Samuel Pang En
As a purpose-driven trailblazer, I bring together my experiences as a learner, pianist, pedagogue-educator, and researcher to advance the quality of piano learning and support the teaching community in Singapore. I strive to provide and create artistic and holistic experiences that are deserved but lacking in the world, so that I can impact lives by empowering them to thrive and succeed in their musical journeys.
About
Samuel E. Pang (彭恩) has distinguished himself as the first Singaporean awarded a Full Graduate Teaching Assistantship from the renowned piano pedagogy program at the University of Oklahoma, where he is pursuing a Master of Music in Piano Performance and Pedagogy, alongside the support of the Trailblazer Foundation in Singapore. He was recently awarded the Marjorie Martin Caylor Memorial Scholarship. From 2025-2026, he will serve on the OU MTNA Collegiate Chapter leadership committee.He studies piano with Jeongwon Ham and Heejin Jang, and he counts himself a beneficiary of his principal teachers, whom he has worked closely with, including Julie Tan (pedagogy), Rebecca Kan (research), Miranda Francis (research), Kim Bo Kyung (piano), Rena Phua (piano), and Nellie Seng (piano). He has received coaching in piano with Hwaen Ch'uqi, Penelope Roskell, Richard Uttley, and Loo Bang Hean.Before arriving in the States, Samuel earned a Bachelor of Education (Piano Pedagogy), 1st class honors from the Royal College of Music, London on the NAFA Scholarship and Shariff-Vaidhya Arts Scholarship at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, where he was subsequently conferred the Best Graduate Award (BEd) and was the first-ever recipient of The NAFA President Award (Degree) in 2024.He holds memberships in The Gordon Institute for Music Learning (US), Music Teachers National Association (US), OU MTNA Collegiate Chapter, and The Singapore Music Teachers' Association (SMTA).
Piano Pedagogue-Music Educator
Samuel advocates for the holistic development of the musician-pianist, and empowers students to be self-sufficient learners. He provides and equips them with the necessary skills, abilities, and knowledge needed to be independent musical thinking and technically-abled pianists!
Collegiate Teaching
Applied Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Music | University of Oklahoma
PIAN 4000 - Secondary Applied Piano
MUNM 3100 - Secondary Applied PianoGroup Piano Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Music | University of Oklahoma
MUTE 2311 - Group Piano Class - Level 3
MUTE 2321 - Group Piano Class - Level 4Practice Hour Graduate Teaching Assistant, School of Music | University of Oklahoma
Fall 2024
Spring 2025
"Samuel Pang is not only a fantastic performer, but an inspirational educator. His incorporation of differing techniques while teaching helped each student learn the best of their abilities. I feel that my skills improved drastically and I finally found the meaning and purpose behind the instrument as a music student at OU!" - Molly Mercer (University of Oklahoma, Group Piano Level 4 Student)
"As someone who started playing piano in college through the group piano classes, I felt like I had a very sparse knowledge of playing technique going into my second year. Samuel gave me a lot of useful practice tips that helped me fill in that space. As a music education major, I appreciate his ability to teach both the basics and intricacies of piano with the same level of detail." - Sam Arcayna (University of Oklahoma, Group Piano Level 3 and 4 Student)
"Samuel did a great job teaching this course; he always had everyone participate in class discussion,which held everyone accountable."
"Samuel as a teacher is just an amazing guy. Very joyous and always has a smile on his face. He makes it easy to go to class, to have fun and to learn.""The additional musical instruction about phrasing and pedal use from Mr. Pang was very useful.""Samuel has always hosted a supportive environment in his classes.""Samuel is super compassionate, we love him."- Anonymous Group Piano Class evaluations by students at the University of Oklahoma
Pre-college Teaching
"Thank you Sam for being our teacher. lan really had a different experience with you. You are a lot more patient and you know lan's weakness and find creative ways around it. Thank you so much! " - Candace, Parent of lan (Pre-college Studio Student)"Sam is a great teacher! Very enjoyable lessons and an enriching experience!" - Kalpita (Adult Studio Student)"Truly enjoying my lessons as an adult beginner at this studio. From the first trial lesson with Sam, I already felt it was the perfect fit. He is skilled, knowledgeable, patient, and approachable all in one. Education is taken seriously despite me being an adult beginner and not taking exams, which was a worry of mine that I' glad didn't become an issue. Overall, I am very satisfied." - Ken (Adult Studio Student)
Scholarship
Samuel is involved in both empirical and practitioner-based research:
Journals/Periodicals
Pang, S.E. (2025). Intersections: Piano Variations and Practice Know-How as Teaching Strategies for Piano Technique Development. MTNA e-Journal, 16(4), 24-25. MTNA e-Journal.Pang, S.E. and Kan, R.Y.P. (2024). Nuances of an In-between Space of Learning Through Auditory Approaches in Early Piano Instruction. Behavioral Sciences, 14(12), 1128. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs14121128.
Conferences/Presentations
Pang, S.E. (2025). A Glimpse Into Piano Education in Singapore: Perspectives of Piano Studio Teachers. Poster Presentation: NCKP 2025: The Piano Conference. Virtual. June.
Kalhammer, K., Hurst. L., and Pang, S.E. (2025). Designing Interactive Piano Events for the Community: Observations from Two Approaches. Presentation. Collegiate Connections. NCKP 2025: The Piano Conference. Virtual. June.
Pang. S.E. (2025). Aural Abilities in Sight-reading: A Literature Review. Poster Presentation: 2025 Oklahoma Music Teachers Association State Conference, Stillwater, Oklahoma. May. ResearchGate.
Pang. S.E. (2025). A Glimpse Into Piano Education in Singapore: Perspectives of Piano Studio Teachers. Poster Presentation: The 14th International Conference for Research in Music Education (RiME), Virtual, April.
Kalhammer, K., Hurst. L., and Pang, S.E. (2025). Designing Interactive Piano Events for the Community: Observations from Two Approaches. Presentation. National Collegiate Connections: The Frances Clark Center. Virtual. April.
Pang. S.E. (2025). Intersections: Piano Variations and Practice Know-How as Teaching Strategies for Piano Technique Development. Poster Presentation: The 14th MTNA Collegiate Chapter Symposium, Norman, Oklahoma, January.
Pang. S.E. (2023). Playing the Classical Period Repertoires: How Historical Context & Musical Contents informs the Applications of Technique & Touch. Lecture Recital: The 3rd UCSI Piano Pedagogy Conference, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, November.
Community Events
Pianist
Samuel was selected by Ursula Oppens (Distinguished Professor at Mannes School of Music and CUNY Graduate Center in New York City) to receive mentorship after his performance at the Nanyang International Music Competition 2019. Similarly, at the Nanyang International Piano Academy Competition 2019, he was deemed one of the top scorers that year and accepted an invitation to perform for You Xi (Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing). He clinched the Gold Award at the Nanyang International Piano Academy Competition 2022 under the Open category.He has performed in other masterclasses by renowned pianists and pedagogues– Lilya Zilberstein (University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna), Claudius Tanski (Mozarteum, Salzburg), Andrjez Pikul (Krzysztof Penderecki Academy of Music in Krakow, Poland), Melody Quah (Penn State University, USA), and Louis Schwizgebel (Leeds International Piano Competition).
© Samuel Pang En. 2025. All rights reserved.