All participant showcases are free to the public.
Artist Showcases require tickets, see button above.
All masterclasses and courses can be observed by purchasing a daily pass or the auditor card.
JULY 30
9:00AM-12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Michelle Cann
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy Room with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Marina Lomazov
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
2:30PM-5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy Room with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset Room with Gregg Pauley
@ First Baptist Church, Parlor with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Boris Slutsky
7:30PM @ Thalian Hall | Free Entry Participant Showcase
july 31
9:00AM-12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Marina Lomazov
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Michelle Cann
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Jason Kwak
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry Participant Showcase
2:30PM-5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Joseph Rackers
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Boris Slutsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Michael Brown
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Dmitri Vorobiev
7:30PM @ Kenan Chapel | Free Entry Participant Showcase
AUGUST 1
9:00AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Boris Slutsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Marina Lomazov
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Gregg Pauley
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry Participant Showcase
2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Michelle Cann
@ Hotel Ballast, Desrosset with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Michael Brown
@ First Baptist Church, Little Chapel with Joseph Rackers
AUGUST 2
9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Temple of Israel Sanctuary with Gregg Pauley
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Free Entry Participant Showcase
2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Dimitri Vorobiev
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Boris Slutsky
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Michael Brown
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Joseph Rackers
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
AUGUST 3
9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Jason Kwak
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Michael Brown
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Dmitri Vorobiev
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall | Participant Showcase
2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Joseph Rackers
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Marina Lomazov
7:30PM @ Thalian Hall | Participant Showcase
AUGUST 4
9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Ursula Oppens
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Joseph Rackers
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Marina Lomazov
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.
2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Alexander Kobrin
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Gregg Pauley
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Jason Kwak
7:30pm @ Thalian Hall | Participant Showcase
AUGUST 5
9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Ursula Oppens
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Angela Chang
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Joseph Rackers
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall | Participant Showcase
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
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
AUGUST 6
9AM – 12:00PM | Morning Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Jerome Lowenthal
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Ursula Oppens
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Boris Berman
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel Alexander Kobrin
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Participant Showcase
2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Tema Blackstone
@ Hotel Ballast, Derosset with Angela Cheng
@ Temple of Israel, Sanctuary with Joseph Rackers
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Marina Lomazov
7:30PM @ St. James Episcopal Church | 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 Aaron, cello; Dmitri Vorobiev, piano
Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 3 in D minor, Op. 108
Stella Chen, violin; Dmitri Vorobiev, piano
AUGUST 7
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)
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Jason Kwak
@ St. James, Sanctuary with Tema Blackstone
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Gregg Pauley
1:00PM @ WHQR | Participant Showcase
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 Jerome Lowenthal
@ First Baptist, Parlor with Dmitri Vorobiev
@ First Baptist, Little Chapel with Angela Cheng
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 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
Intermission
Chopin: 3 Mazurkas, Op. 59
Chopin: Polonaise-Fantasy, Op. 61
Chopin: Nocturnes, Op. 62, Nos 1 & 2
AUGUST 8
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
2:30- 5:30PM | Afternoon Masterclasses
@ Thalian Hall, Ballroom with Hung-Kuan Chen
@ Hotel Ballast, Bellamy with Gregg Pauley
@ Hotel Ballast, Skinner with Jason Kwak
7:30PM @ Beckwith Recital Hall (UNCW) | 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