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The final event of the NC Bach Festival Year ONE season!

Young Artists Concerto & Aria Competition – Florence Peacock Awards Winners Concert with our final Featured Artists and The NC Bach Festival Ensemble will conclude this year’s festival on a truly celebratory note. We will present the winners of the inaugural year of our newly developed competition aimed at young artists playing and singing music by Johann Sebastian Bach, his family, and contemporaries. For more information about the competition, please visit – http://www.ncbachfestival.org/concerto-aria-competition.html.

This most anticipated concert of our new existence will open with the appearance of two excellent pianists – our very own Elena Nezhdanova and her mentor and friend Ida Tili-Trebicka from Syracuse University in New York. Their performance is not only the manifestation of excellence and unique musicianship but also the real reflection of NC Bach Festival’s mission of sharing and inspiring young generations when the former student and the teacher meet on one stage to share their love for piano and music by sharing with us the magnificent Concerto for Two Pianos in C Major, BWV 1061 by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The afternoon will also include a formal award ceremony and a festive reception at which we will acknowledge our patron, all participants, judges, and all NC Bach Festival 2019 featured artists.

This event, as many others are free, but we need your help and support in form of any kind of contribution. All proceeds go to benefit our excellent Youth Programs.

Henry Hsieh Individual Recital. This individual recital is free and open to the public.

MDM Trio

Myra Michot* – vocals, Mark Underwood – bass, David McAllister – piano

Program

Song list:

1. Struttin’ with some Barbeque – Louis Armstrong, Lil Armstrong
2. Darktown Strutters Ball – Shelton Brooks
3. I Got Rhythm* –  George Gershwin
4. Do You Know What it Means – Eddie DeLange, Louis Alter
5. I Can’t Give You Anything* – Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
6. Some of These Days – Shelton Brooks
7. Georgia on my Mind* – Hoagy Charmichael, Stuart Gorrell
8. On the Sunny Side of the Street* – Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
9. Moonglow – G Will Hudson, Irving Mills, Eddie DeLange
10. Someone To Watch Over Me* – George and Ira Gershwin
11. Sweet Georgia Brown – Ben Bernie, Maceo Pinkard, Kenneth Casey
12. Pennies From Heaven – Arthur Johnston, Johnny Burke
13. Here’s That Rainy Day* – Jimmy Van Hensen, Johnny Burke
14. Take the A-Train – Billy Strayhorn
15. Girl from Ipanema – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel
16. Stormy Weather* – Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler
17. Satin Doll – Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn
18. Don’t Blame Me – Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields
19. A Foggy Day – George and Ira Gershwin
20. Honeysuckle Rose* – Fats Waller, Andy Razaf

Concert Program

Sea Pieces for clarinet and piano

Richard Faith

The Peaceable Kingdom or The Ugly Duckling

Lanette Lind

Dog Tales for flute, clarinet and piano

Adrienne Albert

Three Dog Night, The Artful Dodger, Mutt and Jeff

Program coming soon!

You’re Invited to a very special Fourth Friday Concert at Bosendorfer Hall in honor and celebration of Eric Hale for 16 years of dedicated service as emcee, booking agent, performer, and friend! Don’t miss Eric’s final performance!

Fourth Friday Concert Program

• Pink Fish by Alan Menken

• Vissi d’arte from Tosca by Giacomo Puccini
• Lucy’s Aria from The Three Penny Opera by Kurt Weill
• To This We’ve Come from The Consul by Gian Carlo Menotti

• Prelude in B flat major, Op. 23, Number 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Etude-Tableaux in a minor, Op. 39, Number 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Etude-Tableaux in b minor, Op. 39, Number 4 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Prelude in g sharp minor, Op. 33, Number 12 by Sergei Rachmaninoff
• Liebesfreud by Fritz Kreisler (arr. Sergei Rachmaninoff)

• The Net
• A Mother to the War Makers
• The Old Suffragist
• The Modern Woman to Her Lover
• The Women’s Litany

Nezhdanova-Placzek Duo

Sunday, July 21st, at 3:00PM

Doors open at 2:30PM

Bösendorfer Hall, Ruggero Piano

Program

Three For All

Sunday, August 11th, at 3:00PM

Doors open at 2:30PM

Bösendorfer Hall, Ruggero Piano

Program coming soon!

Special Edition Fourth Friday Concert featuring The North Carolina Chamber Music Institute

Now celebrating its 6th year, NCCMI has been recently awarded its first government grants from the City of Raleigh and the United Arts Council of Wake County. The September concert will include many favorite works from the classical repertoire performed by NCCMI’s leading String Quartets and Piano/String mixed ensembles. Students will introduce their music and share their learning experiences with NCCMI in an enjoyable and entertaining program.

The North Carolina Chamber Music Institute-NCCMI was founded by NC Symphony musicians Elizabeth Beilman and Jimmy Gilmore with the mission of inspiring young artists of the future through the medium of great chamber music. Chamber Music as an art form for small ensembles like string quartets and piano trios that teaches musical and technical skills as well as leadership and confidence in a unique way. Based in Raleigh with events spread throughout the Triangle area, this comprehensive program operates during the academic year.  In partnership with Chamber Music Raleigh and the North Carolina Symphony, NCCMI offers students (primarily aged 7-19) the benefits of weekly sessions, master classes, workshops and programming with world-class musician/ teachers including members of the NC Symphony and visiting artists. Financial aid is available to those in need.

This program will explore Latin music from different points of view including American composer Adrienne Albert’s Ode to Piazzolla and Cuban Stories; John Williams’s interpretation of Por Una Cabeza by the famous Argentine composer, Carlos Gardel; two trios by Astor Piazzolla; and Pacific Serenade, inspired by an evening on the West Coast by Miguel del Aguila from Uruguay. Teresa Fernandez will round out the program with a selection of Latin songs.

Por Una Cabeza   for Violin & Piano

Carlos Gardel/John Williams (arranger)

Ode to Piazzolla   for Violin, Cello & Piano

Adrienne Albert

Invierno Porteno   for Violin, Cello & Piano

Astor Piazzolla

Primavera Portena   for Violin, Cello & Piano

Astor Piazzolla

Pacific Serenade   for Clarinet & Piano

Miguel del Aguila

Latin Songs

Teresa Fernandez (vocalist)

Cuban Stories   for Flute, Cello, Violin & Piano

Adrienne Albert

Program coming soon!

Program coming soon!

Program coming soon!

Fall Course Live Stream – Wellness for Piano Teachers & Musicians – How to Naturally Stay Healthy in the Neck, Shoulders and Spine for Piano Teachers featuring Chip Moseley, MPT, OCS, CSCS, Clinician

Teachers and musicians of all disciplines are often challenged by chronic tension in the neck, shoulders and back. Learn how to prevent pain and teach and perform more healthfully with these approaches, stretches and exercises. In the comfort of your home or studio, try out these exercises!

Chip Moseley earned his Masters in Physical Therapy and a Bachelor’s  Degree  in Chemistry from the University of  North Carolina at  Chapel Hill.  Chip is one of a few Board Certified   Orthopedic Specialists in Physical Therapy in North Carolina. In addition, he has a specialty in strength and conditioning. Chip has earned hundreds of  hours of continuing education in Biomechanics of movement and manual therapy. Chip has been with Total Motion PT in Durham for almost two decades. He has been a physical therapist since 1988.

These workshops are complimentary – simply click here and enjoy!

Dr. Carol Ann Larry , Workshop Coordinator

Fall Course Live Stream – Wellness for Piano Teachers & Musicians – Defining and Teaching Well-Coordinated, Injury-Preventive Piano Technique featuring Barbara Lister-Sink, Ed.D.

Pianists of all ages and levels are often frustrated and even tragically hindered by discomfort, pain, and injury related playing.  Dr. Barbara Lister-Sink, author of the MTNA-award-winning DVD IFreeing the Caged Bird–Developing Well-Coordinated, Injury-Preventive Piano Technique, will offer an accessible but scientifically informed look into the heart of injury-preventive piano technique.  She will demonstrate basic biomechanical principles that can constitute a “basic form” for pianists of any age or level;  define how the body is designed to work best with the instrument; and discuss risk factors for injury.  Finally, she will offer practical tools for teaching the sensations of good coordination and freedom.

