{"id":230278,"date":"2026-02-27T08:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T13:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/?p=230278"},"modified":"2026-03-13T08:11:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T12:11:08","slug":"how-pianist-mei-ans-themed-events-became-a-northern-virginia-favorite","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/how-pianist-mei-ans-themed-events-became-a-northern-virginia-favorite\/","title":{"rendered":"How Pianist Mei An\u2019s Themed Events Became a Northern Virginia Favorite"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"custom_featured_image\" style=\"display:none;\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-800x533.png\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"mei an piano northern va\" style=\"margin-bottom: 15px;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-263x175.png 263w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI.png 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/div><div id=\"custom_category\" style=\"display:none;\">Music<\/div><p>At a craft-and-sip <em>K-Pop Demon Hunters<\/em> night, guests might not expect the pianist leading the room to be a classically trained musician and certified music therapist. But for Northern Virginia pianist Mei An, blending artistry with <a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/rock-yoga-northern-virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">high-energy themed events<\/a> is exactly the point. Now celebrating one year of her sold-out immersive nights at Chateau de Chantilly, located at 13974 Metrotech Drive, Mei has turned her love of music and community into something uniquely her own. We spoke with Mei about her journey, her work, and what she loves most about creating spaces where people can connect. &nbsp;<b>Read on for more with Northern Virginia pianist and music therapist Mei An.&nbsp;<\/b><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-230300\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI.png\" alt=\"mei an piano northern va\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI.png 1000w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-800x533.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-768x511.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-585x390.png 585w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_FI-263x175.png 263w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>About Mei<\/h3>\n<p>Mei was born and raised in Maryland, but moved to Northern Virginia to continue her education. \u201cI earned my bachelor&#8217;s and master&#8217;s degrees in Piano Performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University,\u201d she said. \u201cI moved to Virginia in 2020 to pursue my Music Therapy degree at Shenandoah University.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mei said that the decision to pursue music therapy came after some soul-searching. \u201cI started to question why I was performing. That search for meaning led me to join my school\u2019s volunteer group, <a href=\"https:\/\/imagine.jhu.edu\/organizations\/musicare\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Musicare<\/a>, where <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">we played for hospitals, children\u2019s centers, and senior homes. Those experiences completely transformed <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">my perspective,\u201d she said. \u201cUsing music as a therapeutic tool to comfort, heal, and connect with people was <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">profoundly rewarding-it made me realize that music was never just about performing. It was always about <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">connection.\u201d<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-230291\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1.png\" alt=\"mei an piano\" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_piano_nova_1-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><em>Image courtesy of Mei An<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mei said, \u201cThat realization sparked a deep curiosity about music therapy, and I knew I had to follow it. After <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">completing my master\u2019s, I moved to Virginia to pursue degrees in Psychology and Music Therapy at <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shenandoah University,\u201d she continued. \u201cLooking back, it all fits together perfectly-my mother is an artist, a painter and dancer, and my father is a doctor. Somewhere between their worlds of creativity and care, I found mine: using music as a bridge between art and healing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>See more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/tony-boloneys-rosslyn-va\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tony Boloney\u2019s Debuts in Rosslyn, Bringing Jersey-Style Pizza to NOVA<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Now, Mei is a clinical therapist at StoneSprings Hospital in Dulles, VA, where she integrates her therapeutic and musical expertise. She also performs at weddings and other private events. \u201cI also adore playing for weddings. There\u2019s something sacred about providing the soundtrack to the most meaningful moments of someone\u2019s life-the walk down the aisle, the vows, the first kiss,\u201d she said. \u201cThose moments are raw, emotional, and alive in a way that reminds me why I fell in love with music in the first place.