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CWRU Music Spring 2026 Concerto Competition

CWRU Pianist

Date: Friday, March 20, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Florence Harkness Memorial Chapel
Format: In-Person + Virtual
Admission: Free | Open to the Public
Watch: Livestream in Harkness Chapel

Program

Each spring, Case Western Reserve University undergraduate music majors compete in a recital-style performance for the opportunity to appear as a soloist with the Symphony Orchestra or Symphonic Winds in the following academic year. Coordinated by Dr. Kathleen Horvath, Director of Orchestras, this competition provides a platform for students to showcase their musicianship, gain valuable performance experience, and receive public recognition for their achievements.

A list of previous winners—highlighting the exceptional talent of past participants—is available on the Performance Competitions page. 

View Program

Concerto Competition Soloists

(in order of performance)

Concerto for Harp — Seth Gratz (b. 2003)
Seth Gratz, harp
Irwin Shung, piano
Studies with Jody Guinn

Sinfonia Concertante in E Minor, Op. 125 — Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Anthony Lin, cello
Elizabeth DeMio, piano
Studies with Bryan Dumm

Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26 — Sergei Prokofiev (1891–1953)
Austin Lu, piano
Irwin Shung, piano
Studies with Gerardo Teissonnière

Cello Concerto in D Minor, Op. 37 — Édouard Lalo (1823–1892)
Yasmin Yogaratnam, cello
Elizabeth DeMio, piano
Studies with Bryan Dumm

Romance for Viola and Orchestra, Op. 85 — Max Bruch (1838–1920)
Sophia Intravaia, viola
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Lisa Boyko

Cello Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob. VIIb:1 — Franz Joseph Haydn (1732–1809)
Allen Chou, cello
Elizabeth DeMio, piano
Studies with Bryan Dumm

Sky — Concerto for Violin and Orchestra  — Michael Torke (b. 1961)
Avery Stager, violin
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Stephen Sims

Cello Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 49 — Dmitri Kabalevsky (1904–1987)
Jaeden Glace, cello
Elizabeth DeMio, piano
Studies with Bryan Dumm

Flute Concerto in D Major, Op. 283 — Carl Reinecke (1824–1910)
Erin Huang, flute
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Heidi Ruby-Kushious

Concerto for Timpani and Orchestra No. 1 — William Kraft (1923–2022)
Swapnil Roy, timpani
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Matthew Larson

Orange Colored Sky — Milton DeLugg (1918–2015) & Willie Stein (1917–2009)
Misty — Erroll Garner (1921–1977)
Paper Moon — Harold Arlen (1905–1986)
Respect — Otis Redding (1941–1967)

Stephanie Contreras, popular voice
Irwin Shung, piano
Studies with Joan Ellison

Tableaux de Provence — Paule Maurice (1910–1967)
Lydia O’Dell, alto saxophone
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Greg Banaszak

Concerto No. 1 in C Minor for Piano, Trumpet, and String Orchestra, Op. 35 — Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
Eric Zhang, piano & Genevieve Fritz, trumpet
Irwin Shung, piano
Eric studies with Gerardo Teissonnière

The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto — He Zhanhao (b. 1933) & Chen Gang (b. 1935)
Leo Yamauchi, violin
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Stephen Sims

II Concerto for Clarinet — Óscar Navarro (b. 1981)
Kennedy Brehm, clarinet
Irwin Shung, piano
Studies with Dan Gilbert

Légende for Trumpet and Piano (1906) — George Enescu (1881–1955)
Genevieve Fritz, trumpet
Alicja Basinska, piano
Studies with Loren Toplitz

Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, Op. 18 — Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
Milton Lin, piano
Irwin Shung, piano
Studies with Shuai Wang

Concerto Competition Logo 1

CWRU Music 2025–26 Concert Season

The Case Western Reserve University Department of Music presents a dynamic season of concerts, recitals, and special events featuring students, faculty, and guest artists. From classical masterworks to contemporary works, the series highlights the creativity and excellence of CWRU’s vibrant music community. All events are open to the public.

During the 2025–26 season, CWRU celebrates its Bicentennial—200 years of academic excellence, innovation, and impact—honoring the generations who have shaped the performing arts at CWRU while looking ahead to the future.

Venue Information

Florence Harkness Memorial Chapel (est. 1902) offers a warm, intimate, and acoustically resonant setting on the Mather Quad. This neo-Gothic landmark commemorates the brief life of Florence Harkness Severance and reflects Cleveland’s rich cultural and philanthropic history. Designed by architect Charles F. Schweinfurth, the chapel is renowned for its soaring arches, exquisite woodwork, and luminous Tiffany stained-glass windows. 


Health + Safety
The health and well-being of our community is important to us as we gather for campus events. University Health and Counseling Services provides up-to-date guidance and resources to help support a safe campus experience. For life-threatening emergencies, please call CWRU Public Safety immediately at 216.368.3333.