Internationally acclaimed pianist and acknowledged global leader in injury-preventive keyboard technique, is a graduate of Smith College, the Utrecht Conservatory and holds an Ed.D. from Columbia University.  A Steinway ARtist since 1977, Lister-Sink has performed and given workshops throughout North America, Europe and Australia.  As the current Artistic Director of the Salem College School of Music and Director of the Graduate Music Program, she has  also taught on the Eastman School of Music Artist Faculty and was keyboardist for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.  A previewer for Oxford University Press, Lister-Sink was chosen by Musical America Global as one of America’s “30 Top Professionals of 2018” as an innovator, independent thinker, and visionary leader.

These workshops are complimentary – simply click here and enjoy!

Dr. Carol Ann Larry , Workshop Coordinator

Fall Course Live Stream – Wellness for Piano Teachers & Musicians – The Alexander Technique for Pianists – In Introduction featuring Suzanne Faulkner

The Alexander Technique  (AT) is the investigation of how intention and habit affect physical coordination and learning capacity.  AT has a long history of helping instrumentalists perform with less stress and likelihood of injury.  With a mixture of lecture and experiential learning,  this workshop will introduce you to the tools and foundations of AT.  These tools can be applied to your particular issues regarding injury recovery and prevention, or as a way to deepen your relationship to your instrument and enable a bit more freedom in all that you do.

Over the years Suzanne Faulkner has worked with a wide variety of instrumentalists both amateur and professional.  Some sought her AT teaching to get relief from injuries or to improve sound performance issues, others have come out of sheer curiosity.  Suzanne has been studying AT since 1987 and for 25 years has been an active member and recognized teacher of The American Society of TEachers of the AT.  She continues her studies and development of this technique with Ruth Kilroy and the dynamic AT community in the Boston area.

These workshops are complimentary – simply click on the link and enjoy!

Dr. Carol Ann Larry , Workshop Coordinator

Dr. Carol Ann Barry is a Nationally Certified member of MTNA. Her piano training has included several degree programs as well as study abroad. Sel​ected to serve as a Rotary International Fellow, she studied at the Goethe Institute in Munich, and the Hochschule für Musik und Darsteleende Kunst in Hamburg, Germany. Dr. Barry is interested in the pedagogical work of internationally renowned pedagogue Abby Whiteside. Her doctoral work included extensive studies in New York City with pianist Sophia Rosoff.

After almost two years, the Free Spirits Ensemble is back in Bosendorfer Hall at Ruggero Piano – and ready to dance! Our concert begins with Michele Mangani’s “Tre Danza Latine”. Next is featured “Four Unknown Dances” by Lanette Lind. We then shift to South American with four selections from Jobim and Piazzolla, arranged by Jim Williams – all designed to warm an early spring evening with Terpsichore.

MICHELE MANGANI

Tre Danza Latine for clarinet and piano

LANETTE LIND

Four Unknown Dances for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA

Inveirno Porteno for violin, cello and piano

Oblivion for violin, cello and piano

FOUR LATIN SELECTIONS (ARRANGED BY JIM WILLIAMS)

FOR CLARINET, VIOLIN, CELLO AND PIANO

Girl from Ipanema | Antonio Carlos Jobim

Shadow of Your Smile | Johnny Mandel

Ausensias | Astor Piazzolla

Street Tango | Astor Piazzolla

We are excited to host the 2023 Fourth Friday Concert Series. Masks are optional and seating is limited to the first 100 guests on a first-come, first-served basis. This concert series will be available to attend via live stream on our YouTube channel and a link to each concert will be available on the home page of our website, www.ruggeropiano.com. Please contact our office at 919-839-2040 with any questions!

We are excited to host the 2023 Fourth Friday Concert Series. Masks are optional and seating is limited to the first 100 guests on a first-come, first-served basis. This concert series will be available to attend via live stream on our YouTube channel and a link to each concert will be available on the home page of our website, www.ruggeropiano.com. Please contact our office at 919-839-2040 with any questions!

Presto was founded in 2007 in San Diego. The club was started to offer amateur pianists an outlet for performance. The club meets once a month at members’ homes. When one of the founders moved to Carrboro in 2011, a second section was created for the Chapel Hill/Durham area and then expanded to a third section for the Raleigh/Cary area in 2015. Presto’s mission is to bring serious pianists together to share classical piano music through performance and to inspire growth and instill confidence in all participants. Presto also organizes and develops musical opportunities for the group such as piano master classes, social gatherings, recitals, and workshops. The group offers a nurturing environment to its members, honoring each at their particular performance level. Presto promotes a lifelong study and enjoyment of piano performance. New members join by referral. Please contact any of the performers at the concert if you’d like to join or learn more about Presto. http://www.prestopiano.org/index.htm

We are excited to host the 2023 Fourth Friday Concert Series! This series will be available to attend in person or via live stream on our YouTube channel – a ink to each concert will be available on the home page of our website, www.ruggeropiano.com. Please contact our office at 919-839-2040 with any questions!

This Special Edition Fourth Friday Concert will feature UNC Chapel Hill Music Department Pianists & Meredith College Faculty!

We are excited to host the 2023 Fourth Friday Concert Series! This series will be available to attend in person or via live stream on our YouTube channel – a ink to each concert will be available on the home page of our website, www.ruggeropiano.com. Please contact our office at 919-839-2040 with any questions!

This Special Edition Fourth Friday Concert will feature Meredith College Department of Music Faculty & Staff!

As we celebrate two decades of Fourth Friday Concerts, we are excited to announce the return of our original emcee, Eric Hale, and accompanist, Sue Timmons, for this extraordinary evening. We would also like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of the performers and devoted audiences who have supported Fourth Friday Concerts over the last 20 years. We hope you will be able to join us!

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. Contact Richard Ruggero at richardcruggero@gmail.com if you or your group are interested in performing!

Click here for Livestream link!

Performer Bios 

15-year-old Olivia Li from Cary, NC studies the piano with Florence Ko and has over the years garnered myriad awards and scholarships. She placed first in various competitions including the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs (NCFMC) Young Artist Auditions, 6 years consecutively from divisions Senior I until Concerto IV, as well as the Princess category of the NCFMC Royalty Competition, the SYMF Southwestern Youth Music Festival Competition, the USA IMAE Music & Art Exchange International Piano Competition where she had a masterclass with the renowned Gary Graffman, RTPA Scholarship Competition, CAPTA Bullard Competition, and 2nd prize of the prestigious NC symphony concerto competition and 3rd Annual Hayes School of Music Piano Competition. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys sharing her music with others and frequently hosts performances at local retirement centers, and hospitals. She has also been invited to perform at various events, such as 5 consecutive meetings for the 2023 Cary Environmental Symposium at the Cary Arts Center, where many esteemed speakers and mayor are invited as well.

Chris (Yuanduo) Li, who is 17 years old and currently in the 11th grade, attends Green Level High School in Apex, North Carolina. He was born in China in 2006 and began his musical journey when he was just six years old. He started taking piano lessons in June 2021 after moving to the United States, and he’s been guided by Florence Ko. Since then, Chris has achieved some impressive accomplishments: he came in second place in the 2022 Young Artist Auditions (YAA) competition at the Prince level. He also got first place in the Senior level of the 2022 Raleigh Piano Teacher Association (RPTA) scholarship competition, the Bullard piano competition (High School level), and the Raleigh Music Club Scholarship Auditions. It’s worth noting that he got second position in the Senior division of the 2022 Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) competition, and he won in the Senior division of the International American Protege competition. Additionally, he had the chance to be part of the East Carolina University piano festival and their master classes. In 2023, he achieved second place in the North Carolina Royalty Competition at the King level. He also won the National Federation of Music Clubs competition at the King level and the Hinda Honigman piano scholarship in Statesville, NC, performed in Environmental Symposium at Cary Arts Center. Apart from his dedication to playing the piano, Chris enjoys taking part in basketball and tennis, which brings him joy.

Jared Alan Yoakem is a pianist from Grand Rapids, MI. As a recitalist, he has performed at the Brendle Recital Hall, Wake Forest University, NC; Covington Arts Center, Radford University, VA; Katzen Arts Center, American University, DC; and Porter Arts Center, Brevard College, NC. As a collaborative artist, he has performed with ACDA, NATS, the National Orpheus Competition, and a variety of choral projects including two national PBS broadcasts at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. He has been awarded with the Dean’s Advisory Council Award for outstanding achievement in music from Belmont University in 2019. Yoakem has participated in the Collaborative Piano Institute at Louisiana State University, the Leon Fleisher Academy of Washington D.C., and the Vivace Music Foundation of Wilmington, NC. He has participated in masterclasses by Stanislav Ioudenitch, Marina Lomazov, Julian Martin, Anne-Marie McDermott and Robert McDonald. Yoakem holds degrees from Belmont University & East Carolina University, under the instruction of Elena Bennett and Kwan Yi. He currently serves as a piano faculty member at the Cary School of Music and as a teaching assistant to Kwan Yi.

