Noël Wan

Noël Wan is an Assistant Professor of Harp and Entrepreneurship at Florida State University's College of Music since August 2022. A double alumna of the University of Illinois, she earned her Bachelor of Music (2014) and Doctor of Musical Arts (2019) degrees with honors, including recognition as a Bronze Tablet and Edmund J. James Scholar. Her scholarly work explores performance practice, ecocriticism, affect theory, new materialism, feminism, and race, with a focus on diasporic Asian women's identities in music.

• Education:
  • Bachelor of Music: Instrumental Performance, University of Illinois (2014)
  • Doctor of Musical Arts: Performance and Literature, University of Illinois (2019)

Her research integrates performance and theory, featuring transcriptions of works by J.S. Bach, Leo Brouwer, and Alexina Louie’s From the Eastern Gate. She advocates for interdisciplinary approaches, blending music entrepreneurship with social justice themes. Recent accolades include the 2022 USA International Harp Competition Gold Medal and a special prize for innovative programming.

• Awards:
  • Gold Medalist, USA International Harp Competition (2022)
  • Best Performance of New Work Prize (Stage III, 2022)

Noël’s teaching and outreach emphasize community engagement through clinics and live-streamed performances. Her academic profile combines rigorous scholarship with entrepreneurial initiatives in music education and cultural representation.