Designed to support the development of young artists and celebrate the lifelong creativity of DC-area performers, the Misbin Family Memorial Chamber Music Competition is open to instrumental chamber music students and adult amateur musicians. Participants are adjudicated by a panel of judges made up of distinguished performers, teachers, and other recognized members of the greater Washington music community.

The competition is open to the public free of charge—a great opportunity to hear promising young artists in a varied program. Winners receive cash awards and opportunities to perform in prestigious venues across the Washington, DC metro region.

The 2025 competition took place on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Special thanks to this year’s judges, Lisa Cella, Cleveland Chandler Jr., and Jon Goldberg.

Levine Music and Washington Performing Arts gratefully acknowledge Dr. Robert Misbin as well as the support of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts.

Daniel Young-Hwan Kim, Student of Wen-Yin Chan

By Mark Irchai, Levine Piano Faculty

On June 2nd, 2023, myself and other audience members were treated to a brilliant piano recital of the young pianist and composer Daniel Young-Hwan Kim. It was an electric atmosphere in the audience, as many members of the Levine community, including several of his fellow students at Levine, came to support this bright star. (The concert even had a late start due to needing to add more chairs for audience members!)

The program offered a compelling, chronologically motivated journey through various styles and periods of piano music, showcasing pianist Daniel Young-Hwan Kim’s versatility and expressive range. The performance began with Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in B Minor from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2. Kim’s playing was marked by clarity and a seamless dialogue between the hands, clearly showcasing an intelligent, thoughtful, and musical ear. Though some issues with rushing in chromatic sections of the fugue occurred, his recoveries were impressive, and displayed a keen understanding of the musical score.

He then took a brief moment to speak about the next piece, Mozart’s Piano Sonata in C minor, K. 457, offering some eloquent, well-thought-out comments on the intellectual side of the compositional process. I would love to hear him talk more about this in future, especially as he continues his musical studies at the University of Michigan! Kim’s sparkling sound and brisk tempo lent a sense of urgency to the first movement, while his interpretation in the second movement demonstrated fine pedal control and a pure, present voicing. The third movement was a highlight, characterized by thoughtfully paced phrasing and a beautifully “stormy” atmosphere that captured the sonata’s dramatic essence.

The selections from Chopin’s Preludes Op. 28 revealed Kim’s nuanced touch and interpretive depth. The 17th Prelude had a natural bel canto quality that was delightful, hardly marred by some occasional left-hand inconsistencies. In contrast, the 18th was a virtuosic tour de force, driving the audience into the intensity of Chopin’s soundscape with vivid energy. Each subsequent piece brought a different mood, from the dark sweep of the 21st to the glittering brilliance of the 23rd, with Kim handling the textural shifts and register changes effortlessly.

The program continued after a brief intermission with Scriabin’s Polonaise in B-flat Minor, Op. 21, where Kim’s affinities for the dance-like rhythm and Chopin-inspired passages were unmistakable. In particular, the octaves were executed brilliantly, showing a confident grasp of the piece’s technical demands.

Debussy’s La Plus Que Lente allowed Kim to explore a different palette and a new depth to his artistry. Here, he embraced a hazy, impressionistic tone. His sense of jazz-inspired rhythms, stemming from his intimate knowledge of jazz improvisation, added a unique, extremely compelling dimension to his playing. Occasionally, some of the larger moments leaned towards a brightness that slightly exceeded the textural expectations normally associated with Debussy’s writing.

Concluding the concert was Kim’s own composition, Piano Trio No. 1, Op. 1 in C Minor, written in November 2020. This piece displayed beautiful influences from Tchaikovsky, particularly in its rich understanding of instrumental color. Its rhythmic drive and dark, dramatic character stood out, with a particularly lyrical B-flat major section offering a poignant contrast. I would love to hear more of his compositional work, and would even be eager to explore opportunities to perform some of them myself!

Overall, the performance was a testament to Daniel Young-Hwan Kim’s artistic versatility, deftly navigating different styles while imprinting his unique voice on each piece. Daniel is clearly a thoughtful, deep, and nuanced musician, and I was deeply impressed by his ability to tackle such a breadth of repertoire, and even include his own composition that absolutely deserved a place on the program next to the masterworks presented earlier in the concert. I look forward to future performances of this young, budding artist!

In honor of Women’s History Month, Levine flute faculty member Heidi Schuller curated a playlist of music by leading women composers, past and present. The featured composers present a unique musical vision and have influenced the global performing arts landscape. These composers have also contributed to the betterment of music education, demonstrating the critical role composers play in developing music students, performers, and future creators.The selected works showcase a broad range of musical expression and a diverse offering of instrumentation, genres, and styles. The performers include international soloists and performing ensembles, and musicians and performing arts organizations from the Washington, DC, and Mid-Atlantic region, including Levine Music faculty. We encourage you to explore their work and perhaps learn to play one of their pieces for yourself.