Click here for Livestream link!

Performer Bios 

[caption id="attachment_10955" align="alignleft" width="150"] Grace Ueng[/caption]

Grace began studying piano last year to honor the memory of her mother, her first teacher. With an older sister who consistently placed first in their state and would go on to compete nationally and internationally, Grace quit after only a few years of lessons. She went on to study at MIT and Harvard Business School, pursuing interests outside music. Her sister, Vivian Fang, went on to earn two degrees from Juilliard and her doctorate from Peabody Conservatory. Vivian teaches in her private studio, serves on faculty at The Fay School outside Boston, and is President of New England Piano Teachers’ Association. After purchasing her Steinway from Ruggero, Grace started studying with Teddy Robie.  Additionally, Vivian provides sisterly coaching. Grace also enjoys being a part of the Presto piano performance group. Grace is an ardent lifelong student of positive psychology studying under Tal Ben Shahar, the creator of Harvard’s most popular course ever on happiness, Arthur Brooks of Harvard Business School and Noa Kageyama, Juilliard’s performance psychologist. Grace is the founder of Savvy Growth, a leadership coaching and strategy consulting firm, celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.  Prior to that, she served on the leadership teams of five technology companies. She writes a weekly column on Happiness & Leadership and has been covered in Inc. Magazine, The Daily Beast and The Wall Street Journal.

[caption id="attachment_10957" align="alignleft" width="150"] Triocha[/caption]

This trio features Erin Munnelly, flute, Sanford Enslen, cello, and Stephanie Schmidt, piano.

[caption id="attachment_10956" align="alignleft" width="150"] Newnew Hong[/caption]

Kangqi Hong, also known as “Newnew,” is a 14-year-old student born in Zhuhai, China, and currently resides with her aunt and uncle, Hong Schulte and Stuart Schulte, in Moore County, North Carolina. She attended Episcopal Day School from 3rd to 5th grade and is now a 9th grader at the O’Neal School. Newnew started learning to play the piano at the age of 6 in China, taught initially by her mother. She studies under Dr. Kristina Henckel and practices daily on a 1931 Baldwin grand piano. In February 2023, Newnew had her first public performance at a sold-out concert sponsored by the Arts Council of Moore County. She performed pieces by Mendelssohn, Chopin, Beethoven, and Saint-Saëns, impressing the audience with her skills. Newnew has taken part in numerous music competitions, winning first place in the solo piano category at Carmel Klavier 2022, Carmel IN, Fayetteville Piano Teacher’s Association competition in 2022, Fayetteville, NC, and Weymouth Young Musician’s Festival in 2020, Southern Pines, NC. Furthermore, she was a finalist in the 2023 North Carolina Symphony Concerto Competition. Newnew is also a laureate of the Piano League competition, participated in the MTNA competition, and received the Grand Prize in the Rising Talents Festival 2021, allowing her to perform at Carnegie Hall. Apart from concerts and competitions, Newnew has performed for local nursing homes, art shows, fundraisers, and Habitat for Humanity. In addition to her love for music, she is also interested in art, history, and science-fiction.

Click Here for Livestream Link

Program Notes

Mozart: Sonata KV 570 in B-flat Major

Mozart’s Sonata K570 is a late work which shows the composer at his absolute best. The opening movement is unusual: each theme serves as a springboard to the next one. Thus, the opening melody is a counterpoint to the second one, and the second transfigures to become the third one. In fact, the contrapuntal mastery must have been so appealing that soon after Mozart’s death the Sonata was reworked for violin and piano by an admirer, and is still sometimes performed in that manner, ostensibly as an authentic Mozart piece.

The second movement is an extensive rondo, drawing on the wealth of vocal and instrumental traditions, almost ready to be orchestrated. The frequent use of strophic variation allows the performer to introduce a variety of ornaments, something which was expected in both vocal and instrumental performances of the time.

The last movement is yet another, very much abbreviated rondo; in its center lives a pecking bird, engulfed by contrapuntal lines, very reminiscent of Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 and violin sonata K. 378. In both cases, the tempo suddenly accelerates for the sake of that very bird, and I have taken the brazen liberty of doing the same.

Beethoven: Sonata Op. 28 in D Major

The so-called “Pastoral” Sonata owes its nickname to a publisher. This is, without a doubt, inspired by the ostinato in the left hand, prominent in movements one and four, clear stand-in for bagpipes. Yet, while as certain pastoral feeling cannot be denied, it by no means shapes the entire work. In his second and last D Major sonata, Beethoven chooses yet again to keep all four movements in the home key, with the second, slow movement, taking the minor mode. But the contrast between major and minor in our sonata is much less violent then in the earlier Op. 10 No. 3. A possible musical twin for the work is rather the “Spring” sonata for violin and piano, written at about the same time; undeniably handsome, tender, poignant, and positive, with a dash of humor.

Schumann: Kreisleriana Op. 16

Every December, our country falls under the spell of the German author E. T. A. Hoffmann. In fact, we eagerly await the experience of seeing a most garbled version of his short novel “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” now in the form of a famous ballet. Hoffmann, a near-contemporary of Schumann and his undeniable alter ego, had a double career as an author and a musician (Schumann’s stated aspiration as well); his views, aesthetics, and artistic goals were also very close to Schumann’s. And just like Schumann with his Florestan and Eusebius, the fiery and the meek aspects of oneself, Hoffmann had invented for himself a literary stand-in, a certain Kapellmeister Kreisler, is whose bizarre personality these aspects are fused in a strange way, compelling in the eyes of some, repulsive for most others. Such split personality is more than a child of an erratic mind, sophisticated one moment and childish the next; here, we also have the inability, and the unwillingness to put up with the world the way we see it. Kreisler’s life, inasmuch as Hoffmann’s or Schumann’s, is a struggle against a mounting tide of mediocrity, indifference, and pointless small talk. Ironically, Hoffmann tells us, Kreisler’s unpublished autobiography became scrap paper for a memoir by… a cat. Schumann’s eight scenes are not, apparently, descriptive of specific Hoffmann moments; they describe mental states.

Performer Bio

A native of Moscow, Dmitri Shteinberg holds a Doctorate in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music, and is currently the Clifton Matthews Distinguished Professor of piano at UNCSA. His performance credentials include Jerusalem Symphony, The Italian Filarmonica Marchigiana, Israel Chamber Orchestra, Israel Camerata Orchestra and Porto National Symphony under the batons of Massimo Pradella, Roger Nierenberg, Florin Totan and David Shallon, among others. In the United States, he appeared with the Baton Rouge, Richmond, Charlottesville, Salisbury and Manassas symphony orchestras. In 1995, he won the first prize at the Senigallia International Piano Competition in Italy, where he was the youngest competitor.  Shteinberg was a guest artist at the Mostly Mozart Festival, Summit Music Festival, Music Festival of the Hamptons, the ”Oleg Kagan” Festival in Germany, Festival Aix-en-Provence in France and Open Chamber Music in Cornwall, England. Chamber music appearances include the Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center, The Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Alice Tully Hall in New York and the Saunders Theatre in Boston. Most recently, he gave the world premiere of Permutations for piano and orchestra by Robert Chumbley.

Click Here for Livestream

We are so excited to have students and faculty from Community Music School performing for this month’s Fourth Friday Concert Series! Repertoire to include selections from Bach, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and others from a variety of genres and styles.

Performer Bio

Founded in 1994, CMS is the only organization in Wake County that provides private, 1:1 personalized music instruction in multiple genres at just $1 per lesson for children who have limited or no access to music education. For the last 30 years, CMS has worked to ensure that every child with a passion for music has access to affordable, high quality music education; and empowers families to foster their children’s love for music; and raise awareness of the benefits of musical instruction in the development of the whole child. Please join in supporting the young musicians of Community Music School by donating $30.00 in honor of the school’s years of service OR become a CMS sustainer at $19.94/month, reflecting on the school’s year of establishment! Learn More Here

Click Here for Livestream Link!

Performer Bio

Czech pianist Kristina Henckel and Cuban pianist Amanda Virelles formed 4HANDS Piano Duo in 2019. Their duo repertoire includes master pieces from the Classical, Romantic and 20th century periods. Both pianists started performing careers in their countries of origin, and completed doctoral degrees in piano performance and pedagogy in the United States. Currently, both Kristina and Amanda hold faculty positions in North Carolina, at Sandhills Community College and Fayetteville State University.

