DuoMente

This capstone project, completed as part of violinist Dan Qiao's Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, centers on performances of Lucas Richman’s violin concerto Paths to Dignity across communities in the Midwest.  Her connection to Lucas Richman’s music began when she performed his Trio for Violin, Cello and Harp at the Mostly Modern Festival. The project is rooted in a commitment to bringing music directly to both community audiences and individuals experiencing homelessness. Performances take place in a range of settings, including community venues, shelters, and traditional concert spaces, creating opportunities for shared musical experiences across different groups. At its core, the project seeks to give voice to stories that are often unseen and unheard. Through music, storytelling, and moments of audience engagement, the performances invite reflection on experiences of homelessness and mental health challenges. This work reflects a belief that music can help restore a sense of humanity and dignity, serving not only as artistic expression but also as a bridge between people, communities, and perspectives. The performances are presented by DuoMente, featuring Dan Qiao (violin) and Meng Yuan (piano).

Praised for her artistry and captivating performances, violinist Dan Qiao has appeared on stages across the world, with performances in China, Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, and the United States. As a soloist and chamber musician, she has been featured at renowned festivals including the Brevard Music Festival, Mostly Modern Festival, Atlantic Music Festival, and Splendor Academy in the Netherlands. Her guest artist appearances include performances at leading institutions such as the University of North Texas, New York University, the Peabody Institute, and Howard University. In 2019, she shared the stage with Maxim Vengerov in a chamber recital at the Rencontres Musicales Internationales des Graves. Her performances have also taken place at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City. Dan is a regular guest artist at the Peabody Conservatory and the NYU Composers’ Collective.

Ms. Qiao is the recipient of numerous awards, including First Prize at the France Music Competition and the Music International Grand Prix (Adult Strings), multiple honors from The American Prize, and top awards at the Three Arts Scholarship Competition. She is a multi-time winner of the CCM Concerto Competition and received an Honorable Mention for the Doug Davis Endowment Performance. As an orchestral leader, she has served as guest concertmaster for ensembles such as the CCM Chamber Orchestra and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. She has also been invited to serve on the jury panels of competitions including The American Prize and the Music International Grand Prix. Beyond the stage, Dan is the co-founder and violinist of the DuoMente chamber music series and the Hamilton Classical Collective. She has also been appointed Artist-in-Residence of the Music with a Mission Chamber Music Series. She has presented more than 30 charity and  community concerts, with a focus on connecting music with social engagement and public outreach. 

A passionate advocate for both performance and education, Dan serves as  ssistant faculty at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute Violin Workshop. She also maintains a thriving violin studio of over 50 students, many of whom have won major competitions and earned scholarships to top music schools in the United States and China. With over 15 years of teaching experience, her mentorship has shaped a diverse generation of young musicians. Born in Tianjin, China, Dan began her violin studies at the age of four. She earned her master’s degree from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, graduating first in her class. In 2015, she moved to the United States to pursue a second master’s degree, followed by a Doctor of Musical Arts at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati.

Meng Yuan is a pianist from China who began her studies at the age of five and made her

solo debut at ten. Her work as a performer is closely connected to projects that bring music into dialogue with community, storytelling, and shared human experience. She currently serves as Artist-in-Residence for the Music with a Mission concert series and is the pianist of DuoMente, a violin–piano duo focused on collaborative and community-centered performance. She has extensive chamber music experience and remains active in a variety of collaborative settings. For the Paths to Dignity project, Meng is drawn to music that reflects themes of dignity, resilience, and global connection, and values the opportunity to engage with stories that reach beyond the concert stage.  In addition to performing, she teaches piano in the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music’s Preparatory Program and has worked as a collaborative pianist for CCM’s Music Theatre Intensive.  Meng is currently a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Piano Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where she studies with Dr. Dror Biran. She holds both Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from  the Cleveland Institute of Music, where she studied with Dr. Daniel Shapiro.