Eunbi Kimis a musician based in NYC. Upon graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, she began a project of her own entitled “Murakami Music” (inspired by stories by Haruki Murakami). Since then, she’s won the 2023 Astral Artists National Competition, performed in solo programs at the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center, and even gave a TedX Talk. Now, Kim is working on”it feels like a dream,” a multimedia sonic memoir. When she’s not creating or performing, Kim serves as co-founder of bespoken, “a mentorship program for women and non-binary musicians working in classical, jazz, and contemporary music,” and as a board member of the New York Foundation for the Arts.Her advice for young artists? “Don't listen to anyone who's done nothing and isn't where you want to be.”Read on to learn more aboutEunbi Kimand what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Amelia Fei is a performer and writer based in NYC. After seeing Phantom of The Opera at 11, Fei knew she had a career in theater in store for her. She got her start Off-Broadway playing an alien villain in a sci-fi play. Now, Fei is the first Taiwanese actor and one of the first openly autistic actors to originate a principal role on Broadway through How To Dance In Ohio. Her advice to young artists? “Set strict boundaries between your work and personal times. Your soul needs to be nourished before you can make art.” Read on to learn more about Amelia Fei and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Emma X. O’Loughlin is a performer currently touring the States! She got her start at a young age with a wide exposure to performance opportunities – especially through ballet. She’s since graced both stage (A Chorus LineJapan Tour) and screen (Descendants: The Rise of Red) – but now you can find her traveling with theMean GirlsNorth American Tour! Offstage, O’Loughlin’s an advocate for The National Asian Artists Project, a community that welcomed her with community and support in NYC. Her advice to young artists? “Prioritizing mental, emotional and physical health is essential to being a successful artist… balance will make you a better artist and give you a strong foundation for a long career…” Read on to learn more about Emma X. O’Loughlin and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Fiona Rene is an actor based in Los Angeles. She got her start in the arts through a connection with a great manager, and has since gone on to perform in Tracker, Lincoln Lawyer and Invisible Hours.When Rene isn’t onscreen, she’s working towards building a nonprofit in her hometown (Grandma’s House), and serves on the board for the Game Academy. Her advice to young artists? “Meditate and get in touch with what YOU think while always being willing to play well with others and hear other opinions. “ Read on to learn more about Fiona Rene and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Betty Keis a songwriter based in Los Angeles. After founding a pop music club at her university, Ke began exploring different facets of music – from songwriting and production to marketing and festival organization. Now, she’s participating at the Grammy U program at the Recording Academy and working as an A&R intern at Ocean Five Records in addition to releasing her own music inspired by Eastern and Western styles! Ke’s advice to young artists? “Stay curious, keep exploring new ideas, and always believe in your unique voice.”Read on to learn more aboutBetty Keand what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Deirdre Khoo is an actor-musician based in Melbourne, Australia. After spending time in ballet and piano lessons as a child, Khoo went on to attend and graduate from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Now, her resume boasts credits such as Cry-Baby, A Chorus Line, Mamma Mia!, Merrily We Roll Along and most recently, the 50thAnniversary tour of The Rocky Horror Show. Now she is portraying Anne Boleyn in Six the Musical in Australia! When Khoo is offstage, she prioritizes taking time for self-care through escape rooms and arcades! Her advice to young artists? “Be curious, be excited, be inspired by everything.” Read on to learn more about Deirdre Khoo and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Natsuko Hirano is a performer and flight attendant based in NYC. At five years old, she began attending ballet classes, and fell in love with musical theatre after seeing a production of Sailor Moon at 10. After attending Santa Monica College and AMDA, Hirano’s resume boasts Off-Broadway credits with Pan Asian Rep, a YouTube horror web series (Demon Doctor: The Second Codex), and voiceover with Hellmann’s Mayonnaise for their Super Bowl commercial in 2024. She credits her strength in dance and her native language for furthering her career, and advises young artists to “be flexible and go with the flow. Be nice and be a good human.” Read on to learn more about Natsuko Hirano and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Yen-Nien Hsu is a multi-faceted musician (and leap-year baby) based in NYC. At 7 years old, she participated in orchestra performances on violin and piano and in the choir. However, it wasn’t until high school that Hsu discovered acting and theatre, leading her to attend Berklee NYC for Writing and Design for Musical Theatre and pick up pop music production. Now, Hsu has written many shows, namely The Night With a Ghost, a play from the 5th dimension with Taiwanese folk elements, and Vincent, a musical about a boy diagnosed with ADHD navigating his world. Her advice to young artists? “Don’t overthink – explore everything you like as much as you can!” Read on to learn more about Yen-Nien Hsu and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Yify