Robert Foster, Student of Mikhail Volochok
By Dr. Melinda Baird, Levine Piano Faculty
Robert T. Foster played to an enthusiastic full house of supporters who showed up to hear his musical achievements on Friday evening in the Lang Recital Hall. As a student of Levine, Robert is a shining star, after completing ten levels of the Piano Department, and has graduated with Distinction. His teacher, Mikhail Volchok, introduced Robert with great pleasure, clearly proud of his students’ accomplishments, but also mindful of the many Levine teachers who have contributed to Robert’s success. The presence of his first and foundational pedagogue, Ted Cooper, was felt by all, although Mr. Cooper witnessed the concert from his new home in Vienna, Austria. Robert was clearly in his element, as he shed his jacket and talked comfortably with the audience—introducing each piece as if it were an old friend.
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William Wu, Student of Marina Alekseyeva
By Dr. Minji Kim, Levine Piano Faculty
This past year has been a whirlwind of new experiences for me. Since moving to a new state and joining the faculty at Levine, I’ve been consistently impressed by the caliber of student performances at juries and recitals. So when I received an invitation to William Wu’s Advanced Piano Student Recital at Lang Recital Hall on Friday, June 7, I was thrilled. Still, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from an hour-long recital by a 15-year-old, as such a program is challenging even for professionally trained adult pianists. However, I left the recital brimming with joy, inspiration, and appreciation for the beautiful teacher-student relationship I witnessed.
William’s program opened boldly with Beethoven’s Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, No. 2, “Tempest.” This work highlighted his scholarly approach and patience as a young pianist. The first movement was full of youthful energy, reminiscent of Beethoven’s own vigor. Each phrase was meticulously shaped, with a warm sound and well-timed pauses between contrasting sections, allowing listeners to follow the structure easily. While there were moments of slight struggle, William’s performance in later movements proved he was merely warming up.