2025 VIVACE PLAYGROUND
WELCOME!
Welcome to the 2025 Vivace Playground – a virtual hub where you can find answers to most of your questions and connect with your friends and peers. Explore and enjoy
Questions? Contact the Vivace team:
Dina Kasman | dina@vivacemusicfoundation.org | (205) 243-7572
Catherine Zhou | catherine@vivacemusicfoundation.org | (647) 448-2196
STRING PARTICIPANT:
Each string participant performing in a showcase performance will get a 1 (one) 30-minute rehearsal with our collaborative pianist. All rehearsals will take place in Hotel Ballast, McRae Room (it has the sign “Collaborative pianist”).
For Schedule Rehearsal with Collaborative Pianist Nelson Padgett, please contact (text only) 917-670-0652 or email: fineboy88@gmail.com
*Lesson schedule is subject to change. Check daily for updated schedule.
2025 VIVACE DAILY SCHEDULE
Scroll at the end of the schedule for the list of venue addresses and restaurants discounts.
August 8
8:00AM-6:00PM | Practice Rooms are open and available
8:00-8:45am @Hotel Ballast, Bellamy | Technique Class with Simon James
9AM – 12:00PM @Thalian Hall Ballroom | Morning Masterclasses with Yakov Kasman
9:00: Paul Ji
9:45: Tyler Hernandez
10:30: Yueke Guan
11:15: Gabriel Kostov
9AM – 12:00PM @Hotel Ballast, Bellamy | Morning Masterclasses with Gregg Pauley
9:00: Joseph Guo
9:45: Zhijia He
10:30: Siqi Wang
11:15: Selma Bornstein
9AM – 12:00PM @St James, Music Room | Morning Masterclasses with Andrew Shulman
10:30: Alex Tuan
11:15: Colin Oft
9AM – 12:00PM @St James, Lippitt Room | Morning Masterclasses with Thomas Sauer
9:00: Finn Bush
9:45: Bella Berman
10:30: Meiquan Lian
11:15: Yalan Hsu
9AM – 12:00PM @St James, Great Hall | Morning Masterclasses with Angela Cheng
9:00: John Samuell
9:45: Gaia Daniel
10:30: Claire Chang
11:15: Tsung-Wah Lian
9AM – 12:00PM @St James, Stephen Ministry Room | Morning Masterclasses with Dmitri Berlinsky
9:00: Ken Mori
9:45: Roy Amaral
10:30: Aveline Schienke
9AM – 12:00PM @First Baptist, Media Room | Morning Masterclasses with Hannah Roberts (Online)
9:00: Samuel Tripp
9:45: Bethany Xiques
10:30: Xinrui Yan
11:15: Isaac Ward
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Participant Showcase
List of participants: Anna Thornton, Avagail Hulbert, Eija Maldonado, YiLin Pan, Betsy Wiesendanger, Joseph Ma, Hope Mueksch, Emma Stucker, Derek Lee, Jerry Liao
2:30- 5:30PM @Thalian Hall Ballroom | Afternoon Masterclasses with Jason Kwak
2:30: John Hahn
3:15: Justin Chen
4:00: Richard Shao
4:45: Yikai Yin
2:30- 5:30PM @Hotel Ballast, Bellamy | Afternoon Masterclasses with Simon James
2:30: Sasha Varchenko
3:15: Justin Kim
4:00: Jessie Wu
4:45: Mark Hung
2:30- 5:30PM @St James, Music Room | Afternoon Masterclasses with Yizhen Chen
2:30: Xander Wang
3:15: Will Rose
2:30- 5:30PM @First Baptist Parlor | Afternoon Masterclasses with Kwan Yi
2:30: Yu Wu
3:15: June Kim
4:00: Zhuochen Yu
4:45: Jeffrey Sussman
7:30PM @ St James Episcopal Church | Artist Showcase
Marc-André Hamelin: Monumental Voices
Program:
Schumann: Fantasiestücke op. 12
Weinberg: Sonata No. 6
Intermission
Beethoven: Sonata Op. 106, “Hammerklavier”
August 9
8:00AM-6:00PM | Practice Rooms are open and available
9AM – 12:00PM @Hotel Ballast, Derosset Room | Morning Masterclasses with Simon James
9:00: An-Po Chen
9:45: Roy Amaral
10:30: Ken Mori
9AM – 12:00PM @Hotel Ballast, Bellamy | Morning Masterclasses with Mark Kosower
9:00: Alex Tuan
9:45: Elaine Spiro
10:30: Emma Stucker