<\/p>\n<h3>Creating Connections<\/h3>\n<p>Mei\u2019s desire to foster connection led her to start the popular craft-and-sip nights at Chateau de Chantilly. \u201cWhen I first began blending music, art, film, and desserts at Chateau back in February 2025, it truly felt like an experiment. There was nothing quite like it in the area, and many people weren\u2019t sure if it would work,\u201d she said. \u201cBut for me, it was always a dream, to create a space where every element of the experience- sound, taste, sight, and emotion-comes together as one immersive experience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-230306\" src=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1.png\" alt=\"piano mei an \" width=\"450\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1.png 1080w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1-800x800.png 800w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/02\/mei_an_real_1-585x585.png 585w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The themed, ticketed events combine crafts, music, and movies. Popular themes have included <i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">K-Pop Demon Hunters<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bridgerton<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mamma Mia!<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to name a few. Guests can work on their crafts while Mei plays piano, accompanying the movie projected on the wall. The music is often the movie\u2019s soundtrack or related songs. Guests are encouraged to make requests and even sing along if they\u2019re brave enough. It\u2019s a fun, collegial environment that\u2019s a good fit for date night, girls\u2019 night out, or just a place to relax and get creative.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><em><strong>Read more:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/noble-blades-stage-combat-northern-virginia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northern Virginia Theater Spotlight: Inside The Noble Blades and the Art of Stage Combat<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Now, one year into the events, Mei said her dreams have come to fruition. \u201cMy heart truly belongs to the immersive piano and paint events I host at Chateau de Chantilly! They bring together everything I love-music, art, film, and human connection-into one shared, sensory experience,\u201d she said. \u201cWatching guests paint, sip wine, and lose themselves in the music feels deeply fulfilling. It\u2019s more than just a performance; it\u2019s a space where creativity and emotion intertwine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think every artist\u2019s dream audience is someone who truly connects to their music- someone who doesn\u2019t just listen, but feels the music and connects with the story behind it. That\u2019s why I love creating my own <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">themed piano &amp; paint nights,\u201d Mei said. \u201cThey naturally attract people who already share an emotional bond with the theme, like Studio Ghibli, so the room fills with kindred spirits. When everyone is immersed in <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the same world of melody, color, and nostalgia, something magical happens.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><script>\n  (function(w, d, t, h, s, n) {\n    w.FlodeskObject = n;\n    var fn = function() {\n      (w[n].q = w[n].q || []).push(arguments);\n    };\n    w[n] = w[n] || fn;\n    var f = d.getElementsByTagName(t)[0];\n    var v = '?v=' + Math.floor(new Date().getTime() \/ (120 * 1000)) * 60;\n    var sm = d.createElement(t);\n    sm.async = true;\n    sm.type = 'module';\n    sm.src = h + s + '.mjs' + v;\n    f.parentNode.insertBefore(sm, f);\n    var sn = d.createElement(t);\n    sn.async = true;\n    sn.noModule = true;\n    sn.src = h + s + '.js' + v;\n    f.parentNode.insertBefore(sn, f);\n  })(window, document, 'script', 'https:\/\/assets.flodesk.com', '\/universal', 'fd');\n<\/script><br \/>\n<script>\n  window.fd('form', {\n    formId: '67c74f9450f1321faacb88f8'\n  });\n<\/script><\/p>\n<p>She notes that other cafes in Northern Virginia have started hosting similar events. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8220;Seeing other businesses embrace that idea-inviting live <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">pianists, string duos, and small ensembles into their spaces- feels incredibly rewarding,&#8221; Mei said. &#8220;It shows that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">people are once again craving connection and atmosphere.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To find out more about Mei or to book her for an event, please visit her website. To get tickets to one of the craft nights at Chateau de Chantilly, click <a href=\"https:\/\/www.meianpiano.com\/register\">here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Follow @thefairfaxgirl on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/thefairfaxgirl\/\"><span class=\"s2\">Instagram <\/span><\/a>+&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@thefairfaxgirl\"><span class=\"s2\">TikTok<\/span><\/a> for the latest Northern Virginia updates, and check out our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/fairfax\/events\/\"><span class=\"s2\">events calendar<\/span><\/a>, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"categories\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/thelocalgirl.com\/people\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">People<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MusicAt a craft-and-sip K-Pop Demon Hunters night, guests might not expect the pianist leading the room to be a classically trained musician&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":362,"featured_media":230300,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[9715,8833,9709,7997,7998,9593,9728],"tags":[9790,9732,9744,9702,9766,9743,9770,9845],"class_list":["post-230278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chantilly","category-culture","category-fairfax-county","category-lifestyle","category-people","category-local-girl-rss-feed","category-virginia","tag-creative","tag-dmv","tag-fairfax-county","tag-lifestyle","tag-live-music","tag-northern-virginia","tag-nova","tag-tlg"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - 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