Dr. Kristina Henckel, an accomplished pianist and teacher, is a native of the Czech Republic. She is a graduate of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, under the tutelage of Professor Peter Toperczer. During her study she received several awards in competitions held in the Czech Republic: third prize in the Chopin Piano Competition and Smetana International Piano Competition, and first prize in the National Piano Competition of Conservatories, including an award for best performance of Antonín Dvořák’s composition. At 18 Kristina debuted with Beethoven’s Concerto No. 5 Op. 73 “Emperor” with the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra. She further collaborated as a soloist with other regional orchestras in the Czech Republic.

After relocating to the United States in 1999, Kristina continued her studies by earning a doctorate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma. In Oklahoma she acquired additional awards for her performances: first prize in the Donna Turner-Smith Piano Competition and first prize at the Graduate Concerto Competition 2012. In addition, her dissertation “Pianistic Analysis of Bedřich Smetana’s Piano Cycle Dreams” was nominated for the University of Oklahoma Provost’s Dissertation Prize 2016.

Kristina has performed numerous solo and collaborative recitals in Europe and United States. She also made several recordings for Radio Vltava, Czech Republic. In the fall of 2015 she became a Ritmüller piano artist. In May 2016, she released a CD with the piano trio Turnía featuring the piano trios of Antonín Dvořák and Bedřich Smetana. In April 2016 the ensemble was featured on the radio show Northwest Focus on King FM 98.1 in Seattle, WA. Kristina is also a member of the 4HANDS Piano Duo with Cuban-American pianist Amanda Virelles.

Currently she serves as music faculty at Fayetteville State University and Sandhills Community College in North Carolina.

Amanda Virelles has played for audiences around the world captivating them with her unique sound and deep interpretations. Her performances have been described as sensible, profound, and energetic. She has performed as a soloist as well as collaborative artist throughout the United States, Europe, South and Central America and the Caribbean.

Amanda began her piano studies in Cuba with Emilio Morales, and later with Serguei Leschenko, continued with Heirinch Neuhaus’ protegé Margarita Fyodorova at Moscow State Conservatory Tchaikovsky, and received her Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Russian Academy of Music Gnessins in Moscow, Russia, under the guidance of Inna Malinina, former disciple of Alexander Goldenwieser. Virelles also holds a Master Degree and a Doctoral Degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she received both a full assistantship and a fellowship as the winner of the Doctoral Assistantship Competition. While at USM, Amanda was a student of Dr. Lois Leventhal.

After winning First Prize and an Special Prize for best Cuban and Latin-American music performance in the “Amadeo Roldan” Piano Competition, in Cuba, she was given a full scholarship to study in Russia. She appeared as a soloist with several orchestras in Europe and South America under the direction of renowned conductors such as Yoshikatsu Fukumura, Mikhail Shervakov, Dmitir Manolov, Fillipo Zigante, Kimbo Ishii – Eto, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. She was a featured winner of the William T. Gower Concerto Competition with the USM Symphony Orchestra under conductor Jay Dean. She has also performed under the baton of Raul Munguia and Alejandro Drago.

As a pedagogue Dr. Virelles has served as an Associate Professor of Music at Universidad del Atlántico in Colombia, in the fields of classical piano, theory, and chamber music from 1997 to 2003. Previously, she was on the piano faculty at the Conservatorio Nacional in Lima, Peru. Since her arrival to the United States, she has also served at Lane College, Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music and at the School of Music of Belmont University. Currently, Dr. Virelles is an Associate Professor of Music at Fayetteville State University, in Fayetteville, North Carolina and teaches piano at Fayetteville School of Music

Amanda is an avid performer of chamber music and plays regularly with “Duo Guitiano” with Colombian-American guitarist Carlos Castilla and 4HANDS Piano Duo, with Czech pianist Kristina Henckel. Her solo and duo recordings are available in digital platforms.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click here for live stream!

Performer Bios

Andrew Wood, 18, graduated from Enloe High School with the International Baccalaureate Diploma last spring (2023). He is currently completing a gap year of intense preparation for a college degree in piano performance. Andrew has given solo recitals at Meredith College, Saint Mary’s School, and at private residences and retirement communities in Raleigh and Winston-Salem. As part of his study last summer at Krakow Piano, he performed in group recitals across Poland at Dębno Castle, Liszt Hall at Hotel Saski in Krakow, and Fazioli Concert Hall at the School of Music of Jastrzębie Zdrój. In addition to his study at Krakow, Andrew has studied in summer programs at the New Orleans Piano Institute and the Eastern Music Festival. Now in his second and final year with the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute, Andrew has been a member of two piano quartets. Currently he has serves as collaborative pianist for the Enloe High School Choral Department, and volunteers by teaching conducting, music theory, and choral music at Enloe. Andrew has won and received honors in local festivals and competitions such as the Young Artist Auditions, NC Music Teachers Association, and the Raleigh Piano Teachers Association Scholarship. He has placed twice in the Music Teachers National Association Competition, Senior Division. Andrew thanks his family and his teacher, Dr. Margaret Evans, for their support and for providing many wonderful opportunities.

Hrishikesh Ram (Hrishi) is a piano student of Dr. Olga Kleiankina of NC State University, and is pursuing chemical engineering and chemistry as a first-year undergraduate student. He previously was a student of Mr. John Herrmann of Durham, NC, and is also coached by Ms. Elizabeth Beilman of the NC Symphony in chamber music, as a member of the Tre Voce Piano Trio, North Carolina Chamber Music Institute. Hrishi has won prizes at the national, regional and international level in both solo piano and chamber music.

Fifteen-year-old Benjamin Luo, a ninth grader who hails from Apex, North Carolina, began his piano study with Florence Ko at age five. Since then, he has garnered first-prize awards in a myriad of piano competitions at state, national, and international levels. Benjamin has been the first-place winner in the Music Teacher National Association (MTNA) Piano Competition in both Junior and Senior Solo categories in the state round for five consecutive years, beginning in 2019. He was also a two-time MTNA Junior Piano National Finalist. In addition, along with his brother Brandon, Benjamin placed second nationally in the 2022-2023 MTNA Senior Piano Duet Competition, following a first-place win in the state and divisional rounds. Benjamin has performed with several orchestras after winning concerto competitions, including the Hampton Roads Philharmonic, the Chapel Hill Philharmonic, and the Tar River Orchestra. Recently, Benjamin played the full Rachmaninoff No. 2 Piano Concerto with the Long Bay Symphony of South Carolina.

Anastacy Golovidov is a sophomore at North Carolina State University pursuing her Bachelor in Graphic & Experience Design along with a minor in Music with Dr. Olga Kleiankina. She began her piano study with Olga Urick and at age six entered her first competition. From 2011-2017 she earned several 1st place, 2nd place, and Honorable Mention awards at the Young Artist Audition piano competition. Her achievements include multiple North Carolina Music Teachers Association and North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs district awards. In 2018 she received 2nd place at the Elizabeth Bullard competition. In 2019 she won first place at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts piano weekend festival. Her most recent awards include 2nd place in Young Artist Audition piano competition in 2021, 1st place at NCFMC Royalty 2022 and she is a CAPTA Scholarship Competition award recipient for College Minor in Music.

Sam Prochnau is a sophomore at North Carolina State University studying aerospace engineering with a minor in piano performance. Sam has played piano for 14 years, studying first under Irene Fix and currently under Dr. Olga Kleiankina. As a soloist, Sam has experience performing recitals in both North Carolina and his home state of Pennsylvania, and has performed in numerous masterclasses with distinguished piano professors from across the country. Sam also enjoys accompanying, reaching the 2022 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State choir conference, accompanying the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra, as well as playing with various other ensembles and soloists. Outside of music, Sam plays club ultimate frisbee for NC State, enjoys hiking, and is a member of NC State’s Design Build Fly aerospace engineering club.

