Philharmonia Northwest with UW Piano Students

UW Piano students Alice Liu, Nicholas Tagab, Yiyi Chen, Hanyan Zheng, and Kiwa Mizutani perform concerto movements with special guest orchestra Philharmonia Northwest. Mario Alejandro Torres conducts. 

Masks are recommended in all indoor spaces. Proof of vaccination remains a requirement for everyone 12 and over at Meany Hall and all ArtsUW Ticket Office events, including Meany Center, DXARTS, Dance Department, School of Drama, and School of Music. Individuals unable to be fully vaccinated, including people with a medical or religious exemption, must have proof of a negative provider-administered COVID-19 test (taken within 72 hours of the performance). UW staff will check for proof of vaccination and negative COVID tests at the doors as a condition of entry. Proof of negative test result must come from a test provider, a laboratory or a health care provider. Home or self-administered tests will not be accepted.  Details of these policies and procedures are at: https://artsevents.washington.edu/covid-protocols 

Program

Alice Liu
Sergei Rachmaninoff: Piano Concerto No. 3 in D Minor, Op. 30, Mvt. 1

Nicholas Tagab
Aram Khachaturian: Piano Concerto in D flat Major, Mvt. 1

Yiyi Chen
Sergei Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat Major, Op. 10  

Hanyan Zheng
Camille Saint-Saens: Piano Concerto No. 5 in F Major, Op. 103, “The Egyptian,” Mvt. 1

Kiwa Mizutani
Edward MacDowell: Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 23, Mvt. 1

ACKNOWLEGEMENTS

 This concert is made possible through support from the Michiko Morita Miyamoto Professorships in Piano (currently held by Professors Robin McCabe and Craig Sheppard) at the University of Washington School of Music.

Piano Concerto in D flat Major, Mvt. 1 by Aram Khachaturian presented under license from G Schirmer Inc and Associated Music Publishers, copyright owners.  

BIOGRAPHIES

Mario Alejandro Torres

Mario Alejandro Torres is a conductor, teacher, and performer native to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Currently based in Seattle, Washington, Mr. Torres made his Benaroya Hall conducting debut in collaboration with Maestros Ludovic Morlot and David Alexander Rahbee in a concert with the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra. He has served in a conducting fellowship with the Seattle Symphony, assisting Maestro Morlot in collaboration with artists such as Hilary Hahn and John Luther Adams. As the Music Director of Poulsbo Community Orchestra, he has brought a new and exciting sound to the ensemble. Outside of the United States, he has conducted performances with the Eddy Snijders Orchestra in Paramaribo, Suriname, and in his hometown with the professional Chamber Orchestra of San Pedro Sula, and Victoriano Lopez School of Music Choir.

As an advocate for Education, Mr. Torres served as Assistant Conductor of the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra while earning his doctoral degree in orchestral conducting under the mentorship of David Alexander Rahbee and Seattle Symphony Music Director Ludovic Morlot. He has also held teaching positions at the Victoriano Lopez School of Music in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, and Louisiana Academy of Music in Natchitoches, Louisiana. In his work for social inclusion, Mr. Torres has appeared internationally as a guest conductor and clinician for programs such as The National Music School of Suriname in South America and the Académie Musicale Occide Jeanty in Croix des Bouquets, Haiti.

In addition to his doctoral work at the UW, Mr. Torres holds a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting from Ithaca College and a Bachelor and a Master of Music in Viola Performance from Northwestern State University of Louisiana (NSULA). He also holds degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Administration.

Philharmonia Northwest

Philharmonia Northwest, one of Seattle’s finest chamber orchestras, is a vital part of the regional classical music scene. For more than four decades, the orchestra has presented lively performances of works ranging from the classics to world premieres and has featured many outstanding Northwest soloists. Its annual collaborations with Kirkland Choral Society have been a local mainstay for many years. 

The orchestra is composed of dedicated and skilled musicians who contribute their time and talent to Philharmonia Northwest’s continuing success. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Julia Tai, the orchestra has strengthened its ties to the regional musical community by adding an Educational Outreach program, collaborating with many schools and local organizations, as well as establishing the Patrons for New Music, a group dedicated to commissioning new works for performance by the orchestra. 

Philharmonia Northwest has performed at Town Hall Seattle for the 2021-22 season. As well as presenting favorite classical works, the orchestra showcases new and rarely heard compositions. This year’s programs have included works written by women and composers of color. Throughout the pandemic, the orchestra has continued to present exciting livestream concerts from Town Hall, with a reduced orchestra and strict health protocols in place. More information: PhilharmoniaNW.org.

Alice Liu
Born and raised in Canada, Alice Liu is pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Washington with professor Craig Sheppard, with a focus on piano performance. Before moving to Seattle, she completed a music residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity following the completion of her masters in Montréal at McGill University.

Within academia, her interests cross the boundaries between the arts and sciences, as her interdisciplinary research focuses on musical neuroeducation. She is aiming to bridge the gap between researcher, educator, and performer, in which neuroeducation research can be translated into practical applications for music learning, performance, pedagogy and therapy.

Nicholas Tagab
Pianist Nicholas Tagab is an active performer and dedicated teacher. Recent performances include his solo recital in Brechemin Auditorium and a recorded lecture recital on the Khachaturian Piano Concerto. While maintaining a private studio, Nicholas has also been a TA at the University of Washington, for the Humanities First program and for the piano program at the School of Music. In addition, Nicholas has worked with local high school choral programs, with his most recent appointment serving as the collaborative pianist and vocal coach for North Creek High School. Completing his DMA at the University of Washington with Dr. Robin McCabe, Nicholas received his BM in piano performance at UW as well with Dr. McCabe, and a MM in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Miami, Frost School of Music with Santiago Rodriguez and Naoko Takao.

Yiyi Chen

Born in Beijing, Yiyi Chen began studying piano at the age of four and performed annually at the Beijing Concert Hall, Concert Hall of Central Conservatory of Music, and Forbidden City Concert Hall. She received her Bachelor of Music in piano performance from New York University studying with Dr. Jose Ramon Mendez and her Master of Music in piano performance from Northwestern University with Dr. James Giles. She will receive her Doctor of Musical Arts in piano performance from University of Washington this June studying with Dr. Robin McCabe. While completing her studies she has continued to perform both domestically and abroad, including at the Gijon International Piano Festival in Spain, Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival in Italy and the International Holland Music Sessions. 

Hanyan Zheng
Hanyan Zheng began her piano studies at age 4 with her father. She has given frequent solo and chamber music performance in United States; Europe and China. Hanyan was first prize winner at Faszlo Spezzaferri Italy international music competition 2021 and third prize winner at WPTA Finland international piano competition 2021.Hanyan Zheng earned her bachelor in piano performance at the China Conservatory, and her master’s degree in piano performance at the University of Michigan. She is currently pursuing the Doctoral degree of Musical Arts in piano performance at the University of Washington, where she studies with Dr. Robin McCabe.

Kiwa Mizutani
Kiwa is originally from the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. After completing her studies at Ueno Gakuen Music School in Tokyo, she moved to the United States to pursue a career in piano performance. She currently holds a Bachelor of Music and is pursuing her Master of Music at University of Washington, studying under Dr. Robin McCabe. In 2020, she took 1st place at the UW School of Music Concerto competition and in 2022 she took 1st in the university division of The American Prize in Piano Performance.