Zhang is a “cinematic-electronic singer-songwriter and sound healer”based in Berlin. Gaining music exposure through violin study at the age of five, Zhang never considered a performing career until she sustained a spine injury and began piano music composition. Now, her work is heard in over 90 countries, gathering over 1 million streams! When Zhang isn’t songwriting, she hosts a sound healing project during full and new moons, “where singing bowl sounds are mixed with piano and electronic binaural beats to provide relaxation and transcendental activation for listeners.” She finds the ability to provide healing and comfort for her audiences to be exceptionally rewarding, and strives to take her healing project on a world tour someday! Her advice to young artists? “Even if there is rejection along the way, or feeling like your execution may never reach your vision, you (and your art) will keep getting better… Find artists who not only inspire you, but also give you that feeling of "if they can do it, so can I.” Read on to learn more about Yify Zhang and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Ada Zhang is an opera singer turned stage manager based in NYC. After attending Peking University and majoring in Art History, Zhang attended graduate school at Columbia University, majoring in theatre with an emphasis on stage management. She’s been on the road with the Wicked International Tour, Kinky Boots Asia Tour, Theater in Quarantine, SIX Aragon Tour, and most currently, Mahinerator at the Tank NYC! When she’s not onstage, Zhang is a huge advocate for The Tank NYC, “an off-off Broadway theatre that supports young artists who are in their early career” that curates equity and diversity in the arts industry. Her advice to young artists? “If you are SURE you want to do this, be brave, be resilient, and always be yourself.” Read on to learn more about Ada Zhang and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Mickey Bertelsen is a percussionist and Army Musician based in New Brunswick, NJ – but you might have caught her playing at the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert National Tour or at the New York Giants Drumline. She went on to receive her undergrad at Central Michigan University, Masters at MSU, and Doctorate at Rutgers. Bertelsen loves that music has the capability to heal and and change lives, and that through this profession, she is “afforded many opportunities to travel” doing what she loves. Her advice to young artists? “Be fun to hang around, it's not all business all the time… gigs come by being a dependable person who's fun to work with!” Read on to learn more about Mickey Bertelsen and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Kathy Liu is a dancer and performer based in NYC. Her dance exposure began at the age of four with ballet, but soon expanded in high school during a period of style experimentation. Liu went on to put her violin background to use at school in orchestra and lend her voice to the choir and acapella group, and after a series of summer camps at a local community center, she fell in love with musical theatre. With training from The Ailey School and Fordham University, her resume now boasts credits such as Cabaret at Goodspeed Musicals, Apple TV’s Dickinson, and Watch Night workshop at Pearlman PAC – but you can catch her right now touring the country on the Funny Girl National Tour! Liu is a huge advocate for JChen Project, “ a small contemporary company based in NYC run by Jessica Chen” that prides itself on having an Asian-led company. Her advice to young artists? “Embrace your creativity and uniqueness, then try to be as clear as possible with your goals so that they feel reachable… Don't be afraid to just be a human and exist sometimes.” Read on to learn more about Kathy Liu and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Olivia Oguma is a multidisciplinary artist (and diehard Cirque du Soleil fan!) based in New York City. The daughter of a sushi chef and a ballerina, Oguma got her start at 6 years old on Sesame Street. Since then, she’s graced Broadway stages (Mamma Mia), originated the role of Kelsi Neilson in the first national tour of High School Musical, and worked on new works such as Snow Falling On Cedars,a stage version of the novel – and can now be seen in HAIR at Two River Theater as Jeanie and at Joe’s Pub hosting her Asian variety show, DiOrientalism, with Kate Rigg. When Oguma is not onstage, she sponsors a child through the Lelt Foundation, an organization that aids Ethiopian orphans founded by a Broadway pit musician (Anja Wood) that adopted an Ethiopian child. Her advice to young artists? “You need to decide what your definition of success is for yourself… sit down and say ‘I wanna be in the arts because I wanna tell stories.’” Read on to learn more about Olivia Oguma and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
Tara Kostmayer is an actress (andSettlers of Catanmaster!) based in NYC. Initially a pre-med student interested in neuroscience at the University of California San Diego, it wasn’t until she joined a theatre club that landed Kostmayer in her first musical during her sophomore year. After booking the Disney Cruise Line as a MainStage performer, she decided to dedicate herself to a career in performance. Since then, her resume boasts credits such asA Chorus Lineat (NYCC Encores, theAladdinNational Tour,Chicagoat the MUNY, and currently Nessarose in Broadway’sWicked! Kostmayer’s advice to young artists? “... Take the opportunity to find what truly calls to you! You’ll have the most success doing what you love most and better to discover that as early as you can!” Read on to learn more about Tara Kostmayer and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts!