11:15: Isaac Ward
9AM – 12:00PM @St James, Music Room | Morning Masterclasses with Yizhen Chen
9:00: Ellen Lan
9:45: Hope Mueksch
10:30: YiLin Pan
11:15: Iris Wang
9AM – 12:00PM @St James, Lippitt Room | Morning Masterclasses with Gregg Pauley
9:00: Thomas Austria
9:45: Elle Levine
10:30: Joseph Ma
11:15: Betsy Wiesendanger
9AM – 11:15PM @St James, Great Hall | Morning Masterclasses with Dmitri Vorobiev
9:00: Paul Ji
9:45: Jerry Liao
10:30: Siqi Wang
9AM – 12:00PM @First Baptist Parlor | Morning Masterclasses with Jason Kwak
9:00: Ruisi Grace Dong
9:45: Fayfay Sheng
10:30: Gabriel Kostov
11:15: Zekai Liu
1:00PM @ Thalian Hall Ballroom | Participant Showcase
List of participants: Noah Maeda, Justin Kim, Xander Wang, Will Rose, Nuoyan Li, Saybren Long, June Kim, Bethany Xiques, Meiquan Liang
1:00-2:30PM @Hotel Ballast, Bellamy | Afternoon Masterclasses with Mark Kosower
1:00: Kyle Victor
1:45: Nahar Eliaz
2:30- 5:30PM @Thalian Hall Ballroom | Afternoon Masterclasses with Marc André Hamelin
2:30: Yanyi Sun
3:15: Esther Pham
4:00: Yizhen Chen
4:45: Alexander Agate
2:30- 5:30PM @St James, Lippitt Room | Afternoon Masterclasses with Kwan Yi
2:30: Lillian Feng
3:15: Aidan Pabis
4:00: Finn Bush
4:45: Eija Maldonado
7:30PM @ Wilson Center | Vivace Extravaganza & Vivace Awards
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!
August 10
10:00AM | Check-out of Hotel Ballast
No Festival Activities will be held this day. Participants are welcome to schedule their travel any time this day.
Exception for the following:
10:00am-11:15am @Hotel Ballast, Bellamy | Afternoon Masterclasses with Mark Kosower
10:00: Elijah Chen
10:45: Samuel Tripp
PRACTICE
Practice rooms assignments are published here
Practice room hours:
Monday-Saturday: 8:00am-6:00pm
Sunday: modified practice schedule
You may not practice outside of the above hours. Failure to abide by the practice room hours will result in immediate suspension of all practice room privileges for the duration of the festival.
FOOD SERVICES
All participants are responsible for their own meals. Vivace has collaborated with the best restaurants and coffee shops in Wilmington to bring you discounts on your meal!
Note: Please show your Vivace VIP pass upon ordering your food, not after receiving the check.
Below are the restaurants, their address, and their Vivace discount! Bon appetit!
List of restaurants
Gourmet Market – 10% off entire store
Forgot your toiletries? Need some groceries? Ice cream?? Gourmet Market provides groceries, fresh baked goods, fresh fruit, hot coffee, beer, wine, household and hygienic items, office supplies, medicine, and ice cream by the scoop!
Location – 27 N Front St
Hours – Open 7 days a week, ~11:30am – 2am
Hidden Grounds – 10% off
One of downtown Wilmington’s hippest coffee shops, Hidden Grounds is the perfect place to wake up with their eccentric espresso/coffee menu! Make sure to check out the backyard oasis and stay a while!
Location – 21 S 2nd St
Hours – Open 7 days a week, 7:00am – 4:00pm
Drift – 10% off drinks
A vibrant cafe that will surely enrich your time in Wilmington! Stop by for food, coffee, organic drinks, and teas!
Location – 221 N Front St
Hours – Mon-Sun: 7am – 5pm; Fri-Sat: 7am – 6pm
Beach Bagels and Subs – 10% off Breakfast and 20% off Lunch
Stop by for a bagel, wrap or bowl for breakfast, or a sandwich or sub for
lunch. Just a 5 minute walk from Hotel Ballast and 6 minutes from Thalian Hall, centrally located on beautiful Front St!
