Laura Tiong has been a piano teacher, composer and accompanist in Brisbane since 2008. Prior to this, she worked as the Head of Music Pedagogy for 7 years at International Music House (IMH); and as the pianist and English Choir conductor at Trinity Methodist Church in Kuching, Malaysia. Her qualifications include Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy (University of Southern Queensland, Australia) and Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance with Honours and Distinction (University of Iowa, U.S.A.).
At USQ, Laura was the recipient of the Laurence Lepherd Award for Best Postgraduate Musician. As an undergraduate, she was awarded the Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship as well as the First Prize for Sigma Alpha Iota Undergraduate Scholarship Competition at The University of Iowa. In 2019, Laura was the First Prize recipient of the QMTA Gold Coast Composers’ Competition and the Jenny Wilkinson Piano/ Instrumental Award.
Laura is an experienced accompanist for AMEB instrumental exams and for recitals at the Queensland Conservatorium and The School of Music at The University of Queensland. During her study at USQ, Laura was given the opportunity to work as the repetiteur for USQ Opera Studio under the direction of Arthur Johnson.
In addition to teaching and accompanying professionally, Laura also accompanies instrumentalists as a chamber performer. In the past, she has collaborated with Sophie Manoharan (flutist), Luke Carbon (clarinetist) and other musicians in public recitals. In 2016, Laura was appointed the accompanist for Flute Feast at Chateau Yering, Melbourne and worked with Elisabeth Parry and Paul Edmund-Davies. Laura also accompanied Chantefique French Choir for almost a decade.
Laura is the founder of Purple Tree Piano Tuition, which was established in 2010. She teaches piano students of all ages and levels.