Lei Weng

CIPAF Founder &

Artistic Director

Steinway Artist, Dr. Lei Weng enjoys a successful international career as an accomplished pianist, a dedicated teacher, and a sought-after adjudicator and clinician.

Hailed as “a colorist of exemplary control” by the New York Concert Review for his sold- out Carnegie Hall debut, he has performed at many prestigious venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, and Steinway Hall in New York, Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C., Chicago Culture Center, China’s National Center for Performing Arts, Taiwan’s National Concert Hall and Kaohsiung Cultural Center, Banff Center in Canada, Peterskirche in Vienna, Basilica di San Pietro in Italy, London’s Royal College of Music, Singapore National University, and major universities and conservatories throughout China. He has been invited to perform and teach at such music festivals as Tanglewood
Music Festival, TCU Cliburn Institute, Messiaen Festival, Music Fest Perugia (Italy), Vianden Festival (Luxemburg), and Breckenridge Music Festival.

As a frequent concerto soloist, he has appeared with such conductors as Gerhardt Zimmerman, Steven Smith, Uri Segal, Robert Olson, Geoffrey Simon, Lingfen Wu, Yang Yang, Glen Cortese, Wes Kenney, and with more than thirty orchestras across the U.S., Europe and Asia, including the Symphony Orchestras of Fort Worth, Fort Collins, Beijing, Tianjin, Gimhae (Korea), Kaohsiung (Taiwan), Alicante (Spain), as well as China National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and Breckinridge Music Festival Orchestra. As an avid chamber music performer, he has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra Concertmaster Noah Bendix-Balgley in Sarasota Music Festival, with the Associate
Concertmaster of Chicago Symphony Orchestra Stephanie Jeong and Cleveland Institute of Music Cavani Quartet cellist Siyan Li in Rocky Ridge Music Festival, and with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra Concertmaster Nathan Olson and the Naumburg First Prize Winner cellist David Requiro in the Breckenridge Music Festival. He has also studied and worked closely with musicians such as Emmanuel Ax, Jerome Lowenthal, James Tocco, Co-Liang Lin, Pamela Frank, Dawn Upshaw and Lucy Shelton.

A dedicated educator, Dr. Weng is the Keyboard Area Head at the University of Northern Colorado , where he was the recipient of the “College of Performing and Visual Arts Scholar of the Year”. He has been frequently invited as guest professor by major conservatories in Asia, such as China Central Conservatory and Shanghai Conservatory, and Taiwan National Normal University. His students have won top prizes in numerous national and international competitions, and have been admitted into such top schools as Julliard, Eastman, Peabody, Cleveland, New England, Cincinnati, Oberlin, and
Manhattan. Weng is the also Founder and Director of the Colorado International Piano Academy and Colorado Piano Festival , two intensive summer piano programs that take place annually on the UNC Campus. Dr. Weng has been invited to serve on jury panels of many national and international piano competitions around the world, including the Cleveland International Piano Competition, International Rachmaninoff Piano Competition in Moscow (2020), Hong Kong International Music Competition, “Nuova Coppa Pianisti” International Piano Competition, China National Piano Competition,
Mexico “Parnassus” National Piano Competition, and MTNA Competitions. He is the
Chairman of the Mu Phi Epsilon Foundation Keyboard Scholarships.

Jinha Park

Associate Director

“Pianist Jinha Park demonstrated ample dexterity, velocity, and accuracy in Chopin’s Piano Concerto in F Minor.” – San Antonio Express-News

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Jinha Park stands today on the brink of a significant career as a concert pianist, shaped by a journey spanning three decades and enriched by a mosaic of global experiences. From the bustling streets of Seoul to the cultural landscapes of Baltimore and Paris, her transformative path has been marked by relentless dedication and diverse encounters.

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Commencing her piano studies at the tender age of six, Dr. Park made her public debut at fourteen with the Sunha Arts Orchestra. Her arts-based education commenced at Seoul National University in South Korea and culminated at the Johns Hopkins Peabody Conservatory in the U.S. Guided by teachers including Marina Lomazov, Marian Hahn, Philippe Entremont, and others, she also studied under the tutelage of renowned pianists such as Yong-Hi Moon, Yoheved Kaplinsky, Jerome Lowenthal, Ann Schein, John Perry, and Leon Fleisher.

