"We found her a great piano teacher, and we were able to help her with her practice," he says.

The pianist says she enjoyed her time in academic schools.

"I experienced a lot of things which I may not have been able to experience if I went to music conservatories," she says. "My performance is based on those experiences."

Tian's mother, Wang Yueying, a retired soprano with the Opera Troupe of the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army, says in her last year of high school, Tian had to choose whether to study at an academic college or to play piano professionally.

"She told us she enjoys playing piano so much," Wang says. "Her father and I then gave her our full support."

Wang says Tian practiced at least four hours a day after school during the weeks, and even more on weekends.

At Shenyang Conservatory of Music she dreamed of making it big as a pianist.

In 2010, she left China to attend Manhattan School of Music on a scholarship under faculty member and critically acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Cohen.

"I dreamed of performing onstage and dedicating myself to connecting Eastern and Western music," Tian says. "So after I graduated from Manhattan School of Music in May 2012, I worked hard to achieve my dream."

On Tian's performance calendar is playing a duet with Entremont at China's National Grand Theater in April to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.

In addition to performing, Tian also has begun to explore music pedagogy. Since 2011, she has taught master classes in different cities in China. She says she is drawn to the idea of helping Chinese piano students connect Eastern and Western music. This summer, she plans to teach master classes in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.