Brandon Luo, 17, is an eleventh grader from Apex, NC, who began his piano study with Florence Ko at age five. Since then, he has competed in numerous piano competitions and has won many competition awards, including first place in North Carolina Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Senior and Junior Piano Competitions, East Carolina University Young Artist Piano Competition, Hayes School of Music Piano Competition, United States International Music Competition, Great Masters International Piano Competition, American Protégé International Music Talent Competition, Charles F.T. Nakarai Piano Competition, RPTA Scholarship Competition, RPTA Young Artist Audition, as well as the State Royalty Competitions, NC Federation of Music Clubs State Scholarship Competition “Mary Davis Memorial Award”, “Maxine Taylor Fountain Award”, “NCFMC Past Presidents Award”, and “Thursday Morning Music Club Of Winston-Salem Award.” Brandon, along with his brother Benjamin, placed second nationally in the 2022-2023 MTNA Senior Piano Duet Competition, after winning first place in the state and divisional rounds. Recently, Brandon received first place in the RPTA Young Artist Auditions Concerto Competition and Federation of Music Clubs Competition “Estelle Brady Senior Piano Concerto Award”.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Performer Bio

Consistently in demand on the concert stage, Polish-American Concert Pianist Solomon Eichner has garnered international acclaim with performances in England, Italy, Germany, Poland, Austria and throughout the U.S.  Declared by the American Liszt Society as “A sensitive pianist, Solomon’s playing is poetic, beautiful and moving with deep feeling”, “A young Arthur Rubinstein”.

In the 2023 season commemorating Rachmaninoff’s 150^th birthday, Solomon performed many concerts showcasing the composer at various universities and concert series from San Francisco to Sarasota to Southampton.

An avid chamber musician, Solomon debuted on the 2023 Newport Music Festival, Rhode Island with Cellist Amit Peled.

Solomon performed in the 2022 season with the North Carolina Symphony, Beethoven’s Triple Concerto under Conductor Christoph Koenig.  In 2021 Solomon debuted with the NC Symphony playing Saint Saens Carnival of the Animals.

Sponsored by the March of the Living Foundation, Solomon performed for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz at the Krakow Philharmonic Hall, Jewish Cultural Center and at Auschwitz in front of a crowd of 20,000 people.

Solomon has performed concertos with conductors Uriel Segal – Grieg; John Gordon Ross – Rachmaninoff 3^rd; Mark Peterson – Liszt 1 and Chopin 2; David Hagy – Mendlessohn 1; Michelle Di Russo – Saint Saens Carnival of Animals; Tonu Kalam – Beethoven Triple; and appeared with George Mariner Maull on his Discovery Orchestra series. Orchestras Solomon has performed with include NC, Salisbury, Western Piedmont, Wilson, UNC, Discovery, Alicante Spain.

Solomon is a prizewinner of the Liszt-Garrison International Competition, International Young Artists Competition Washington D.C., GoldenKey Carnegie Hall Debut Competition and Miami Music Festival Concerto Competition.

Music Festivals Solomon has performed in include Perugia Italy, Pianofest in the Hamptons, Montecito California, Atlantic Maine, American Fine Arts Festival in Austria, SUNY New Paltz, IKIF Mannes.

Concert series Solomon has recently performed on include Artist Series Sarasota, Noontime Concerts Old St. Marys Cathedral San Francisco, Parrish Museum Water Mill, Community Concerts at 2^nd Baltimore, St. Paul’s Church Augusta with Violinist Brian Reagin, Chamber Music Raleigh, Cary Page-Walker House, Paderewski Festival, University of Tampa Sykes Chapel, Tribby Arts Center Ft. Myers, Polish Embassy D.C, Temple Longboat Key, First Presbyterian Naples, Yale Gordon Trust, National City Church D.C, Music in the Great Hall, Bower Chapel Trinity by the Cove, Weymouth Arts Center, Pamlico Music Society, among others.

Originally from Baltimore, Solomon graduated from the Manhattan School of Music and Peabody Conservatory. When not concertizing, Solomon maintains a faculty position for the North Carolina Chamber Music Institute. Currently Solomon resides in Chapel Hill with his wife.

Website: www.solomoneichnerpianist.com

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Performer Bios

Born in NYC, New York and based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Alain Arvelo studied voice at Mars Hill University under Dr. Joel Reed. After graduating from Mars Hill University in 2016, Alain has focused on primarily recital and private performances. He now studies privately under Raoul Simon Düsterhaus. Armed with a precocious talent, a bottomless curiosity and an inexhaustible tenacity, Alain has been performing operatic repertoire and recitals since the age of 14. Alain has performed scenes from: Cosi fan tutte, L’elisir d’amore, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, Werther, Manon, Rigoletto, Roméo et Juliette, La Traviata & Lucia di lammermoor.

Minseong Joo, 18, was born in South Korea, and he currently lives in Cary, North Carolina. He began learning the piano at the age of twelve under Dr. Moon Choi. He has won several awards which include: 1st place in Raleigh Piano Teachers Association Competition, 1st place at the ECU Piano Competition, 1st at the UNCSA Competition and 1st at RPTA Concerto Competition. He has also performed in many venues such as A.J. Fletcher Recital Hall at ECU, Carswell Concert Hall at Meredith College, and many more. He was a participant at the ECU Piano Festival and the Vivace Music Festival, and has performed in masterclasses with many renowned artists, including Sean Chen, Christopher Guzman, Yakov Kasman, Alexander Kobrin, Meng-Chieh Liu, Marina Lomazov, Jerome Lowenthal, John O’Conor, and Victor Rosenbaum. He is also a founder of the Music Cures All non-profit organization and has performed at several senior centers and other organizations as charity events. In addition to his piano studies, he enjoys watching movies, reading books, playing sports, and spending time with family and friends.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click here for livestream!

Performer Bios

Patricia Gray holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory (BM), the University of Wisconsin/ Madison (MM), and from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA). She is the former Artistic Director and Pianist of National Musical Arts (NMA), for 21 seasons the resident ensemble at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington DC, and the founder and Director of NMA’s BioMusic Program. As pianist, she has performed at The White House, is the recipient of the prestigious Franz Liszt Commemorative Medal from the government of Hungary, a soloist with leading orchestras, and has collaborated in performances with renowned composers and artists. As Executive Producer, she created and produced international concerts with 18 foreign Embassies, a companion concert for an international art exhibition, and productions with the National Broadcasting Company, Inc., the Motion Picture Association, ASCAP, the Recording Industry Association of America, the Smithsonian, the Getty Conservation Institute, and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. As music researcher, Dr. Gray leads teams of distinguished scientists and musicians that explore the musical sounds in all species and is particularly known for her research with bonobo apes. She was the lead author of a BioMusic article in the journal, Science, and represented the Biomusic Program in articles for: NYTimes, BBC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, The Boston Globe, London Daily Telegraph, and media in Latin America. Dr. Gray was Co-PI for a $3 million BioMusic science exhibition – Wild Music – funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) that toured nationwide; and servesd as PI for the NSF funded BioMusic curriculum project – UBEATS. In 2002, Dr. Gray was appointed Senior Specialist by the Fulbright Program, the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State, and the Council for International Exchange of Scholars to serve as a special consultant to foreign institutions and organizations worldwide. Dr. Gray is retired from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro where she served as Clinical Professor and Senior Research Scientist in the Music Research Institute.

Joseph Di Piazza has performed extensively in the United States, Canada, China and Europe as a recitalist, chamber player, and concerto soloist. He has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards including: Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto soloist in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Chopin recital at the Chicago Art Institute as winner of the Chicago’s Women’s Club Piano Competition, MacDowell recital at Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University as winner of the Illinois National Federation of Music State Competition. In addition to numerous University guest artist recitals such as the University of Alberta, the University of Wisconsin, the University of Kentucky, other venues include the Martin Luther King Jr. Center for the Performing and Cultural Arts, and Concert Series at the Art Museums of Washington DC, Cincinnati, North Carolina and Kentucky. He has participated as a performer, clinician and adjudicator in festivals at Interlochen, Michigan; Eastern Music Festival, Greensboro, NC; Chicago Spring Arts Festival; Beethoven Festival on Long Island, NYC; and Focus on Piano Literature Series at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro School of Music where he was a member of the piano faculty for 43 years. Concerto performances include the canon of Russian Romantic Concertos: including Tchaikovsky 1st and Rachmaninoff 2nd and 3rd with numerous Symphony Orchestras. Dr. Di Piazza holds degrees from DePaul University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

https://www.pianosoundings.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTQimNpZEolOm0uMcAcBAKQ/featured

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click here for livestream!

Performer Bios

Dorothy Lewis-Griffith, pianist

Dorothy Lewis-Griffith was born in High Point, North Carolina. She began her musical studies when she was four in both piano and accordion. At ten, she studied intensively at the Pietro Deiro Accordion Conservatory in New York City’s Greenwich Village for eight weeks. After that experience she concentrated on the more challenging piano, and when she was fourteen, she made her orchestral debut with the North Carolina Symphony. Between junior and senior years in high school, Ms. Lewis-Griffith won a scholarship with James Friskin at the Chautauqua Institution.