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A laureate of competitions, Dr. Park’s journey has been adorned with victories in the Vienna Allegro Vivo International Chamber Music Competition, Burgos International Music Competition, Baltimore Music Competition, and the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) competition. Noteworthy engagements include performances with the Virtuoso Brunesis Orchestra (Italy), Vienna CMS Chamber Orchestra, Festival Philharmonic Orchestra (Korea), National Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, Oltenia Symphony Orchestra (Romania), Alicante Symphony Orchestra (Spain), Romanian Timisoara Orchestra (Romania), and performances across Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, Korea, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and major cities in the United States.

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Dr. Park has contributed her discerning expertise as a jury member at international competitions, including the International Youth Competition’ A Step Towards Mastery’ in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the ICA International Piano Competition in Hanoi, Vietnam, the Virginia Queen Piano Competition in the U.S., the New York Musicians Club in the Seoul International Piano Competition, the Sunhwa Piano Competition in Seoul, and the OMTA (Oregon Music Teachers Association) Classical Music Competition in Portland. Additionally, she has lent her discerning insights to the Kirov International Music Competition in Washington, D.C., and the Northern Virginia Music Teachers’ Association Concerto Competition.

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Beyond the spotlight, Dr. Park’s commitment to education and artistic leadership shines through. She has served as the Director of the Music Fest Perugia in Seoul and on the faculty of the Music Fest Perugia in Italy, Summit Music Festival, Montecito International Music Festival, Triumph International Music Festival, Portland Classical Festival, Ouachita International Keyboard Music Festival, Washington International Piano Festival, and Costa Rica International Music Festival.

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Her teaching roles include positions at the University of Maryland University College, August State University, Sookmyung Women’s University, Sunhwa Arts Performing Arts High School, and Kirov Academy of Washington, D.C. Currently, Dr. Park holds the position of Associate Director at the Colorado International Piano Academy and Festival, Chair of the YMIC Virtuoso International Music Competition (U.S.), and U.S. Associate Director of the Amigdala International Music Competition (Italy). Her role as Department Manager and Piano Faculty at Levine Music adds a harmonious note to her illustrious career.

Reginald Winters

Executive Director

CIPAF Teaching Assistant

Reginald ("Reggie") Winters is an active pianist, harpsichordist, educator, and arts administrator based out of Greeley, Colorado. As a performer, Reggie has become a highly sought after collaborator. He currently serves as a Collaborative Piano Teaching Assistant at the University of Northern Colorado where he assists with courses in the Voice Area. He has previously served as an orchestral pianist for the Texas Tech University Symphony Orchestra and for the chamber orchestra Ensemble Bravura.

As a harpsichordist, Reggie serves as the basso continuo for the URSA Early Music Consort at the University of Northern Colorado. His most recent concert engagement includes a performance of J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050, in collaboration with violinist Dr. Jubal Fulks and flutist Dr. James Hall. He is currently in the harpsichord studio of Professor Debra Throgmorton at the University of Northern Colorado.

As an active arts administrator, Reggie currently serves as the Executive Director of the Colorado International Piano Academy & Festival. He additionally serves as the Artistic Co-Director and Director of Chamber Music of Beethoven in the Rockies: Concert Series, Executive Administrator and Social Media Coordinator of the annual Orvieto Musica Summer Music Festival (Orvieto, Italy), and is on the team of the Boulder Chamber Orchestra.  He served as the Production Assistant on the album “Finding Home” (SONY) produced by Grammy-winning Producer Michael Fine and featuring Maestro Philip Mann with Ensemble Bravura. While completing his studies at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX, Reggie served as a full-time teacher and administrative assistant at The Music Studio Lubbock where he maintained a large piano studio. He is currently a Graduate Assistant in the UNC College of Performing and Visual Arts Admissions Office.

Reggie completed the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at Texas Tech University and the Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado. He will continue his studies at the University of Northern Colorado this Fall where he will begin working toward the Doctor of Arts degree in Piano Performance. His principal teachers include Drs. Tatiana Roitman Mann and Lei Weng.

