Program:

Tchaikovsky- Piano Concerto No.1 in B-flat minor, Op.23

I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso

II. Andantino semplice

III. Allegro con fuoco

Sara Daneshpour, piano

Yuhang Wang, orchestra

Schubert- Impromptus, Op.90 No.1-3

Yuhang Wang, piano

Biography- Sara Daneshpour

Pianist Sara Daneshpour has worldwide audiences and critics spellbound with her “blazing technique, power, expressivity, imagination and stage presence” (The New York Concert Review), establishing herself as one of the most refined artists of her generation.

Highlights of past and coming seasons include performances with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Mariinsky Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Catskill Symphony, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Tours and Britt Festival Orchestra.

Daneshpour has appeared in solo recitals at the Southbank Centre in London, the Musée d’Orsay, Salle Cortot, Mazzoleni Concert Hall in Toronto, the Copenhagen Summer Festival, the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, San Francisco Chamber Music, Mariinsky International Piano Festival in St. Petersburg and the International Keyboard Festival in New York.

In orchestra concerts and solo recitals, Daneshpour stuns audiences with an unusually wide repertoire ranging from Bach to Boulez, with her dazzling technique and an exceptional level of artistic depth and sincerity. Her performances, described as “a powerhouse account, producing enough tone for two pianists in the process” (Baltimore Sun), are critically acclaimed as lavishing “colour on oft-neglected lines, illuminating subtle beauties” (The New York Concert Review). Her current solo programme of Études by Chopin and Ligeti combines two of the most intriguing and most demanding works ever written for the piano.

Daneshpour has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Germany, Russia, Finland, France, Sweden, Spain and Japan. She has been heard at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., Carnegie Hall in New York and at the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Moscow.

Daneshpour is the third prize winner of the 2017 Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Competition, the 2014 prize winner at the Seoul International Music Competition in Seoul and 2013 Laureate of the ProLiance Energy Classical Fellowship Awards of the American Pianists Association. She won the first prize of the XII Concours International de Musique du Maroc, second prize of the 2007 William Kapell International Piano Competition, and first prize and gold medal of the 2007 International Russian Music Piano Competition.

Born in Washington, D.C., into an Iranian-American family, Daneshpour has studied under the direction of Leon Fleisher at the Curtis Institute of Music, with Yoheved Kaplinsky and Oleg Volkov at the Juilliard School, and with Sergei Babayan at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Daneshpour previously served on the artist faculty at the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music.

Biography- Yuhang Wang

Praised for his technical brilliance and deep musical insight, pianist Yuhang Wang is an emerging artist recognized for his success on both national and international stages. Currently completing his Artist Diploma at Southern Methodist University (SMU) under the mentorship of the world-renowned pianist Sergei Babayan, he continues to establish himself as a compelling presence in the classical music world.

Yuhang Wang’s artistic development has been shaped by distinguished pedagogues. Before his current studies, he earned his Artist Diploma and Master’s degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), where he was a recipient of the prestigious Rosemary Deioma full scholarship. His foundational training was built under the guidance of Professor Li Qifang at the Central Conservatory of Music and Professor Vladimir Petruccio.

Throughout his career, Yuhang has achieved significant recognition in major competitions. He was one of the contestants in the 2025 Chopin International Piano Competition and was a participant in the 2022 Dublin International Piano Competition. His performance portfolio includes winning first prizes at the 2019 Cleveland Concerto Competition, the 2nd Southern Chopin International Piano Competition, and the 62nd Grotrain International Piano Competition, among others. In 2022, he also captured first place in the chamber music division of the New York International Piano Competition.

An active performer, Yuhang has appeared at prestigious venues, including the Kulas Hall in Cleveland and the Liaoning Grand Theatre. He worked with distinguished conductors such as JoAnn Falletta, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1, and has showcased his versatility through concerto performances of Mozart and Rachmaninoff. Notable recent performances include recitals for the Cleveland Classical Arts series and a featured performance at the welcome concert for the Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Huang Ping.

Beyond his formal studies, Yuhang has participated in masterclasses with legendary artists and pedagogues, including Garrick Ohlsson, Ching-Yun Hu, James Giles, Ju Jin, and members of the Imola Piano Academy. With a blend of profound technical prowess and artistic sensitivity, he continues to seek new ways to connect with audiences worldwide through his profound interpretation of the piano repertoire.