Location – 130 N Front St
Hours – Open 7 days a week, 7am – 2pm
Peking Gourmet – 15% off
There’s nothing like some comfort chinese food! Now serving sushi! After a long day of Vivace activities, nothing sounds better than grabbing some takeout from Peking to enjoy and relax in your hotel room!
Location: 120 S Front St
Hours: M: Closed; T-Sat: 11a – 9pm; Sun: 12p – 9pm
Tap Tea Bar – 15% Off
Stop by for bubble tea! Here, you can get Special-Tea Drinks and Build-Your-Own Boba and check out the instant Ramen Bar!
Location: 251 North Front St.
Hours: Open 7 days a week, 10am – 9pm
Dough House Pizza Co. – 10% off
A taste of tradition with a modern flair! Serving up crispy, thin-crust pizza alongside fresh salads, sandwiches, and desserts, always using fresh and flavorful ingredients!
Location: 300 N Front St
Hours: M: Closed; Tu-Th: 11am – 1am; F-Sat: 11am – 3am
Port City Cheesesteak – 10% off
Award winning cheesesteaks and full bar with 32 beers on draft. Yum!
Location: 21 N Front St
Hours: M-Th: 11am – 10pm; F-Sat: 11am – 12am; Sun: 11am – 6pm
Cousin’s Italian Deli – 10% off OR free drink
“Where great food is a family tradition” your full deli experience serving up traditional Italian sandwiches and daily specials. Delicious breakfast sandwiches, pasta salad, tuna and chicken salads and. . . CANOLIS! Directly across 3rd St from Thalian Hall!
Location: 7 N 3rd St
Hours: M-Th: 1am – 2:30pm; Fr: 10am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 8:30pm
The Basics – $1 off
Gourmet soul food. A Wilmington staple, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Don’t leave Wilmington until you have eaten at Basics. It is your go-to
for southern shrimp and grits, crabcake, fried okra and collard greens (and mac-n-cheese).
Location: 319 N Front St
Hours; M: 8am – 3pm; Tu-Fr: 8am – 9pm; Sat: 10am – 3pm, 5pm – 9pm; Sun: 10am – 3pm
Beer Barrio – 15% Off
From chips and salsa to tacos to burgers, Beer Barrio can satisfy all of your Mexican food cravings ~6 minutes from most Vivace venues!
Location: 34 N Front St
Hours: Sun-Thu: 11am – 9pm; Fri-Sat: 11am-10pm
GETTING TO WILMINGTON
Airports: ILM (Wilmington) or RDU (Raleigh)
If you are flying into Wilmington (ILM), you can call Hotel Ballast upon arrival and they will send a shuttle for you. The airport is 8 minutes(!!) from downtown Wilmington.
Hotel Ballast – (910) 763-5900
If you prefer to take an Uber/Lyft – the address of the Vivace hotel is 301 N. Water Street, Wilmington.
PACKING CHECKLIST
What should you bring with you?
Here are some ideas to consider:
– Cell phone
– Formal and casual clothes
– Fan
– Laundry bag or basket
– Medicine (if appropriate)
– Toiletries
– Raincoat or umbrella
– Hair dryer
– School supplies
– Spending Money
– Backpack
– Sunscreen
– Comfortable walking shoes
DRESS CODE
The clothes you must bring with you are:
Shoes:
-1 pair of every-day shoes (sandals, keds or sneakers)
-1 pair of dress shoes (for performances and concerts)
Clothes:
-1-2 performance or concert outfits
-Formal or Semi-formal clothes for evening events (no flip-flops, shorts, t-shirts,
jeans)
Treat every performance opportunity including masterclasses as a formal event.
Elegant dress for the festival’s events helps create a special, joyful atmosphere. We strongly encourage you to dress appropriately for all evening events and all photos ops – formal or “Sunday best” clothes are most appropriate.
VIVACE VENUES
These GoogleMaps links will bring you directly to the correct entrance for every venue.
*Please use these maps to reach your masterclass space without delay or problems.*
HOTEL BALLAST
VIVACE OFFICE
The Vivace office is located at the third level of Common Desk – one block from the Hotel Ballast and few minutes from Thalian Hall, First Baptist Church and St James Epischopal Church.
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 Episcopal 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 (Performance Hall)
Frank H. Kenan Chapel at Landfall
Participants showcase on August 9 at 7:30pm.
WHQR
Participants showcase on August 8th at 1:00pm.