Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music was thrilled to host the Boston University Spotlight 2023 Concert at New York City’s renowned Carnegie Hall on March 21, 2023. The Weill Recital Hall concert featured a select group of seniors in a unique capstone experience for their final undergraduate semester, along with an exceptional cohort of graduate music students.

The BU music performers, who participated in a multi-stage competition and selection process run by CFA School of Music, performed works by Ravel, Rachmaninoff, R. Strauss, Amanda Harberg, Saint-Saëns, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, and Kapustin.

The BU Spotlight Concert was one of the signature events of BU School of Music’s 150^th anniversary, a year-long celebration commemorating 150 years of music-making.

Photos by Craig Williston / Qool Foto

About the 2023 Concert

Presented by Boston University School of Music

PROGRAM

“Tzigane” (Ravel) – Clara Montes (CFA’23), BM violin, and Dahee Park (CFA’24), DMA piano

“Élegie, Op. 3 No. 1” (Rachmaninoff) – Kevin A. Virgilio (CFA’26), DMA tenor trombone, and Richard Rivale (CFA’24), DMA piano

“Drei Lieder der Ophelia, Op. 67” (R. Strauss) – Margaret Matejcek (CFA’23), MM soprano, and Maria Rabbia (CFA’26), DMA piano

“Feathers and Wax” (A. Harberg) – Grace Helmke (CFA’23), BM flute, and Richard Rivale (CFA’24), DMA piano

“Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso” (Saint-Saëns) – Hudson Ye Hyung Chung (CFA’24), PD violin, and Dahee Park (CFA’24), DMA piano

“Fantasie in F-sharp Minor, Op. 28” (Mendelssohn) – Xueying Fan (CFA’27), DMA piano

“Lensky’s Aria” (from Eugene Onegin) (Tchaikovsky) – Johnny Mok (CFA’26), DMA cello, and Tianhong Yang (CFA’23), DMA piano

“Variations, Op. 41” (Kapustin) – Chaeyoung Min (CFA’26), DMA piano

MEET THE 2023 BU SCHOOL OF MUSIC PERFORMERS

Hudson Ye Hyung Chung (CFA’24)

PD Violin, Studio of Peter Zazofsky

Known for his sophisticated interpretation and warm tone, Hudson, born in Jerusalem, Israel, began playing the violin at 6. Making his debut with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra at 12, he was commended by Israel’s 5^th president, Itzhak Navon, who became his patron for his music studies in Israel. Since then, he has performed in venues worldwide, winning competitions from a young age. He won 1^st place awards in the America-Israeli Foundation Sharett Scholarship Program, Tel Aviv (2006); Kukmin Daily News Competition, Seoul (2007); Youngsan Young Artist Competition, Seoul (2008); and New York International Music Competition (2012). In addition, he is an active chamber musician, collaborating with artists such as Gil Shaham, Paul Huang, Ani Kavafian, Melissa Reardon, Melvin Chen, and Raman Ramakrishnan. Mr. Chung has also been invited to perform at various festivals, such as Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Sarasota Music Festival, and Keshet Eilon. An alumnus of the Juilliard School, Yale School of Music, and New England Conservatory, he studied with renowned pedagogues such as Hyo Kang, Miriam Fried, and Paul Biss.

Xueying Fan (CFA’27)

DMA Piano, Studio of Boaz Sharon

Xueying began studying the piano at age five and showed her musical artistry at nine by offering her first solo recital. As a soloist, she has already given concerts in Shanghai, Ningbo, Cixi, Shaoxing, Urumchi, Naples, Boston, Arcata, and New York City. She is also a prizewinner in competitions, including 3^rd Prize at the Shanghai Youth Piano Competition, 1^st Prize at the Hailun Piano Competition, 1^st Prize at the Shanghai Himalaya National Piano Competition, 3^rd Prize at the North Coast International Competition, in addition to the NEC Piano Honors Competition, and Boston University at Carnegie Hall Competition. She graduated with academic honors from the New England Conservatory with Masters and Bachelor of Music degrees under the guidance of Bruce Brubaker and Randall Hodgkinson.

