2025 VIVACE DAILY SCHEDULE

All participant showcases are free to the public.
Artist Showcases at the Wilson Center require tickets, see button above.
All masterclasses and courses can be observed by purchasing a daily pass or the auditor card.

July 31

9:00AM-12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Christopher Guzman
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy Room with Andrew Shulman
@ St. James, Music Room with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Simon James
@ St. James, Great Hall with Jason Kwak

1:00pm @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry You Be The Judge! with Joseph Rackers and Marina Lomazov
“During this popular and entertaining course, everyone in the audience is asked to judge several anonymous recordings of the same work by famous concert artists, using different scoring systems. The experience will shed surprising light into the often enigmatic process of judging music competitions.”

2:30PM-5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with with Amy Schwartz Moretti
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy Room with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset Room with Joesph Rackers
@ St. James, Music Room with Dmitri Vorobiev

7:30PM @ Kenan Chapel | Free Entry Participant Showcase

7:30PM @ Game Night @ Thalian Hall!!!

August 1

9:00AM-12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Andrew Shulman
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Christopher Guzman
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Joseph Rackers
@ St. James, Great Hall with Amy Schwartz Moretti

1:00pm @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Reimagining Classical Concerts with Jason Kwak
‘For many decades, classical music has basically followed similar protocols. Along the same line, interest and audience members have slowly declined throughout the decades. This lecture will present some different strategies already in place, open honest discussions regarding new approaches, and tackle the questions ‘where are we’, ‘where do we want to be’ and ‘how do we get there’.

2:30PM-5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses at Thalian Hall Ballroom, Hotel Ballast
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Great Hall with Simon James
@ St. James, Music Room with Yizhen Chen

7:30PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry Participant Showcase

August 2

9:00AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Ursula Oppens
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Great Hall with Marina Lomazov

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry  Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses at Thalian Hall Ballroom, Hotel Ballast, St. James
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Alexander Kobrin
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Simon James
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Great Hall with Joseph Rackers
@ First Baptist Church, Sanctuary with Yizhen Chen

7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase
Impressions and Passions: the 2025 Vivace International Music Festival’s opening showcase presents virtuoso cellist Andrew Shulman, violin stars Dmitri Berlinsky and Amy Schwartz Moretti and award-winning pianists Paolo Gualdi, Christopher Guzman, and Dmitri Vorobiev in a program of Debussy, Ravel, Piazzolla, and Mendelssohn. From the impressionism of Debussy to the passion of Piazzolla, this is chamber music at its finest.

Program:
Debussy: Sonata for cello and piano, L. 135
Andrew Shulman, cello; Christopher Guzman, piano
Ravel: Sonata for violin and piano No. 2, M. 77
Dmitri Berlinsky, violin; Paolo Gualdi, piano
Piazzolla: Primavera porteño (arranged by Jose Bragato)
Dmitri Berlinsky, violin; Andrew Shulman, cello; Christopher Guzman, piano

Intermission

Mendelssohn: Piano Trio in D minor
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin; Andrew Shulman, cello; Dmitri Vorobiev, piano

August 3

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Christopher Guzman
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Ursula Oppens

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses at Thalian Hall Ballroom, Hotel Ballast, St. James
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Marina Lomzaov
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Andrew Shulman
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Jerome Lowenthal
@ St. James, Music Room with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Yizhen Chen

7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase
Alexander Kobrin: Romantic Reveries. Called the “Van Cliburn of today” by the BBC, pianist Alexander Kobrin has placed himself at the forefront of today’s performing musicians. In his sixth appearance with the Vivace International Music Festival, he presents a program of Brahms and Schumann. As New York Arts says, “Few listeners would fail to be… carried away by Kobrin’s brilliant technique and intuitive sense of Schumann’s poetry.”

Program:
Brahms: 6 Klavierstücke, Op. 118
Brahms: 4 Klavierstücke, Op. 119

Intermission

Schumann: Arabesque, Op. 18
Schumann: Kreisleriana Op. 16

August 4

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Jason Kwak
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Skinner with Alexander Korbin
@ St. James, Music Room with Joseph Rackers
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Ursula Oppens
@ St. James, Great Hall with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ St. James, Stephen Ministry Room with Efe Baltacigil
@ St. James, Green Room with Dmitri Berlinsky

1:00PM @ WHQR | Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Jerome Lowenthal
@ St. James, Music Room with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Huang-Kuan Chen
@St. James, Green Room with Simon James
@ First Baptist, Stephen Ministry Room with Hannah Roberts (Online)
@ First Baptist Parlor with Alexander Korbin
@ St. James, Great Hall with Yizhen Chen

7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Participant Showcase

August 5

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Alexander Kobrin
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ St. James, Music Room with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Efe Baltacigil
@ St. James, Great Hall with Yakov Kasman
@ St. James, Stephen Ministry Room with Simon James
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Jason Kwak

1:00PM @ St. James Great Hall | Ask the faculty!
Vivace Artist Faculty share their thoughts and experiences in music and life, while the audience asks profound and insightful questions.

