Vienna Teng

Cynthia Yih Shih, born on October 3, 1978, in Saratoga, California, and professionally known as Vienna Teng, began her musical journey with classical piano at age five. Her parents, both from Taiwan, encouraged her early talents. While pursuing a computer science degree at Stanford University, she joined the Stanford Harmonics, an a cappella group, during which she started recording her compositions at the university’s Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics (CCRMA). These early recordings formed the basis for her debut album. After graduating in 2000, Teng initially worked as a software engineer at Cisco Systems in San Jose, maintaining her musical pursuits in her spare time.

In 2002, Vienna Teng signed with Virt Records and left Cisco Systems to fully dedicate herself to her music career. Her national exposure grew significantly with appearances on National Public Radio’s Weekend Edition in January 2003, followed by performances on CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman, CBS Saturday Early Show, CNN’s NewsNight with Aaron Brown, and The Wayne Brady Show. Throughout her career, she has released five studio albums, including “Waking Hour” (2002), “Warm Strangers” (2004), “Dreaming Through the Noise” (2006), “Inland Territory” (2009), and “Aims” (2013). She also released a live album, “The Moment Always Vanishing” (2009), with Alex Wong. Her musical style integrates folk, pop, classical piano, and a cappella elements. In 2010, Teng pursued further education at the University of Michigan, earning an MBA from the Ross School of Business and an MS from the School of Natural Resources and Environment, subsequently working full-time at McKinsey & Company in renewable energy.

Following her time at the University of Michigan and her corporate role, Teng returned to a more active musical schedule. Her fifth album, ‘Aims,’ released in 2013, was influenced by Detroit and featured collaborations with musicians like Alex Wong and Jordan Hamlin. A tour across the United States and Western Europe promoted this album from September to December 2013. By 2018, she was based in Boulder, Colorado, and as of 2024, she resides in Washington, D.C. In 2019, Teng married Jacob Corvidae, and they welcomed their daughter, Arcadia, in February 2020. She continues to be a touring musician and was honored as a 2025 Grist 50 climate leader, blending her artistic work with her interest in climate action.