Named in memory of longtime Levine voice faculty member Charles Williams and his wife, Ruth Williams, this competition is open to Levine students ages 13 and up. The 2025 competition took place on Sunday, March 9, 2025. Contestants in the Youth and Adult divisions perform two pieces that contrast in style and period.

Charles Williams began his teaching career at Levine in 1983 and continued to be a force in the department until his passing in December 2022. Charles hailed performances from the world’s greatest stages, including Broadway and the Metropolitan Opera. A consummate artist and educator, Charles inspired the highest work ethic in each of his students, many of whom have become esteemed performers and instructors.

Charles and Ruth were married for sixty years. They lived in West Berlin for two decades before moving to Virginia and joining the Levine community. As a poet and artist, Ruth’s artwork adorned Levine’s walls on many occasions throughout the years, and her poetry was set to music and performed by Charles.

Special thanks to: Maxfield Wollam-Fisher, competition organizer; Darya Gabay, collaborative pianist; Celine Mogielnicki and Caitlin Wood, competition judges; and Levine campus staff.

Levine Music gratefully acknowledges the support of Rosemary George for underwriting this competition, as well as the support of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities and the Dallas Morse Coors Foundation for the Performing Arts.

The Ruth P. Cogen Competition was established by the Board of Trustees of Levine Music in 1983 to honor Ruth Cogen, one of the school’s founders and its first chair of the Board of Trustees. 

The 2025 Competition took place on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Each participant prepared one movement from a concerto or solo piece intended for performance with an orchestra for the preliminary round. Students in the final round performed with piano accompaniment. One grand prize winner was chosen from all the first-place division winners to play in an upcoming performance accompanied by an orchestra.

Congratulations to all the participants, their teachers, and their families!

Special thanks to: Aaron Percy, Recording Engineer; Maxfield Wollam-Fisher, competition organizer; Darya Gabay and Irina Kats, collaborative pianists; Marian Hahn, Nikita Fitenko, Julietta Curenton, and June Huang, competition judges; and Levine campus staff.

This program has been made possible through the generous support of the Marinus and Minna B. Koster Foundation, Inc.

No matter where you are on your musical journey, we invite you to use some of the resources in our updated Black History Month resource guide as a starting point for further exploration.  

Discover Repertoire, Artists, and Genres 

• Music by Black Composers fills a major diversity gap in sheet music by publishing books of music exclusively by Black composers and offering robust online resources. Their website includes repertoire directories for violin, piano, and classical guitar, as well as a new volume of beginner-level violin music by Black composers.  
• The Library of Congress has many online resources to learn about Black composers, including digital scores, audio recordings, articles, and video performances from the Library of Congress Concert Series.  
• The Institute for Composer Diversity at SUNY Fredonia has a searchable and filterable composer database where you can find artist profiles based on the genre and instrumentation they have written for.  
• For brass musicians, Last Row Music has an ever-evolving database of music by Black composers for solo brass instruments and brass ensembles of varying instrumentation.  
• Pianists can use a variety of identifiers in the keyword search to find music by composers from underrepresented communities on A Seat At the Piano’s database.   
• The Archives of African American Music and Culture at Indiana University features resources and materials as well as a documentary video series focused on the music and stories of Black artists across musical genres. 
• The Smithsonian Folkways Recordings maintains a catalog of materials showcasing the extensive African American heritage in music and oral traditions across genres. 

Last year, cellist and Levine faculty member Johnny Walker shared his playlist of Black composers Click here to learn more about his playlist featuring some of the composers listed below. 

Learn More About Black History Month

• The US’s official website on Black History Month brings together information on events and resources on Black history from across the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Gallery of Art, the National Park Service, the Smithsonian Institution, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and US National Archives and Records Administration.  
• Discover the origins of Black History Month on the Association for the Study of African American Life and History’s website, from Carter G. Woodson and the annual celebration’s beginnings in 1915 to the 2025 theme of African Americans and Labor.  
• Check out events, resources, exhibitions, and podcasts for Black History Month 2025 hosted by The Smithsonian Institute and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. 

Levine is committed to building new audiences for music by offering outstanding performances, master classes, and other musical events free-of-charge. This season’s online recordings of Levine Presents is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of many donors. Please consider making a gift to support these programs.