Grace Helmke (CFA’23)

BM Flute, Studio of Linda Toote

A dynamic player, well versed in orchestral, solo, and chamber repertoire, Grace won 1^st Prize in the 41st annual James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition and the Boston Woodwind Society/Matthew Ruggiero International Woodwind Competition. She is a senior at Boston University and plays principal flute with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Notably, she plays flute, sax and sings vocals with Boston-based reggae band the Roots Rock Rebels. She served as the soloist with both the Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale and the Lincoln-Sudbury Civic Orchestra in performances of Mozart’s flute concerto in D major in 2019 and previously soloed with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra after winning 3^rd Place in their young artist’s competition. In March of 2020, she was the first-place recipient in her age division of the Best Bach Performance from the global online Great Composers Competition series. For four years, 2015-2019, Grace played with the various Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras and has played with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. She spent three summers at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute as a member of their Young Artists Orchestra and Young Artists Wind Ensemble.

Margaret Matejcek (CFA’23)

MM Soprano, Studio of Penelope Bitzas

Currently in her second year of her master’s degree in Vocal Performance, Margaret’s highlights at BU include performing in Our Town (Mrs. Webb), Mozart’s Waisenhausmesse (Soprano soloist), and a production of Luigi Rossi’s rarely performed Orpheus (Orpheus). In addition, she looks forward to appearing as Morgana in Alcina. Margaret holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and has performed with Source Song Festival, Lakes Area Music Festival, Miami Classical Music Festival, and more. In addition to her performance pursuits, Margaret is co-founder and artistic director of Imaginality Opera, an educational organization based in Minnesota whose mission is to make opera education more accessible for elementary school-aged children.

Chaeyoung Min (CFA’26)

DMA Piano, Studio of Pavel Nersessian

South Korean pianist Chaeyoung Min had a solo debut recital in Korea when she was 14 at the Kumho Art Hall as part of the Kumho Prodigy Concert Series, supported by the Kumho Foundation. After her debut, she performed at a variety of halls, in addition to the Seoul Arts Center, Williams Hall, KNUA Hall, and Mozart Hall. She was a winner of the NEC Honors Competition. Also, she won top prizes in numerous competitions in Korea and the USA, including Young Chang Music Concours, Eumyoun Music Competition, Korean Chamber Orchestra Music Competition, and Samick-Seiler Music Competition. She received a Master of Music degree from New England Conservatory, where she studied with Haesun Paik and Alessio Bax, and a Bachelor of Music degree at Korea National University of Arts under the tutelage of Minsoo Sohn after graduating from Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School in Korea.

Johnny Mok (CFA’26)

DMA Cello, Studios of Michael Reynolds and Mihail Jojatu

Boston-based cellist, performing artist, and teacher, Johnny Mok was born in Hong Kong, China. Mok performs regularly across the United States. He was a prizewinner in several competitions, including the CICA International Competition, Birmingham Music Club Scholarship Competition, and the American String Teacher Association Music Competition in the Junior and Senior Division. As a result of these achievements, Mok appeared as a soloist and featured cellist with orchestras and concert venues across the USA. Mok is also an active chamber musician and was invited as a guest artist at the Orvieto Musica Chamber Music Festival in Orvieto, Italy.

Clara Montes (CFA’23)

BM Violin, Studio of Dana Mazurkevich

Currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree, Clara Montes previously studied with Jerome Franke in Milwaukee. As an alum of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), she traveled with the group to Argentina and Uruguay and served as concertmaster for their 2018-19 season. Clara received prizes in both MYSO and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concerto competitions and has appeared as soloist with the Sheboygan Symphony Orchestra. She received the 2019 Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship for Artistic Excellence and gave a recital for the Kohler Foundation’s “Arts at the Waelderhaus” concert series the following year. While at Boston University, Clara won the violin prize in the String Department’s Bach competition.

