Vivace Festival Schedule

9:00AM-12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses 
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy Room with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Simon James

1:00pm @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Special Presentation: From Anxiety to Artistry: Navigating Performance Pressure by Jason Kwak

Performance anxiety is often the most difficult obstacle a musician faces. This presentation explores its psychological and artistic impact, along with common triggers such as fear of judgment and perfectionism. Drawing on insights gathered from years of experience from a wide range of musicians and educators, it offers practical strategies—including mental preparation and cognitive approaches—to help performers manage anxiety and perform with greater confidence and freedom.

2:30 – 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Jaime Laredo
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy Room with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset Room with Gregg Pauley
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Sharon Robinson
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Dmitri Vorobiev (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Boris Slutsky

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

Featuring Felix Liu, Sasha Varchenko, Zhenchen Fan, Zhuoyi Xu, Isaac Ward, Richard Shao, Caleb Fan, Terri Ji

9:00AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Michelle Cann
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Gregg Pauley
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Simon James
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Jason Kwak
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Sharon Robinson
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Jaime Laredo

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Boris Slutsky Masterclass

2:30 – 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Boris Slutsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Michael Brown
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Simon James
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Michelle Cann (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Dmitri Vorobiev

8:00PM @ Kenan Chapel | Free Entry Participant Showcase – Free Entry!

Featuring Hana Gottesman, William Swist, Everett Martin, Zixuan Zhang, Emily Tianru Jin, Annelyse Combitsis, Simon Hagopian, Xander Wang, PengYu Liu

9:00AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Boris Slutsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Michelle Cann (starting @ 10:30am)
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ St James, Sanctuary with Nick Canellakis (starting @ 10:30am)
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Sharon Robinson
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Marina Lomazov
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Gregg Pauley
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Simon James

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

Featuring Elizabeth Li, Nina Iorik, Mayu Kanai, Alysse Li, Hanen Guo, Kaysi Yearous, Aveline Schienke, Xinyuan Zhang, Jay Jaewoo Choi, cello

2:30 – 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Nick Canellakis
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Michelle Cann
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Boris Slutsky/Michael Brown
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Jaime Laredo
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Joseph Rackers
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Simon James (ending @ 4:00pm)

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Nick Canellakis (starting @ 10:30 AM)
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Michelle Cann
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Simon James
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Michael Brown (starting @ 10:30 AM)
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Gregg Pauley

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

Featuring Braden Wang, Eric Wang, DJ Shin, Olive Wang, Joseph Guo, Roy Amaral, Ava Tsang, Yu-Hsuan Tu, and Kiana Sharp

2:30 – 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Boris Slutsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Jason Kwak
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Michelle Cann (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Joseph Rackers
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Marina Lomazov
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Dmitri Berlinsky

7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase — Nicholas Canellakis & Michael Stephen Brown

Cellist Nicholas Canellakis and pianist-composer Michael Stephen Brown, who “play with their antennae tuned to each other” (The Washington Post), are both longtime artists with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. They have performed together virtually all over the world, bringing their affectionate, brutally honest, and infectious rapport to the stage while presenting programs celebrating the standard literature, little-known gems, and original works and arrangements.

Program:
Chopin: Introduction and Polonaise brillante in C Major, Op. 3
Saint-Saëns: Romance No. 1 for Cello and Piano, Op. 36
Brahms: Sonata No. 2 in F Major for Cello and Piano, Op. 99

Intermission

Clara Schumann: Romanze from the Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 7 
Debussy: Beau Soir 
Michael Stephen Brown: Spinning Song
Brown: Blue Whale
Lukas Foss: Capriccio 
Don Ellis: Bulgarian Bulge

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Jason Kwak
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Michael Brown
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Jaime Laredo
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Nick Canellakis
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Dmitri Berlinsky

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

Featuring Claire Jin, Richard Kaminuma, Jing Zhang, Josephine Van Hoye, Allan Thames, Wang Xiang, William Li, Yuan Luo, and Fayfay Sheng

2:30 – 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Stella Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Joseph Rackers
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Marina Lomazov
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Alexi Kenney
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Sharon Robinson

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

Featuring Enrique Morales Barrados, Aleyna Yaylaci, Lucas Liu, Liza Loube, Joseph Yoon, Saybren Long, Logan Duke, Wei Yuan, Minkyung Jung, and Hayden Ren

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Ursula Oppens
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Angela Cheng
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Joseph Rackers
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Gregg Pauley
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Dmitri Berlinsky
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Stella Chen

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

2:30 – 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Boris Berman
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Tema Blackstone
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Marina Lomazov (ending @ 4:45pm)
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Ed Arron
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Amy Schwartz Moretti
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Alexi Kenney

7:30pm @ St. James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase — Alexander Kobrin

Called the “Van Cliburn of today” by the BBC, pianist Alexander Kobrin has placed himself at the forefront of today’s performing musicians. His prize winning performances have been praised for their brilliant technique, musicality, and emotional engagement with the audience. Prepare to be transported throughout this evening of virtuosic pianism.

