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Vivace Student Recital Series 2025-26 Season - II | Vivace International School of Music

Updated: Sep 26, 2025

Vivace Student Recital Series 2025-26 Season - II

Vivace International School of Music

Instructors

Ms. Julia Tondera | Dr. Nicole Sun | Mr. Gang Hou

Piano Accompanists

Mr. Ming Yang | Dr. Nicole Sun

Event Host

Ms. Julia Tondera

Location

Vivace Houston Campus (Dun Huang Plaza) | 9889 Bellaire Blvd #D261, Houston, TX 77036

Run-Through

Sept. 27, 2025 | Saturday

05:00 PM | Avalyn Chan, Isabel Arcos, Adele Cheng, Avery Zhang, Nina Chi, Lilia Tsoi with Mr. Ming Yang

05:30 PM | Jamie Liu, Sylvie Nguyen, Farrah Aquilizan, Layla Aquilizan, Jingfang Li with Dr. Nicole Sun

Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to allow time for parking.

Recital

06:00 PM, Sept. 27, 2025 | Saturday

Students Recital Etiquette: www.VivaceMusic.org/sre

VMR Videos: www.youtube.com/VivaceMusic

VMR Photos: www.facebook.com/VivaceMusic.org

Audience Age Limit: N/M

PROGRAM

(This Marks the 2nd Student Recital for the 2025-26 Season at Vivace International School of Music.)

Evening Guitars N. & R. Faber

The Entertainer Adapt. Scott Joplin

Jamie Liu | Piano

ca. 2

Minuet in G minor BWV Anh. 115 Johann Sebastian Bach

Sonatina in C major Albert Biehl

Sylvie Nguyen | Piano

ca. 3

Remember Me (from Coco)

Kristen Anderson-Lopez & Robert Lopez Sonatina in G Major, 1st Mvt. by Ludwig Van Beethoven

Farrah Aquilizan | Piano

ca. 3

Minuet in G major BWV Anh. 116 Johann Sebastian Bach

Sonatina in C major Op. 36, No. 1 Muzio Clementi

Layla Aquilizan | Piano

ca. 5

Etude by S. Suzuki

Connor Le | Violin

ca. 2

Concerto in B minor by O. Rieding

Avalyn Chan | Violin

ca. 4

The Boy Paganini by E. Mollenhauer

Adele Cheng | Violin

ca. 5

Go Tell Aunt Rhody & French Folk Song by Folk Songs

Avery Zhang | Violin

ca. 4

The Two Grenadiers by R. Schumann

Nina Chi | Violin

ca. 3

Millionaire’s Hoedown by H. Clebanoff

Lilia Tsoi | Violin

ca. 4

Violin concerto No.23 in G Major

Jingfang Li | Violin

ca. 7

------ Awarding | Group Photos ------

Recital Rules:

o NO FOOD OR DRINKS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE THE SCHOOL

o Please set all cell phones and electronic devices to theater or airplane mode to avoid sound interruptions.

o During performances, please remain quiet and stay until the end out of respect for each performer, who has worked very hard for this moment.

PARKING

You may park in the 4-stories garage building behind Vivace Houston (Dun Huang Plaza).

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE

Please self-assess your health before leaving home.
Please check-in at the entrance,

Vivace Houston (Dun Huang Plaza)

https://g.page/VivaceHouston?share

9889 Bellaire Blvd., #D261, Houston, TX 77036

Vivace Katy (Cinco Ranch)

https://g.page/VivaceKaty?share

23855 Cinco Ranch Blvd., #220, Katy, TX 77494

Vivace Sugar Land (Riverstone)

https://goo.gl/maps/TFh2iXnh1b219ofo6

4502 Riverstone Blvd #1204, Missouri City, TX 77459

Vivace International School of Music

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www.youtube.com/VivaceMusic

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Violin Masterclass with Prof. Espen Lilleslåtten @ Vivace Houston Campus (Dun Huang Plaza) | Vivace International School of Music

Violin Masterclass with Prof. Espen Lilleslåtten

@ Vivace Houston Campus (Dun Huang Plaza)

Vivace International School of Music

(Vivace Masterclass Series 2025–26 Season - I)

📅 Date & Time

Wednesday, September 24 | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

📍 Location

Vivace Houston Campus (Dun Huang Plaza)

9889 Bellaire Blvd., #D261, Houston, TX 77036

🎻 Auditor

$5 each

(Ages 6 and above. Sign up now at www.VivaceMusic.org/event)

👤 Host

Mr. Xiangwei Sun

🌟 Active Participants:

Rieding Violin Concerto in B minor, Op 35, 3rd Mvt.