With Beveridge Webster she earned undergraduate and master’s degrees at The Juilliard School. She continued studies under a Fulbright-Hays Grant, first at the Conservatoire Nationale de Paris with Marcel Ciampi and later at the École Normale de Musique with Jules Gentil. During that time, she competed and won a prize in the Geneva International Piano Competition. As a result, Ms. Lewis-Griffith was a sponsored candidate to the first Rio de Janeiro International Piano Competition the following year.

Later she earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. There she worked with Elizabeth Katzenellenbogen, Konrad Wolff, and Leon Fleisher.

Ms. Lewis-Griffith has served on the faculties of the University of Wisconsin-Superior and the Peabody Conservatory. The University of Georgia Board of Regents awarded her the Associate Professor Emerita title after she retired from Valdosta State University. Then, for sixteen years Ms. Lewis-Griffith was Artist-in-Residence at the Adrian L. and Dorothy L. Shuford School of Performing Arts of Catawba College in Salisbury, North Carolina.

She has been an adjudicator for the Fulbright Screening Committee, North Carolina School of the Arts auditions, Governor’s Honors Program in Georgia, Cincinnati Conservatory auditions, Chattanooga Symphony auditions, and many years for the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs.

Ms. Lewis-Griffith premiered several works by American composer Robert Starer, the subject of her doctoral dissertation, and wrote articles about him for Grove’s Dictionary of American Music and Musicians and The New Grove Dictionary of Opera. She is also a fine interpreter of George Gershwin’s opus, having published two CDs of his music.

“A sensitive and attentive musician” according to Edward Rothstein of The New York Times, Ms. Lewis-Griffith has given recitals and soloed with orchestras in major U.S. cities as well as in Europe, South America and Asia. Dorothy’s music can be heard on Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube as well as on her website Dorothy Lewis-Griffith.com.

Edward L. Lewis

Experience:

2016- Writing books

2000-2016 Attorney, private practice and indigent defense, working in areas of criminal and juvenile law.

1984-1996 Vice President and Dean of Student Development, Lenoir-Rhyne College (now University), instructor of Great Books

1980-1984 Director of Student Development, Georgia Southern College (now University)

1973-1980 Instructor, Rockingham Community College: philosophy, world Religions, western civilization and psychology

Education:

1996-1999 Juris Doctor, UNC School of Law

1977-1980 Ph.D. Social Studies Education, dissertation, Affective Issues in

1967-1972 M. Div. Duke Divinity School, Duke University

1971-72 Foreign exchange, New College, University of Edinburgh, Scotland

1968-1970 Peace Corps Iran

1963-1967 B.S. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Special Interests:

Running (50 marathons), history, writing, photography, rose gardening

Program Notes

Welcome to the Great Hall of Camelot Dorothy Lewis-Griffith invites you to go on a magical, musical journey in time. Should you wish to go, her original compositions will transport you back to the Dark Ages. Merlin (THE Merlin) has found five twenty-first-century kids who he thinks, or hopes, are the ones to fulfill a prophecy and save the future. They can do so by saving the life of a young lad—and future great wizard—threatened by an evil shamaness. You will accompany these time travelers to the kingdom of Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. You will meet Arthur, Guinevere, Sir Launcelot, and the very evil shamaness, among others. Most of all, however, you will meet the greatest wizard of myth or history, Merlin.

Inspired by a series of novels, Stars in the Future Skies by Ed Lewis, depicting an epic struggle in the Dark Ages, Lewis-Griffith draws on historical references—Gregorian chants, medieval celebratory music, the Mass for the Dead, as well as more contemporary themes—to create musical pictures to carry us and our imaginations to a time and place far away, shrouded in the murky mists of the past.

You will hear the darkness of assassinations and mortal combat, march with Knights of the Round Table into the Great Hall of Camelot, explore the ferocity and personality of the greatest yet flawed knight, Sir Launcelot, feel the struggles of the boys as they serve as squires to the knights who quest and find, the Holy Grail. You will sink to the bottom of the sea in one of Merlin’s educational interventions to form a mystical, learning friendship with a community of highly sensitive mermaids.

Join us for a remarkable, original musical odyssey, journeys of growth and change, adventures as violent as a Dark Age joust, as lofty as the noble goals of chivalry, as lowly as murder, as magic as the Holy Grail. Go with these kids as they grow in self-awareness, mature into knighthood, and more. All this, in the musical compositions of Dorothy Lewis-Griffith.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click Here for Livestream!

Performer Bio

Korean-American pianist Anthony C. Lee was a Fulbright recipient at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary in 2021 and a grand prize winner at the 2018 Chicago International Music Competition. Lee’s performance career has taken him across the US and Europe including in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Prague, and Serbia.

Dr. Lee’s research was centered around the history of the Liszt Academy and its rich lineage of Hungarian musicians. During the Fulbright residency, he also engaged in masterclasses and interviews with professors of the Academy alongside his performance activities. Last season (2022-23), Lee gave a series of lecture recitals across many US institutions including one at Indiana University for the American Liszt Society Festival. In his talk titled, An American in Budapest, Anthony shares his research and experiences of the city and the institution’s cultural vibrancy alongside a unique musical program of Hungarian composers.

Anthony has engaged in masterclasses with renowned teachers and performers such as Robert McDonald (Juilliard and Curtis), Martin Canin (Juilliard), John Perry (Glenn Gould School), André Laplante, Alexander Korsantia (New England Conservatory), Jonathan Biss (Marlborough Festival), Hie-Yon Choi (Seoul National University), Mūza Rubackytė, and Alexander Braginsky.

Lee also founded in January of 2017 the Cary Classical Concerts and organized a series of themed concerts to offer high-caliber classical music to a broader audience. He also performed solo and chamber music with guest artists, often speaking to the audience that ranged in the hundreds. On radio, he was featured in My Life in Music on WCPE, the classical radio station of North Carolina.

Dr. Lee holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and the Interlochen Arts Academy. He completed his DMA studies at the University of Kansas under Steven Spooner who is now a professor at the Peabody School of Music, Johns Hopkins University.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Join us in welcoming Dr. Indrek Laul, Concert Pianist and CEO of Estonia Piano Company, and his wife, Triin-Maret Laul, for a special concert with reception to follow!

Join us in welcoming Dr. Indrek Laul, Concert Pianist and CEO of Estonia Piano Company for “The Art of Sound” Masterclass!

Lend a hand, save the band! During Hurricane Helene, the Avery High School Band lost all its instruments. The NCBach Festival and Bach and Beyond are playing a kickoff fundraiser for the Band at Ruggero Piano on Dec. 7, 2024 at 7 PM to raise money to get them back on their
feet.

This Fourth Friday Concert will unfortunately not be available on livestream. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Performer Bio

Click Here to learn more about Community Music School, Raleigh!

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click here for YouTube Live Stream

Performer Bio

Ruben Alves – Pianist, Composer, and Educator

Ruben Alves is a distinguished Portuguese pianist and composer, known for his technical prowess and interpretative sensitivity. Born in 1976, he began his musical studies at the age of five and started learning piano at eight. By 21, he had completed his general studies in music in Lisbon and later refined his jazz training in Barcelona,Spain. His music demonstrates a fusion of jazz, classical, and Portuguese influences, creating an unique and expressive sound.

Throughout his career, Ruben has explored various musical styles, blending elements of jazz, classical, and experimental genres while maintaining his distinct artistic signature. His passion for innovation is reflected not only in his performances but also in his compositions, where he constantly seeks new sounds and creative expressions. He has released several jazz albums, including Clara Madrugada (2000), Súbito (2008), and in collaboration with Carlos Miguel and Miguel Amado, Kolme (2012), Kolme II (2016), and Kolme III (2022). Additionally, his work Lúmen (2007) revisits religious hymns, while O Mais Pequeno Espaço Apreciável de Tempo (2018) and Manto (2020) further showcase his compositional depth.

In addition to his solo career, Ruben Alves has collaborated with renowned Portuguese artists such as Mariza, Carminho, and Fausto. He currently performs with João Gil and Rui Veloso, bringing his rich musical expertise to diverse audiences. Beyond the concert stage, Ruben has contributed significantly to cinema and television, participating in Cinemateca Portuguesa film mute cycles with improvised interpretations and serving as a professor and pianist in television programs. His dedication to music education extends further through his recently published book of piano scores, 33 Compositions, in which he shares his artistic vision with aspiring musicians.