Qingrui Li

Executive Administrator

Qingrui Li is a pianist, harpsichordist, and collaborator. Born and raised in China, she began her piano training at age of four under the guidance of Pingguo Zhao, one of the most renowned piano educators in China. Since 2012, she has frequently performed as a recitalist, harpsichordist, concerto soloist in the United States, Europe, and China. Ms. Li has performed as soloist with the Luigi Cherubini Orchestra in Perugia, Italy, performing Camille Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, op. 22. 

As a promoter of early music, Ms. Li has given several solo and chamber concerts. She has also been invited to perform as a harpsichordist, collaborating with a French Recorder artist in early music concerts in Denver. She has additionally served as collaborative pianist in classical and contemporary opera productions in alongside American opera artist Brain Luedloff, conductor Russell Guyver, and the UNC Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Li earned the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance from the China Conservatory of Music. She holds the Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Northern Colorado. She is currently completing the Doctor of Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado with a secondary emphasis in Harpsichord Performance. Her education has been enriched by guidance from esteemed professors including Professors Lei Weng, Debra Throgmorton, Adam Zukiewicz, Changxin Guan, Tamas Ungar, and Philip Edward Fisher.

Alejandro Arroyo Alberto

Program Manager

Born in El Salvador, Alejandro is currently pursuing his D.A. in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado, where he studies with Dr. Lei Weng. Previously, he earned his Bachelor's Degree in Piano Performance with honors from the University of Costa Rica and a Master's Degree from UNC. Alejandro debuted as a soloist at age twelve with the El Salvador National Symphony Orchestra and has also appeared with the Costa Rica National Symphony Orchestra, Carthage Symphony Orchestra, the Central Texas Philarmonic, and UNC's Symphony Orchestra.

His prizes include First Prize at the Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Central and South America (Peru, 2020); First Prize at the Young Artist Piano MTNA Colorado State Competition (2020 and 2021); Commissioned Piece Award and finalist at the Texas State International Piano Competition (2022); and First Prize at the Southard Competition (2023). Alejandro volunteers as a teacher for UNC's Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Collegiate Chapter, and in 2022, he served as an adjudicator for the 5th Youth Piano Competition and Festival, sponsored by the MTNA-UNC Collegiate Chapter.

Xiaoqing Lu

Communications Manager

CIPAF Teaching Assistant

Xiaoqing (Lucy) Lu is a distinguished pianist, teacher, and collaborator currently based in Greeley, Colorado. Her musical journey began in high school at the affiliated secondary school of the Xinghai Conservatory of Music, where she specialized in Piano Performance. She continued her education at Guangxi Normal University and completed the Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance. During her undergraduate years, she served as the Principal Keyboardist of the Guangxi Normal University Symphony Orchestra.

Following her undergraduate studies, Ms. Lu moved to the United States to continue her graduate studies and musical education. She earned the Master of Music degree from the University of Oklahoma City, where she studied under the mentorship of Dr. Sergio Monteiro, a former student of the legendary pianist Martha Argerich. Ms. Lu is currently pursuing the Doctor of Arts degree in Piano Performance with a secondary emphasis in Collaborative Piano at the University of Northern Colorado under the esteemed guidance of Dr. Lei Weng.  

An advocate of keyboard versatility as a performer, Ms. Lu has also received collaborative piano coaching from Dr. Joe McAllister, harpsichord coaching from Professor Debra Throgmorton, and completed organ studies with Dr. Melissa Plamann.

Ms. Lu has attended many international piano competitions, and was awarded First Prize at the prestigious China International Piano Competition and secured the Second Prize in the 2nd Annual IAC International Piano Festival & Competition. She was also a winner of the 2020 University of Oklahoma City Concerto Competition.

As she continues to evolve as an artist, Ms. Lu remains committed to musical excellence, enchanting audiences with her heartfelt interpretations and demonstrating her artistic depth and maturity both in the United States and abroad.

Yuelu Cui

Publicity Manager

CIPAF Teaching Assistant

Yuelu (Evelyn) Cui is in high demand as a pianist and collaborator in Greeley, Colorado, where she is currently based. She began her formal musical training at the age of five with Professor Zhensheng Huang at the Bengbu College in her home province of Anhui, China. She continued her musical education with Professor Huang at Bengbu No. 2 Middle School and throughout her high school years. Ms. Cui continued her education at South China Normal University in Guangzhou City, Guangdong, where she was ranked first place in the 2013 incoming class. She completed the Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance at South China Normal University where she studied with Professor Xiying Huang. 

