Steinway on the Big Screen

Dr. Li Yeoh is the Director of Piano Technology at the Florida State University College of Music, where he leads the Master of Arts in Piano Technology—a premier global program that bridges artistic collaboration with technical mastery. A Master Piano Technician of America with certifications from Mason & Hamlin, Steinway & Sons, Wessell, Nickel & Gross, and Yamaha, Dr. Yeoh provides expert concert services for world-renowned artists, including Emanuel Ax, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Yuja Wang, and many others. His background as a performer informs a holistic approach to instrument maintenance, ensuring that FSU’s keyboard fleet meets the highest standards for international guest artists and elite faculty.

Beyond traditional craftsmanship, Dr. Yeoh is a forward-thinking leader at the intersection of music and emerging technology. As the College of Music representative on the FSU Innovation Hub Faculty Steering Committee, he champions the integration of 3D development and Artificial Intelligence within piano technology. By advancing innovative manufacturing and diagnostic tools, he positions FSU at the forefront of modern instrument design and preservation. A regular guest speaker and national clinician for the Piano Technicians Guild and the American Guild of Organists, Dr. Yeoh has appeared internationally at events such as the Australasian Piano Tuners and Technicians Association Convention and the International Association of Piano Builders and Technicians, underscoring his commitment to inclusive education and the future of the industry.

James Powers is a first-year Piano Technologies master’s student at Florida State University under Dr. Li Yeoh. James received his Bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Samford University in 2025. For the last five years, James has been a self-employed piano technician in the Birmingham, AL region where he has serviced and maintained the pianos at several colleges, schools, and the pianos of numerous churches and individuals. During this time, James has had the privilege of preparing the concert instruments for Anne-Marie McDermott, Adam Golka, Anton Nel, Spencer Myer, the Busch Trio, and more.

Fernando Nicholas Garcia is a pianist native to San Diego, California who had his first public performance playing George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego at age 16. Since then he’s performed at a variety of venues including the Laboral Ciudad de la Cultura in Gijón, Spain; Angus Bowmer Theatre in Ashland, Oregon; Center of Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana; Auer Recital Hall in Bloomington, Indiana; Ruby Diamond Concert Hall in Tallahassee, Florida; Jacobs Symphony Hall and Spreckels Organ Pavilion in San Diego, California and many more. He’s received numerous local and state level awards including Panel Honors Certificate of Merit, first prize in the Music Teachers Association of California Sonata Contest, and first prize at the 14th Annual Chinese Music Festival Competition and most recently 2nd prize in the Annual Competitive Festival in Tallahassee. 

Fernando is a large supporter of new music and has debuted over 100 compositions. In 2021 he received the Mrs. Hong Pham Memorial Recognition Award for New Music Performance for significant overall contribution to the presentation of new music and is currently a member of the “Polymorphia” New Music Ensemble at Florida State. In 2024 he premiered the opera “Saturday’s Sorrow” by Dasean Stokes which saw its debut in Opperman Music Hall in Tallahassee, Florida. The previous year he was the rehearsal pianist for the world premiere of the opera “Open Heart Surgery” by Jamey Guzman which was featured in the New Works Arts Commission Project at The Center of the Performing Arts in Carmel, Indiana. A highly sought after collaborator, Fernando has worked with many Indiana University and Florida State University groups as well as professional ensembles such as the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra and the Rogue Valley Symphony of Oregon. Fernando is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance at Florida State University under the mentorship of Dr. Read Gainsford, where he works as a collaborative pianist through the university. He has previously studied with Dr. Victor Labenske of Point Loma Nazarene University and Jean-Louis Haguenauer at Jacobs School of Music.