Linlin Uta

Linlin Uta is an adjunct professor at James Madison University (JMU) School of Music, serving as an Aural Skills Instructor and Music Theory Instructor at the JMU Music Academy. She concurrently chairs the Music Theory division of the Harrisonburg Music Teachers Association. Her roles emphasize both teaching and artistic performance. She holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from Houghton University and is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Piano Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature under Dr. Gabriel Dobner at JMU. Her educational background includes a double major in Music and Politics with a minor in International Relations from Lake Forest College, where she graduated with magna cum laude honors.

Linlin’s performances span venues in the U.S. and Japan. Notable engagements include guest pianist at the Past, Present, and Future Concert (2013), solo recitals at the Huss Gallery (Evanston, IL) and James Town, NY (2017), and appearances with the Houghton Symphonic Orchestra as Chopin Concerto No.2 soloist (2018). She has also performed at Tokyo’s Noontime Concert Series (2017–2019, 2022) and the Lake Forest Presbyterian Church Senior Honor’s Convocation (2016).

Her academic accolades include the Lorraine D. and H. Randall Heath Senior Prize in Music (Lake Forest College) and full scholarship support during her master’s studies at Houghton University. Her research and teaching focus on music theory, piano pedagogy, and classical performance practices. While no formal grants are listed, her current DMA work suggests ongoing scholarly engagement. She has taught at institutions such as the Piano Camp at Music Institute of Chicago (2015) and JMU’s class piano program (2021).