With his talent, versatility, and deep musical sensitivity, Ruben Alves continues to establish himself as one of Portugal’s most exciting and innovative pianists, admired by critics and audiences alike for his ability to create emotionally powerful experiences through music.

www.rubenalves.com

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Performer Bios

Jaeyoon Kim, a native of Seoul, Korea, earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Vocal Performance at the University of South Carolina, where he received the Carroll Taussig Opera Fellowship. Dr. Kim holds two master’s degrees, one in Choral Conducting from USC and a second in Vocal Performance from the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He also earned an Artist Diploma in Vocal Performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music where he apprenticed with the Lyric Opera Cleveland and was chosen to participate in the prestigious Cleveland Art Song Festival. Dr. Kim has been praised for his lyric tenor repertoire. His operatic credits include the principal tenor roles in The Tales of Hoffmann, La Bohème, Gianni Schicchi, Cosi fan tutte, Don Pasquale, The Merry Widow, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Magic Flute, The Consul, L’elisie d’amore, and many others in the United States, South Korea, Italy and Austria. As an active oratorio soloist, Dr. Kim has also performed in Messiah, Elijah, Creation, St. Paul, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem, Coronation Mass, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Verdi’s Requiem, Britten’s War Requiem, and many others. He made his debut on the European stage by performing the role of Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte at the Opera Theatre of Lucca, Italy and later was invited to perform Beethoven’s Mass in C and Bizet’s Te Deum as a tenor soloist in the 2004 International Conducting Workshop in Varna, Bulgaria. He also appeared at the South Carolina Education TV for the production of Mozart’s Requiem, which he performed again with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra. In the summer of 2011, he was invited to perform the tenor solo of Verdi’s Requiem with Dohnanyi Orchestra at the northern cities in Italy, hosted by Varna International. As an equally comfortable singer of art songs, he has been presenting art song recitals with his wife and concert pianist, Dr. Seung Ah Kim. In 2016, they released a CD, “Romantic Art Songs” featuring art songs by Donizetti, Bellini, Turina, Liszt, Duparc, Rachmaninoff and Tosti. He is a full Professor at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, where he coordinates vocal studies and directs the UNCP Pembroke Singers.  Dr. Kim is also the Music Director at Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC.​Jaeyoon Kim, tenor

Dr. Seung Ah Kim, a native of Busan, Korea, has received her doctorate in piano performance at the University of South Carolina. She holds two master’s degrees in piano performance, one from Yonsei University in Korea and the other from The Cleveland Institute of Music. While studying at CIM, she was awarded the Arthur Loesser Memorial Award in Piano, recognizing her outstanding achievement. She also received a prize at the prestigious Darius Milhaud Performance competition. At USC, she was applauded for the performance of Flights of Passage by Claude Baker, which was the South Carolina premiere at the Southern Exposure Concert. She was also on the piano faculty at the USC Community Music Program and served as the official pianist for the Concerto Competition at the Southeastern Piano Festival and Summer Conservatory at USC. Currently, she is teaching piano and accompanying UNCP Choirs as an adjunct faculty at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke where she also plays for faculty and guest artist recital series. In addition to her vigorous solo performances, she has actively performed as a collaborating artist. Recent accompanied recitals at UNCP include world-famous player, Øystein Baadsvik’s Tuba recital, New York City Opera Singers’ duo recital – Anna Vikre, soprano & Rod Nelman, bass, Dr. Terry Everson’s Trumpet recital, and Michele Gingras’s Clarinet recital. With her Husband and tenor, Jaeyoon Kim, she has been presenting art song recitals at various concerts in Ohio, Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Korea. Her teachers include Dr. Charles Fugo and Dr. Daniel Shapiro. She also studied chamber music with Carolyn Gadiel Warner and was chosen to play for the accompanying masterclass of Warren Jones and Dalton Baldwin. She was the Organist at Hay Street United Methodist Church in Fayetteville, NC from 2014-2024. She joined the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Durham, NC as a Music Director since 2024.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click Here for Livestream!

Performer Bios

Alain Arvelo is an operatic lyric tenor born in New York City and based in Raleigh, North Carolina. He studied voice at Mars Hill University under the guidance of Dr. Joel Reed and currently studies with Raoul Simon Düsterhus. A passionate advocate for opera,  He has appeared in a variety of staged productions, educational, community outreach and recitals both regionally across the United States and internationally. His operatic credits include roles in La Favorita, La Boheme, Werther L’italiana in Algeri, L’elisir d’amore, Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, I puritani, Manon, and Lucia di Lammermoor.

Chad Fothergill is a keyboardist and historian who serves the church as a musician, teacher, writer, and composer. He is author of Sing with All the People of God: A Handbook for Church Musicians and has contributed both writings and compositions to several worship resources. Chad presently serves as Chapel Organist at Duke University Chapel, assists with weekday liturgies at Duke Divinity School, and is cantor to the Lutheran Summer Music community. Prior to his appointment at Duke, he was interim co-director of the Institute of Liturgical Studies at Valparaiso University, past editor of the ALCM journal CrossAccent, and taught at Gustavus Adolphus College and the University of Delaware.

Dr. Carol Ann Barry holds degrees from Old Dominion University, the University of Louisville, and a DMA from James Madison University.   A Rotary Fellow, she studied at the Göethe Institute and the Hochschule fur Musik in Hamburg, Germany.  Her major teachers have included Lee Luvisi, Dr. Eric Ruple, Brian Ganz, Dr. James Litzelman, and Sophia Rosoff.  She is the recipient of both the 2010 PTG Grant and the MTNA Foundation Teachers Grant.   Dr. Barry has presented numerous lectures and pedagogy workshops and is passionate about the field of piano pedagogy.  Her private studio is located in Cary, N.C, and she was a collaborative pianist for the vocal department at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for 3 years prior to focusing on lecturing and writing.   In 2017, Dr. Barry founded Piano Pedagogues Key International, an educational piano pedagogy video and teaching materials company. Dr. Barry has served as President of the Cary-Apex Piano Teachers Association.  She also acted as coordinator of the Ruggero the Fourth Friday Concert Series until the fall of 2024. Her current project on behalf of NCMTA is as an archivist for the NCMTA historical archives housed at UNC Chapel Hill.  Her current writing project documenting her work with pianist Sophia Rosoff has included continued study with John Kamitsuka, one of the longest former students of Sophia Rosff, in New York City.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

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Performer Bios

Ian Kayser is a local artist, teacher, and traveling musician. Having been raised around all forms of art such as painting, literature, and music, he founded “Musicolor Studios” to provide an environment where the focus is on creativity. Ian also teaches for School of Rock where he helps students share the joys of music within a band. Inspired by Ruggero Piano, Ian has also taken up the craft of piano tuning and regulation, studying the art with fellow Piano Technicians Guild members for the past two years. He also is a sound technician at the Holly Springs Cultural Center where he gets to meet and run sound for all sorts of musical acts, many of which have become good friends. Ian also plays at a variety of venues with a variety of bands. One day it’s 70’s hits in Wilmington, the next is indie rock at Carrboro Music Festival, or maybe jazz jams at the Niche Wine Lounge, all to return Sunday morning for worship where the purpose of music is most true. For this event, Ian will be showcasing a year-long study highlighting the music of his favorite classical composer – Claude Debussy. The project included learning some of his more prominent pieces, annotating a biography (“Painter in Sound” by Stephan Walsh), writing an essay titled “Composing with Colors”, and composing a piece inspired by the ideas he’s learned from this undertaking. He hopes you will enjoy the performance just as much as he has enjoyed learning about this very important artist and his influence on the world of music!

The Moonlighters Quintet Picture and Bio Coming Soon! 

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click Here For Livestream!

Performer Bios

Beideth Briceno, cello

Beideth Briceno is a Venezuelan cellist with an international career shaped by artistry and leadership. A graduate of Venezuela’s El Sistema, she became principal cellist of the Caracas Youth Symphony at just 16, a position she held for ten years. She toured extensively throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia with the Caracas Youth Symphony and the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra under Gustavo Dudamel. After completing her studies at the Simón Bolívar Conservatory, the Associated Board Royal Schools of music, and the Santa Maria University, she moved to the United States in 2019 to study with Adam Liu, assistant principal cellist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. She earned an Artist Diploma (2020) and a Master’s in Music (2023) from Duquesne University. During her time in Pittsburgh, she performed in many orchestras such as the Westmoreland Symphony, Johnstown Symphony, Canton Symphony, Erie Philharmonic, and Youngstown Symphony. In 2023, she was selected as the first cello fellow of The Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, and she has since performed as a guest with the North Carolina Symphony, Carolina Ballet, and other orchestras in the area. In April 2025, she joined the section of the West Virginia Symphony. Now based in Raleigh, NC, Beideth maintains an active career as both performer and educator, teaching cello across the Research Triangle while inspiring the next generation of musicians with her artistry and dedication.