Ms. Cui continued her graduate studies and musical education in the United States at the University of Texas-El Paso where she completed the Master of Music degree in Piano Performance with Dr. Oscar Macchioni. During her Master’s degree she was invited to perform both solo piano and chamber music recitals in Hull, England and Paris, France. She also served as the Assistant Music Director of Grace Chinese Baptist Church in El Paso, Texas. 

Currently, Ms. Cui is completing the Doctor of Arts degree in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado where she is pursing a secondary emphasis in Collaborative Piano Performance. She is in the piano studio of Steinway Artist Dr. Lei Weng, Head of the Keyboard Area at the University of Northern Colorado. She has received additional coaching and trainings in collaborative piano from Dr. Edward Rothmel and Dr. Joe McAllister. Always aiming to achieve versatility as a performer, she also studied harpsichord with Professor Debra Throgmorton during her doctoral studies. She currently serves as the Music Director of Faith Church in Windsor, Colorado.

A winner of many international piano competitions, Ms. Cui earned Silver Prize at the 2016 Odyssey International Piano Competition (Professional Youth Group A), Third Prize at the 2nd Annual Yamaha National Piano Competition (University/Professional Group), and First Prize at the Hong Kong International Invitational Competition (Youth Group). Ms. Cui has appeared as a concerto soloist with the Luigi Cherubini Orchestra in Perugia, Italy, in a performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, op. 25. 

Qingyun Zhang

Concert & Stage Manager

Qingyun (Zoy) Zhang is a pianist, collaborator, and choral conductor at the University of Northern Colorado. Originally from Qidong, China, she began her musical training at age 13 under Dr. Keng Zhou at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. She later attended the Affiliated Secondary School of NUA, focusing on composition alongside piano studies.

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Despite starting piano relatively late, Zoy showed a strong interest in composition during high school. After graduation, she pursued a degree in Piano Performance at St. Cloud State University, where she also worked as an accompanist for the university orchestra and collaborated with various vocalists and instrumentalists.

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Zoy's enthusiasm for collaborative piano grew during her undergraduate years, prompting her to pursue further studies in the field. She earned her Master’s degree in Collaborative Piano from Illinois State University under the guidance of Dr. Tuyen Tonnu. During this time, Zoy held a full scholarship as a piano teaching assistant, performed with the school orchestra, and taught undergraduate group piano classes.

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Currently, Zoy is working towards a Doctor of Arts degree in Collaborative Piano Performance with a Secondary Emphasis in Choral Conducting at the University of Northern Colorado. Her primary advisors are Dr. Joe McAllister for piano and Dr. Jill Burgett for conducting. She is in demand as a collaborator, working extensively across both instrumental and vocal areas within the School of Music.

Sharon Sun

Production Support

Sharon Sun is a gifted young pianist from Dalian, currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in Piano Performance at the University of Northern Colorado. Her musical journey began at the tender age of four, and her passion for the piano has only grown since. Sharon is honing her craft under the mentorship of Steinway Artist and Piano Area Head, Dr. Lei Weng, at UNC.

John Crigler

Production Support

John Crigler is a pianist and educator, currently pursuing his doctoral studies in jazz with a secondary emphasis in piano at the University of Northern Colorado where he studies with Dana Landry and Lei Weng. He earned a Master of Music in jazz studies from Georgia State University and actively participated in both the piano and jazz programs. Prior to moving to Atlanta, he taught English in Normandy, France where he enrolled in music classes at the Conservatoire de Caen, engaging with musicians from the area. Originally from the Pacific Northwest where he earned a Bachelor of Music in piano at Eastern Washington University, he actively researches the parallels between jazz and the harmonic innovations of 20th century French composers including Ravel, Debussy and Satie. Previous teachers include Jody Graves, Marie-Pascale Talbot, Geoffrey Haydon, and Kevin Bales.

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After a successful audition, he performed in a masterclass for Jeremy Denk in Spokane, WA, as well as for Daniel Pollack in Seattle. Throughout high school, he won various jazz awards including Eastern Washington University’s distinguished soloist award and $3,000 (Robert Richardson scholarship) after a jazz trio performance. At MusicFest Northwest, he earned a gold medal in MTNA’s collegiate division after performing Mozart’s K. 333 sonata.