S. (Conductor). (2017, March) Chamber Orchestra Gold with Distinction Award. Live performance at New York University. New York.

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