Program:
Beethoven: 32 Variations in C minor, WoO 80
Schubert: Six moments musicaux, D. 780

Intermission

Brahms: Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5

9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Ursula Oppens
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Boris Berman
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Angela Cheng
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Ed Arron/Amy Schwartz Moretti
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Alexander Kobrin
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Stella Chen
@ Temple of Israel with Jason Kwak

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

2:30 – 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen/Alexander Kobrin
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Tema Blackstone
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Angela Cheng/Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Joseph Rackers (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Marina Lomazov (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Alexi Kenney
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Julie Albers

7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase — Chamber Music Showcase

A showcase of Vivace’s internationally acclaimed Festival Faculty! Featuring violinists Stella Chen and Amy Schwartz Moretti, cellist Edward Arron, and pianist Dmitri Vorobiev in an exhilarating evening of the chamber music of Brahms.

Program:
Brahms: Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8
Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin; Edward Arron, cello; Dmitri Vorobiev, piano

Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
Stella Chen, violin; Dmitri Vorobiev, piano

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Boris Berman
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Alexander Kobrin (starting @ 10:30am)
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Ursula Oppens
@ Hotel Ballast, Skinner with Angela Cheng (starting @ 10:30am)
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Amy Schwartz Moretti
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Alexi Kenney
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Jerome Lowenthal
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Tema Blackstone
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Gregg Pauley
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Ed Arron

1:00PM @ WHQR | Participant Showcase – Free Entry!

2:30 – 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Alexander Kobrin
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Boris Berman (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Jason Kwak
@ Hotel Ballast, McRae with Amy Schwartz Moretti (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Julie Albers
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Dmitri Vorobiev (ending @ 4:00pm)
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Angela Cheng
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Ed Arron (ending @ 4:00pm)

7:30PM @ St James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase — Hung-Kuan Chen

Award-winning pianist Hung-Kuan Chen is one of the most honored pianists of his generation, performed in the world’s foremost concert venues, and has enjoyed artistic collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, David Shifrin, the Tokyo and Shanghai String Quartets, and many more. Don’t miss this one-night-only performance!

Program:
Bach-Busoni: Choral Prelude “Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland”
Beethoven: Sonata in B-flat Major, Op. 106 “Hammerklavier”

Intermission

Chopin: 3 Mazurkas, Op. 59
Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasy, Op. 61
Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 62, Nos 1 & 2

9AM – 12:00PM  | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Tema Blackstone
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Boris Berman
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Angela Cheng
@ Hotel Ballast, Skinner with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist, Choir Room with Julie Albers

1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Hung-Kuan Chen Masterclass

2:30 – 5:30PM  | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen (starting @ 2:30pm)
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ Hotel Ballast, Skinner with Jason Kwak

7:30PM @ Beckwith Recital Hall (UNCW) | Artist Showcase — Vivace Extravaganza

The 2026 Vivace International Music Festival closes its Showcase Series with a Vivace Extravaganza! Co-artistic directors Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers lead works that showcase students and faculty in solos and ensembles ranging from familiar classics to surprising crossovers. A perfect live event for a whole family to enjoy, the hour-long concert will proceed seamlessly, without conventional breaks for applause and end on a surprising note!

Program:

Debussy: “Clair de lune” from Suite Bergamasque for Piano, Six Hands (arr. Anderson)
Emily Jin, FayFay Sheng, William Swist (pianos)

Rossini: Overture to William Tell for Two pianos, 8 hands (arr. F. Wrede)
Marina Lomazov, Joseph Rackers, Angela Cheng, Dmitri Vorobiev (pianos)

Piazzolla: Oblivion (arr. for piano trio by J. Bragato)
Alexi Kenney, violin, Julie Albers, cello, Joseph Rackers, piano

Schumann: Fantasiestucke No. 3, Op. 73
Julie Albers, cello, Marina Lomazov, piano

Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, K. 330
Angela Cheng, piano

Bolcolm: The Serpent’s Kiss for Two Pianos
Marina Lomazov and Joseph Rackers, pianos

Shostakovich: Five Pieces for Two Cellos and Piano: I. Prelude
Shostakovich: Jazz Suite, No. 2: Waltz No. 2
Alexi Kenney, Hana Gottesman, Simon Hagopian, Sasha Varchenko, Lisa Saito, violins
Caleb Fan, Hayden Ren, Isaac Ward, cellos
Dmitri Vorobiev, Marina Lomazov, pianos