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ St. James, Music Room with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ St. James, Great Hall with Ursula Oppens
@ St. James, Stephen Ministry Room with Andrew Shulman
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Thomas Sauer

August 6

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, Skinner with Yizhen Chen
@ St. James, Music Room with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Andrew Shulman
@ St. James, Great Hall with Efe Baltacigil 
@ First Baptist Parlor with Yakov Kasman

1:00PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Thomas Sauer
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Music Room with Kwan Yi
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Simon James
@ St. James, Great Hall with Angela Cheng
@ First Baptist Little Chapel with Dmitri Vorobiev

August 7

9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Thomas Sauer
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Andrew Shulman
@ St. James, Music Room with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Marina Lomazov
@ St. James, Great Hall with Yakov Kasman
@ First Baptist Parlor with Dmitri Vorobiev

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Angela Cheng
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Kwan Yi
@ St. James, Music Room with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Hannah Roberts (ONLINE)
@ St. James, Great Hall with Marc-André Hamelin
@ First Baptist Parlor with Simon James

7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Vivace Rising Stars Concert
Discover the stars of tomorrow – violinist Laurel Gagnon and pianist Yizhen Chen present a program that strikes a perfect balance between classical rigor and romantic spirit. Presenting masterpieces by Schumann, Schubert, Scriabin, Beach, and Chaminade, this will be a memorable program full of revelations and surprises.

Program:

R. Schumann: Drei Fantasiestücke, Op. 111
F. Schubert: Sonata in C Minor, D. 958: I. Allegro
A. Scriabin: Fantasy in B Minor, OP. 28
Yizhen Chen, piano

Intermission

R. Schumann: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A minor, Op. 105
Amy Beach: Romance for Violin and Piano, Op. 23
Cécile Chaminade: Capriccio, Op. 18
Laurel Gagnon, violin; Yizhen Chen, piano

August 8

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Yakov Kasman
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Music Room with Andrew Shulman
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Thomas Sauer
@ St. James, Great Hall with Angela Cheng
@ St. James, Stephen Ministry Room with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ First Baptist Parlor with Hannah Roberts

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Jason Kwak
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Simon James
@ St. James, Music Room with Yizhen Chen
@ First Baptist Parlor with Kwan Yi
@Hotel Ballast, Bellamy (7:30-9PM) with Mark Kosower

7:30PM @ St James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase
Marc-André Hamelin: Monumental Voices. A piano-lovers dream recital from pianist Marc-André Hamelin of monumental works by Schumann, Weinberg, and Beethoven. Join the Vivace International Music Festival on August 8th to experience this “performer of near-superhuman technical prowess” (The New York Times) and one of the great artists of today.

Program:

Schumann: Fantasiestücke op. 12
Weinberg: Sonata No. 6

Intermission

Beethoven: Sonata Op. 106, “Hammerklavier”

August 9

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Simon James
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Mark Kosower
@ St. James, Music Room with Yizhen Chen
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Great Hall with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist Parlor with Jason Kwak

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Participant Showcase

2:30- 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Marc André Hamelin
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Mark Kosower
@ St. James, Lippitt Room with Kwan Yi

7:30PM @ Wilson Center | Vivace Extravaganza & Vivace Awards
Vivace’s popular closing showcase of the Vivace season, this full ensemble “Prizm” style concert (an hour long concert, with no breaks between performances) is brimming over with fun, beautiful and instantly recognizable tunes! Featuring Artist Faculty and young Vivace participants, the whole family will enjoy this show!

Program:

Mozart: Overture to Marriage of Figaro – arranged for Two Pianos, 8 hands
Angela Cheng, Dmitri Vorobiev, Yakov Kasman, Jason Kwak, pianists

Beethoven: Cello Sonata, Op. 102: No. 1 in C Major – I. Andante – Allegro Vivace
Andrew Shulman, cello; Tom Sauer, piano

Liszt: Hungarian Rhapsody, No. 2 S. 244/2 (arranged for four hands by Franz Bendel)
Joseph Rackers and Marina Lomazov, pianists

Debussy: Nocturne & Scherzo
Andrew Shulman, cello; Tom Sauer, piano

Gavrilin: From Sketches for One Piano Four Hands (After ballet Anyuta) , No. 9 — Waltz, No. 10 — Tarantella
Yakov and Dina Kasman, piano

Grieg: Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, (arranged for 2 Pianos, 8 hands by Ad. Ruthardt)
Elle Levine, John Samuell, Justin Chen, Gaia Daniel (Vivace participants)

Lutosławski: Variations on a Theme by Paganini, for two pianos
Joseph Rackers and Marina Lomazov, pianists

Shostakovich: Prelude
Mark Kosower cello; Andrew Shulman, cello; Tom Sauer, piano

Shostakovich: The Suite for Variety Orchestra, No. 1 – VII. Waltz II
Everyone!

VIVACE VENUES

Google maps links bring you directly to the correct entrance of every venue: please use these maps to reach your masterclass space without delay or problems. 

THALIAN HALL

The Vivace Ballroom is located on the second floor of Thalian Hall. Elevator and stairs are available to have access to the hall. 

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

The Vivace entrance is located on 15 N 5th Ave. Please use the glass door as main entrance.
Map of the Vivace spaces at First Baptist

ST JAMES EPISCHOPAL CHURCH

The Vivace entrance is located on 362 Market St. Please use the double door at the top of the stairs. 
Map of the Vivace spaces at St James

WILSON CENTER (Practice and Online lessons)

To have access to the practice facilities and online class (2015) please use the entrance on 230 Hanover St.

WILSON CENTER (Performance Hall)

Frank H. Kenan Chapel at Landfall

Participants showcase on August 9 at 7:30pm.