Violin Masterclass

Felix Borowski (1872-1956) / Adoration

Luciana Velez – Age 11
PrivateTeacher: Judith Morse
School: Littlebrook Elementary

Luciana started violin studies at age 5. She was selected to perform violin at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall in 2021 as part of the winner’s Grand Prix recital through the Rising Talents Festival. She has also studied the piano since she was 3 years old. She’s currently a fifth grader who plays lacrosse, basketball, and softball. She loves
art and enjoys dancing, crafting, singing, playing flute at school, reading, and spending time with friends.

Édouard Lalo (1823-1892) / Symphonie espagnole in D minor, Op. 21

I. Allegro non troppo

Matthew Keng – Age 14
Private Teacher: Ruotao Mao
School: Montgomery High School

Matthew has been studying violin since the age of 4 with a few different teachers. Currently Matthew plays in the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra as a member of the Symphonic Orchestra.

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) / Violin Concerto in E Minor, Op.64

I. Allegro molto appassionato

Alexia Fang – Age 15
Private Teacher: Taki Horiuchi
School: Montgomery High School

Alexia started piano at age 4 and violin at 5. By age 6 she already had 2 solo recitals. She was enrolled in the Precollege program of the Manhattan School of Music for four years. She has won numerous competitions, and performed on stage in various venues. She is currently the concertmaster of the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra. She enjoys organizing monthly performances at local senior centers.

Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921) / Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61

I. Allegro non troppo

Kyson F. Zhou – Age 15
Private Teacher: Valissa Wiilwerth
School: The Wilberforce School

Kyson became serious about playing the violin after attending the performance programs at Philadelphia International Music Festival in 2019. He has been a member of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey (YOCJ) since the fourth grade and is now in the Symphonic Division. He was selected twice to play for David Kim’s Masterclasses by YOCJ and invited to play for Charles Yang at a masterclass organized by the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra. He is in his second year studying at The Honors Music Program of Westminster Conservatory.

Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840) / 24 Caprices for Solo Violin Op.1, No. 20

Keitaku Iwata – Age 18
Private Teacher: Chloe Kiffer
School: Princeton High School

Keitaku has played violin for thirteen years, and been enrolled in the precollege program at the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) since 2021. He recently won the MSM’s Philharmonic String Concerto Competition and was the alternate winner of the New Jersey Music Teachers National Association’s Strings Competition, Senior Division. He is a member of the MSM Philharmonic Orchestra and enjoys playing chamber music.