Maggie Peng
Maggie has been playing piano since the age of 4, singing since they were a baby, and reading music before learning how to read words. Born and raised in the Bay Area, they were immersed in a primarily classical and church music household. From an extremely early age up until graduating high school, Maggie played piano competitively and sang in both church and outside-school choirs that toured around the world. A few examples of notable performances during their childhood include performing piano in Carnegie Hall at age 9, Baltic Tour with their youth choir at age 11, and a performance with the Kronos Quartet at age 13. Evidently, music has always been a huge part of their life.
After graduating high school, Maggie moved to Los Angeles to study Piano Performance at USC Thornton School of Music with beloved professor Antoinette Perry. While at USC they also sang and toured intensively with the Chamber Choir as their Soprano section leader. Being in Los Angeles they were able to perform in many more important concerts and venues, such as at the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Coachella Valley with the Rolling Stones.
Maggie has always loved teaching–– they are a firm believer that once you are a student then you are also a teacher, and vice versa! Maggie loves sharing their knowledge and love of music with other people of all ages. They are excited to share the beautiful language that is music with you!
Outside of classical music, Maggie enjoys making and listening to many other genres of music such as soul, jazz, hip hop, rock/alternative, and electronic music. They currently run a private music recording & art studio in Oakland with two other artistic collaborators. Maggie plays in two bands as a vocalist & keyboardist: AroMa (alternative/rock/hip hop) and SUPERGOOD4uTHING (neo-soul/experimental/electronic). They frequently play gigs around the Bay Area and work on independent music releases.
Alive or Dead, What Musician would you do anything to see?
This is a hard question there’s so many! Bach, Beethoven, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, James Brown, Prince, Michael Jackson.
Greatest Musical Influence?
The main ones are Nina Simone. D’Angelo, Tribe Called Quest, Sly Stone, Solange, Beyonce, Janet Jackson, Talking Heads, The Pixies, Minnie Riperton, Aaliyah, Robert Glasper, Erykah Badu, Björk.
Any hidden talents besides music?
I used to do gymnastics & dance intensively and am still extremely flexible for some reason!
What did you want to be while you were growing up?
A scientist, dancer, gymnast, singer, teacher.
If you could have any ‘Super Power’, which one would it be?
Be really good at fighting/stunts/kung fu. Like Ip Man in the Ip Man movies.
If you could master any other instrument which would it be?
Bass or drums/percussion.
Have you had what people would consider your “15 Minutes of Fame”, and if so when/what was that?
I sang in the chorus for The Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” in front of 10,000 people at Coachella in 2016.
It’s your last meal: What would it be?
Chinese food. A full spread of all the different types. Green tea ice cream for dessert.
You are sent to a deserted island, and you only have one album to listen to: Which is it?
Sly & The Family Stone’s “There’s A Riot Goin’ On.” Or Erykah Badu “Mama’s Gun”.
If you could leave one lesson with your students what would it be?
Getting inspiration from existing music & performers is one of the best ways to become a better musician yourself. Listen to a lot of music––– challenge your ears and go beyond what you’re familiar with. Find what resonates with you. There’s so much out there! Then the fun part is adding a part of yourself into the music you play. That’s creation!