Dr. Anthony C. Lee, piano

Korean-American pianist Anthony C. Lee was a Fulbright recipient at the Liszt Academy in Budapest, Hungary in 2021 and a grand prize winner at the 2018 Chicago International Music Competition. Lee’s performance career has taken him across the US and Europe including in Italy, Greece, Hungary, Prague, and Serbia.

Aside from organizing the Fourth Friday concerts at Ruggero piano, Lee has also initiated a new educational concert series project, The Classical Concerts, aimed at offering an experience of classical music to a broad audience in the Triangle. On radio, he was featured in My Life in Music on WCPE, the classical radio station of North Carolina. Dr. Lee holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and the Interlochen Arts Academy. He completed his DMA studies at the University of Kansas under Steven Spooner who is now a professor at the Peabody School of Music, Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Jean Park, piano

Pianist Jean Park is an active performer and educator. Jean Park earned her Master of Music degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music and completed her Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Gilbert Kalish. Dr. Jean Park previously taught as piano faculty for the University of Incarnate Word and San Antonio college. She currently serves as piano faculty for Duke University, Meredith College and North Carolina Chamber Music Institute.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click here for Livestream!

Performers

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Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click Here for Livestream

About Community Music School (Raleigh)

The Community Music School (CMS) was founded in 1994 to provide access to high quality music instruction. Since their founding, CMS has provided $1 weekly music lessons. 1 on 1 private music lessons in both contemporary and classical music are offered in all instruments, including piano, guitar, percussion, violin, cello, woodwinds, harp, voice and more, and instruments are provided at no charge. Their mission is to enrich and inspire children and youth through access to and delivery of high-quality music instruction.

About the UNC-Chapel Hill piano program

The UNC–Chapel Hill piano program cultivates creativity while preparing students to become innovative, high-caliber musicians. UNC pianists have earned top prizes in state and national competitions and have gone on to receive scholarships and assistantships at leading universities and conservatories across the country. Recent accomplishments include First Prize at the national finals of the MTNA Stecher and Horowitz Two Piano Competition. Students have performed at major venues and on prominent concert series, including Carolina Performing Arts and the Berlin Konzerthaus in Germany. In addition, the UNC piano program hosts guest artist recitals and masterclasses with world-renowned pianists such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Emanuel Ax, Leon Fleisher, Robert McDonald, Peter Serkin, and André Watts, among many others.

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Click Here for Livestream

About North Carolina Master Chorale

The North Carolina Master Chorale is the premier semi-professional choir for our region. Our impact includes providing performance opportunities for our avocational singers, developing young singers through our youth choir, providing choral music to area choirs through our newly created lending library, providing choral support to other arts organizations, and providing high-level performances for our audiences. The Master Chorale was founded as Raleigh Oratorio Society and held their first concert performance was on April 11th, 1943.

The North Carolina Master Chorale is an umbrella choral organization, meaning that it encompasses several types of choral ensembles. Our largest ensemble is our adult Symphonic Choir (175 singers), which is a volunteer choral ensemble. Our adult Chamber Choir (ranging from 16 – 60 singers) is a smaller professional choir, and our Youth Choir is a professionally directed honors choir for high school students. All of these choirs require high level auditions to be selected for participation. The Master Chorale’s season consists of 5-6 concerts for our adult choirs and one Youth Choir performance.

Performers & Parts

Rebecca Brock, soprano

Jessica Bowen, soprano

Casey Eaton, soprano

Toiya Williams, soprano

Jenny Bennett, alto

Martha Cecka, alto

Carol Ingbretsen, alto

MaryRobert McGrath, alto

Steven Brooks, tenor

Zachary Matteen, tenor

Joshua McCarthy, tenor

Garrett Whipkey, tenor

Duane Donders, bass

Ryan Downey, bass

Jon Parker Douglas, bass

Mike Trexler, bass

Alfred Sturgis, Music Director

Suzanne Polak, accompanist

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert. 

Masterclass

This masterclass will feature four piano students and works from Brahms, Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and Lyapunov.

Dr. Clara Yang Bio

Praised for her “breathtaking technical prowess” (Cultural Voice of North Carolina) and “probing emotional depth and daring individuality” (Peninsula Reviews), Chinese-American pianist Clara Yang has performed on some of the world’s leading stages, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall (New York), the Forbidden City Concert Hall (Beijing), the National Auditorium of Music (Madrid), the Seymour Centre (Sydney), and Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre (Rochester). Featured on prestigious concert series such as Carolina Performing Arts and Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series, she connects with audiences by creating deep emotional experiences through her musical storytelling.

She has appeared as soloist under the baton of distinguished conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Long Yu (余隆), Carl St. Clair, Josep Caballé Domenech, George Jackson, Laura Jackson, Tõnu Kalam, Grant Llewellyn, and Jeff Tyzik, with renowned orchestras such as the European Union Youth Orchestra, Sichuan Symphony Orchestra, Banda Sinfónica Municipal de Madrid, Pacific Symphony, and the North Carolina Symphony.

Yang is equally at home in the classical canon, new music, and interdisciplinary work. Known for her bold artistic vision, she has collaborated across genres with luminaries including pianist Aaron Diehl, new media artist Xuan, rock guitarist Yvette Young, and hip-hop artist Suzi Analogue. In 2024, she was named an Artist-in-Residence at the renowned Baryshnikov Arts for her multimedia project Ex Machina, will be presented by Baryshnikov Arts as part of Carnegie Hall’s United in Sound: America at 250 festival. A champion of new music, she performed alongside Philip Glass, Timo Andres, and other distinguished artists in The Complete Philip Glass Piano Etudes concert produced by Pomegranate Arts. She also gave the world and U.S. premieres of Chen Yi’s Piano Concerto Four Spirits—written for her—with the China Philharmonic Orchestra (中国爱乐) at the Forbidden Concert Hall in Beijing and on Carolina Performing Arts.

Her recordings have received critical acclaim and international media coverage. Her solo album Folding Time (Albany Records) was awarded a Global Music Awards Gold Medal and named one of the Best of 2016 by American Record Guide. Her collaborative albums—Mother Tales (Navona Records), with violinist Sunmi Chang, and Grieg and Prokofiev (Albany Records), with cellist Helen Xiao-Dan Zheng Altenbach—have been praised by Strings Magazine, Pizzicato, and Fanfare. Her performances have been broadcast worldwide, and she has been profiled by major media outlets and publications in both the United States and China.

A committed educator and mentor, she has presented masterclasses, lectures, and coaching sessions at leading institutions and festivals across the globe, including the China Conservatory of Music, Central Conservatory of Music, Piano Academy in Gulangyu, Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory’s Musical College, King’s College London, Liceu Conservatory in Barcelona, and the Southeastern Piano Festival. Her students have garnered top prizes in national and international competitions. She was a national reviewer for the renowned YoungArts organization and served on the Artistic Panel for New Music USA. Recipient of the prestigious Institute of Arts and Humanities Fellowship and the Schwab Academic Excellence Award at UNC-Chapel Hill, she currently serves as the Head of Keyboard Studies at the university.

Yang holds a DMA from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Nelita True; an MM and Artist Diploma from the Yale School of Music, under Claude Frank; and a BM from the USC Thornton School of Music, where she studied with John Perry. Her precollege mentors include Hans Boepple, Zhou Guangren (周广仁), and Li Huili.

Learn More Here

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Performers

This concert will feature young pianists from the piano studios of Sandy Duran, Jean Park, Carol Ann Barry, Mary DeBoy, Olga Urick, Kendall Kelly and Olga Kleiankina!

Founded in June, 2003, the Fourth Friday Concert Series, formerly know as the 4th Friday Mix, stands as one of our area’s longest-running concert series. We remain committed to providing free and inclusive concerts that welcome musicians with a passion for sharing their talents. All attendees, including children capable of listening attentively, are warmly welcomed. Fourth Friday Concerts typically feature 2-4 performers or performance groups, although special occasions may showcase a single performer or group for the entire concert.