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Ru Huang, a doctoral candidate in Vocal Arts Performance and Literature at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with a minor in Arts Management, has recently accepted a position as a private voice instructor at the University of California, Berkeley.
A classically trained soprano, dedicated educator, and versatile artist, Huang is known for her work across opera, musical theatre, and contemporary commercial music. She earned her Master of Music in Vocal Arts and Opera Performance from the University of Southern California. With extensive training in theoretical vocal science and practical vocal pedagogy, she holds certifications in Estill Voice Training (Levels 1 & 2) and Somatic Voicework™ (Levels 1–3). Her teaching philosophy emphasizes functional voice training, integrating voice science with body-based pedagogy to cultivate healthy, sustainable vocal techniques.
Huang has previously served as a Lecturer of Voice at Western Illinois University (2022–2023) and as a faculty member at the University of Illinois Community Music Academy. She currently serves as Vice President of the NATS China Chapter and is frequently invited as an adjudicator for voice competitions.
As a performer, Huang has appeared in Mozart’s Requiem, Handel’s Messiah, Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, among other productions. She has also been featured as a soloist with ensembles such as the Illinois Modern Ensemble, Cross the Ocean Ensemble, and the Great American Songbook concert series. In 2024, she joined the Opera San José Chorus and was a featured soloist at the Stanford Gospel Fest.
Beyond performing and teaching, Huang is an emerging producer, director, and project manager in cross-cultural concerts and theatrical productions. She is the founder and director of Cross the Ocean Ensemble, a group dedicated to fostering cross-cultural musical collaborations, and has served as President of the Jasmine Field Orchestra, leading international music initiatives. Some of her projects are featured in the Illinois Spurlock Museum digital collection.
With her wealth of experience and passion for vocal artistry, Huang’s appointment at UC Berkeley marks an exciting new chapter in her career, where she will continue to inspire and mentor the next generation of vocalists.