Junran Cao is a passionate pianist and educator with a wide-ranging background in solo performance, collaborative piano, teaching, and vocal studies. She recently completed her Master of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Houston, where she studied with Dr. Tali Morgulis. Before that, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music (Piano) with Highest Honors from the University of Colorado Boulder under the mentorship of Dr. David Korevaar. Junran also studied vocal performance at the South China University of Technology, where she first developed her interest in both sides of the collaborative relationship—singer and pianist.

As a collaborative pianist, Junran has worked with vocalists, instrumentalists, choirs, and chamber ensembles across the U.S. and China. She has served as an accompanist in studio classes, recitals, and masterclasses, and is known for her sensitivity, flexibility, and strong ensemble skills. Her teaching experience includes years of private instruction and a teaching practicum in piano pedagogy at CU Boulder, where she focused on fostering both technical development and musical expression in piano students.

Alongside performing and teaching, Junran is actively involved in research projects that explore cultural identity, underrepresented voices, and contemporary repertoire. Her performance and outreach project Hidden Voices: Piano Music by Black Women Composers reflects her commitment to expanding the canon and creating more inclusive spaces in classical music. Much of her research focuses on cross-cultural piano works, especially by Asian composers, with an emphasis on technical, cultural, and interpretive approaches for both performers and educators.

Junran has performed in solo recitals, studio concerts, and masterclasses with internationally renowned pianists such as Barry Douglas and Josu De Solaun. She also has performance experience as a singer, having portrayed the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro.

Junran is dedicated to helping students find their unique voice while continuing to grow as a performer and collaborator herself.