Ann Chang-Barnes, Artist-in-Residence (piano) at the UNL School of Music, was recently appointed Interim Executive Director of the Lied Center for Performing Arts. While at the School of Music, she was also Head of Arts Entrepreneurship, and Coordinator of Chamber Music. In April, 2008, The U.S. State Department Foreign Scholarship Board announced the selection of Dr. Chang-Barnes as Fulbright Scholar to Belgium. During the summer months of 2009, she will be doing research on advancement of keyboard curriculum models, and performing in concerts, at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels.

Dr. Chang-Barnes joined the music faculty at the University of Nebraska in 1995 as both modern pianist, and fortepianist, and lecturer on Historical Instruments and Classic Performance Practice. In addition to the standard keyboard repertory, she also specializes in the highly stylistic works by contemporary Latin American composers, Astor Piazzolla and Pablo Ziegler. In December 2006, Ann was a featured pianist in a world-premier concert at St. Petersburg Conservatory (Russia) with the Rastrelli Cello Quartet, performing the newly arranged works of Astor Piazzolla. She was subsequently invited to record a CD with the Quartet, entitled “Cello in Buenos Aires” which was released in the spring of 2008. Upcoming performances on modern piano include solo recitals in Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium and Argentina, as well as celebrated venues in the U.S., including Spokane, Chicago and Portland (OR).

Additionally, Ann performs and teaches using the UNL School of Music’s early Mozart keyboard instrument, a replica of ca. 1780 Anton Walter fortepiano. During the 2007-08 season, Ann will perform numerous fortepiano concerts as soloist and with orchestra, and a recording project is underway, featuring the Walter fortepiano in performances of Sonatas and Fantasies by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. In July 2008, Ann will be performing at the International Fortepiano Conference in Middelburg, the Netherlands, as one of the Conference's featured artists.

In 2001, Ann founded the highly successful, Meadowlark Music Festival, serving as both Executive and Artistic Director before stepping down at the conclusion of the award winning 2005 season. The unique summer chamber music series received national attention since its first season, when it was introduced as "the Festival to watch" by Chamber Music America, and it's entire second season was highlighted by NPR's Performance Today. The Meadowlark Festival was awarded the Governor's Arts Award for 2005, in the Best Arts Organization category.

In addition to her work as pianist and entrepreneur, she is actively involved in the work of philanthropy by serving as Vice-Chair of Woods Charitable Fund, which supports projects that involve coalition-building, public education and advocacy to affect positive social change and improve opportunities for all citizens of Nebraska. 

Ann received the Doctorate of Music degree in piano performance from Indiana University- Bloomington. Her teacher was the great French pianist, Michel Block.