Cleo Wang

Vivaldi Violin Concerto in A minor, 1st Mvt.

David Zeng

Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Mvt. 3

Georgiana Dawson

Seitz Violin Concerto No.5, Op.22, 1st Mvt.

Maya Tino

Concerto No. 9 in A minor, 1st Mvt. by Beriot

Christina Zhou

Espen Lilleslåtten is currently associate professor of violin at Louisiana State University. Previously he served for fifteen years as concertmaster of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and is currently concertmaster of the Amarillo Symphony Orchestra. During the summers, he is an artist faculty member at the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he is also principal second violin of the Aspen Chamber Symphony.

He has recently been invited as guest associate concertmaster of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Marin Alsop, and has performed with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra as associate principal violist with Klaus Mäkelä, recording Sibelius Symphony No.1 and Kodaly Danses from Galanta.

As a soloist, he has appeared with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and given recitals at the Bergen International Festival. He premiered the Concerto of Psalms for two violins and orchestra by Dinos Constantinides at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and at a recital in Carnegie Hall.

Mr.Lilleslåtten is also an active chamber player. The Amarillo String Quartet, consisting of the string principals of the Amarillo Symphony, has been actively engaged in music education in schools in west Texas spreading enthusiasm for music. For years, Espen was a violinist with the Logos String Quartet, which was based at LSU. He spent two semesters and several summers as a guest artist at the Banff Center for the Arts in Alberta, Canada. Among the artists with whom he has performed chamber music are the Harrington String Quartet, the Aspen Trio, the Pacifica String Quartet, Stafen Jackiw, Isaac Stern, Menahem Pressler, Sylvia Rosenberg, Bonnie Hampton, Natalia Gutman, Lynn Harrell, Joshua Bell, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and Joel Krosnick.

Mr.Lilleslåtten began studying the violin at age five with his father, a violist with the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra. After receiving his Bachelor of Music degree from the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Mr. Lilleslåtten continued his studies in the U.S., earning his Master of Music degree from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music as a student of Camilla Wicks, as well as an artist diploma in chamber music and violin performance with Ian Swensen at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Vivace International School of Music

Opening Weekend: Valčuha Conducts Stravinsky’s Firebird | Vivace International School of Music Select HSO 2025-26 Season Classical Series Concerts - I

Program Notes

Julia Wolfe — Liberty Bell (Houston Symphony Commission, World Premiere)

Julia Wolfe is one of the most prominent American contemporary composers, known for her powerful, rhythm-driven style. Liberty Bell, commissioned and premiered by the Houston Symphony, showcases her distinctive voice and spirit of freedom.

Duration: approx. 12 minutes

Florent Schmitt — Psalm 47, Op.38

Florent Schmitt, a major French composer of the early 20th century, was known for his rich orchestration and vibrant color. Psalm 47, composed in 1904, is a grand work for chorus and orchestra, combining Romantic intensity with overwhelming sonic power.

Duration: approx. 22 minutes

Igor Stravinsky — The Firebird Suite

Stravinsky’s ballet The Firebird premiered in 1910 and brought him instant fame. Inspired by Slavic folklore, the suite captures the most dazzling episodes of the ballet, from its mysterious opening to the fiery, triumphant finale.

Duration: approx. 25 minutes

✨ Estimated total concert time: 90–110 minutes

Vivace Select: Houston Symphony 2025–26 Season Classical Series + Special Concerts

Minimum age for Classical Series concerts: 6 years old

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2:00 PM | Opening Weekend: Valčuha Conducts The Firebird
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2:00 PM | Gershwin & Grimaud: Jazz Meets Symphony
Sunday, Nov. 23, 2:00 PM | Journey to Light: Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 10
Sunday, Feb. 15, 2:00 PM | Symphonie espagnole + Symphonie fantastique (Clara-Jumi Kang)
Sunday, Mar. 22, 2:00 PM | Beethoven’s Fifth + Timpani World Premiere
Special: Wednesday, Apr. 1, 7:30 PM | Lang Lang in Recital
Special: Sunday, May 10, 2:00 PM | Joshua Bell Returns: The Elements in Concert
Sunday, May 17, 2:00 PM | Holst The Planets + Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto (Augustin Hadelich)

Family Concert Series

(No age limit, ~50 minutes per concert; highly recommended for families.)

Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, 11:30 AM | Frightfully Fun! A Halloween Concert for Kids
Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, 11:30 AM | Oh, What Fun! A Holiday Concert for Kids
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, 11:30 AM | When Instruments Roamed the Earth
Saturday, Apr. 25, 2026, 11:30 AM | Abracadabra! A Magical Musical Adventure