Dahee Park (CFA’24)

DMA Piano, Studio of Shiela Kibbe

A doctoral student in Collaborative Piano and a graduate assistant at Boston University, Dahee Park regularly performs with many instrumental and vocal students. She has performed in masterclasses for Jonathan Feldman, Robert McDonald, Joseph Seiger, Steven Isserlis, Elmar Oliveira, and Steven Doane. In addition, she appeared in performances with the chamber groups El Duo and BMS X ARTIQUE. Park has been a guest pianist for Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra’s outreach concerts in South Korea for several years. She won 1^st Prize at the Artur Balsam Duo Competition in New York with violinist Yeon Kyung Joo (Associate Principal, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra). Before studying at Boston University, Park earned a Master of Music degree in piano performance at Yonsei University, South Korea, followed by a second Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano at Manhattan School of Music.

Maria Rabbia (CFA’26)

DMA Piano, Studio of Shiela Kibbe

Originally from Central New York, Maria Rabbia is in the second year of her DMA in Collaborative Piano at Boston University. She received her MM in Collaborative Piano from Ithaca College. Her coaching and collaborative credits include Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI), International Performing Arts Institute in Kiefersfelden, Germany, The Voice Institute of the Finger Lakes, and participation as a Young Artist with Opera Company of Middlebury. Maria has worked with Opera Ithaca on several productions, including La Bohème and Carmen, and most recently served as a vocal coach at BUTI and as the Assistant Conductor and Pianist at the inaugural Opera Direction Professional Certificate Program in Ithaca, NY. She has also immensely enjoyed working with the Boston University Opera Institute on productions of Così fan tutte, Our Town, and Little Women (Spring 2023).

Richard Rivale (CFA’24)

DMA Piano, Studio of Shiela Kibbe

A first-year DMA student in Collaborative Piano, Richard Rivale is interested in all musical styles. He continues to explore not only all classical music genres but has ventured into performances on the organ, harpsichord, and orchestral keyboard instruments, including playing the organ part in Holst’s “The Planets” at Symphony Hall in Boston. Richard enjoys singing and conducting and has participated in school and church choirs and conducting small groups for new music premieres of student composers. He has played in masterclasses and coachings with Isabel Leonard, John Harbison, John Heiss, and Donald Palma. He has studied with Meng-Chieh Liu and Stephen Drury at the New England Conservatory of Music, Jonathan Feldman, and Lydia Brown at The Juilliard School. He hopes to perform and teach at the collegiate level.

Kevin A. Virgilio (CFA’26)

DMA Tenor Trombone, Studio of Toby Oft

Hailed by the New York Music Daily as a “carefree” and “soulful” player, Kevin A. Virgilio is a Boston-based trombonist and educator whose performances range from contemporary to classical styles. An active freelance musician, Virgilio has recently appeared with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, the New York Festival Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Concert Chorale, the Bergen Symphony Orchestra, and the Westchester Oratorio Society. In addition, he has appeared in the orchestras for musical theater productions, including West Side Story, In the Heights, and The Music Man. He is currently on faculty at Needham Music in Needham, Massachusetts. In addition, he is a Teaching Artist with the Handel and Haydn Society in Boston, where he teaches at the Mother Caroline Academy.

Tianhong Yang (CFA’23)

DMA Piano, Studio of Pavel Nersessian

Pianist Tianhong Yang has made her solo appearances actively in several prestigious festivals and venues across Europe, Asia, and the USA throughout her performing career. Yang made her UK debut in 2010 at St. David’s Hall, Cardiff, performing Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto, Op.37, under the direction of Maestro David Jones. Yang has performed in many prestigious venues throughout Europe. Among them was Desingle in Antwerp, Belgium; BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff, UK; Auditorio Sony in Madrid, Spain. In addition, she regularly collaborated with Antwerp Camerata. In 2017, she was invited as a guest artist and performed at the Klara festival in Belgium. In addition to her performance appearances, Yang has been invited to perform at numerous music festivals worldwide, including The Art of Piano Festival, Imuse Festival, and Hanoi International Piano Festival.