Program

Romanian Folk Dances | Béla Bartók

I. Bot tánc / Jocul cu bâtă (Stick Dance)
II. Brâul (Sash Dance)
III. Topogó / Pe loc (In One Spot)
IV. Bucsumí tánc / Buciumeana (Dance from Bucsum)
V. Román polka / Poarga Românească (Romanian Polka)
VI. Aprózó / Mărunțel (Fast Dance)

Piano Trio No. 2 in e minor, Opus 67 | Dmitri Shostakovich

I. Andante – Moderato
II. Allegro con brio
III. Largo
IV. Allegretto – Adagio

 – – Intermission – –

Piano Quintet No. 2 in A Major, Opus 81 | Antonín Dvořák

I. Allegro, ma non tanto
II. Dumka: Andante con moto
III. Scherzo (Furiant): Molto vivace
IV. Finale: Allegro

Performers

Violinist Erin Durham Wright (B.M., M.M.) joined the faculty at Levine Music in 2015 and has performed with chamber and orchestra ensembles in the DC region, including at Wolf Trap, The Mansion at Strathmore, The Church of the Epiphany, the Washington Chamber Orchestra, and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra.

Violinist Shaundra Baird Culatta performs as an invited soloist and professional chamber and orchestral musician regularly throughout the DC region. She has recorded for several albums, including with her mother, Melinda Baird. She is a mother of four musical children and owns Encore Strings, a violin shop in Northern VA.

Violist Carrie Castleton has been teaching and performing in the DC area since 2010. She has performed with the National Symphony, Fairfax Symphony, and Alexandria Symphony orchestras. In 2023, she received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland.

Cellist Seth Castleton is a Levine faculty member and regular performer, teacher, and composer in the DC area. He recently joined the Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras’ conducting team, directing the Preparatory Strings Youth Orchestra. He regularly performs with the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra and has recently composed two premieres performed in the DC area.

Pianist Melinda Baird received her doctorate at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music under the tutelage of Menahem Pressler and joined the Levine faculty in 2008 where she currently serves as Director of Piano Programs.

 Together, Erin, Shaundra, Carrie, Seth, and Melinda join together as the Stoneybrook Chamber Players.

Levine Music is excited to announce the appointment of two accomplished individuals to our Board of Trustees: Jeanie Collins Carr and Dr. Robert Plovnick.

Each brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and passion for education and the arts, furthering Levine’s mission to inspire everyone in the National Capital Region to love music. 

Jeanie Collins Carr is a dedicated community servant and educator with a longstanding commitment to supporting youth and their families. With a deep belief in holistic and integrated learning, Jeanie sees the arts as a powerful tool for engaging and stimulating learners of all ages.

Jeanie’s distinguished career includes her role as Executive Director of the Black Student Fund, where she managed staff, budgets, grant writing, and community outreach to support under-resourced students in gaining access to private school education. She has also served as Admissions Director at Georgetown Day School, assessing academic and cultural readiness for students and families.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Jeanie has been actively involved in civic organizations, serving as past president of the Capital City Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and as an associate member of the Washington, DC, Chapter of Jack and Jill, Inc. She holds a BA in Human Relations and an MAT in Education from Trinity Washington University​.

“I am thrilled to join Levine Music’s Board of Trustees and contribute to its impactful mission. Music has the unique ability to bring people together, inspire growth, and transform lives, and I look forward to supporting Levine in expanding its reach and deepening its connections with our community.”

– Jeanie Collins Carr

Dr. Robert Plovnick is a healthcare quality consultant based in Washington, DC, with more than 20 years of experience in medical professional society leadership. As an advocate for improving healthcare delivery and outcomes, he has worked extensively on quality improvement, clinical practice guidelines, and health information technology. Robert previously served as Chief Medical Quality Officer at the American Society of Hematology and as Director of Quality Improvement at the American Psychiatric Association.

In addition to his professional expertise, Robert has a personal connection to Levine Music. Since 2012, he has been a proud “Suzuki Dad,” supporting his three children in their violin studies at Levine.

Robert holds a medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, a master’s in medical informatics from the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology and is currently pursuing dual MBA and healthcare leadership degrees from Cornell University​.

“As a parent at Levine, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of music education. I am honored to join the Board of Trustees and to help further Levine’s mission of enriching lives through music and fostering creativity in our students and community.” 

– Dr. Robert Plovnick

We look forward to the contributions that Jeanie and Robert will bring to Levine Music as we continue to inspire and support our community through music education. 

Rewatch this past Levine Presents performance.

Levine is committed to building new audiences for music by offering outstanding performances, master classes, and other musical events free of charge. This season’s online recordings of Levine Presents is offered free of charge thanks to the generosity of many donors. Please consider making a gift to support these programs.

Program

Three Romances for Violin and Piano, Opus 22 | Clara Schumann

I. Andante molto
II. Allegretto
III. Leidenschaftlich schnell

Lament | Ellen Taaffe Zwilich

Naji (for piano and cello) | Issa Boulos

Peace | Jessie Montgomery

 – – Intermission – –

Romance oubliée, S. 132 | Franz Liszt

Cello Sonata No. 1, Opus 109 | Gabriel Fauré

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Finale: Allegro commodo

Variations chantantes sur un air ancien | Reynaldo Hahn

Performers

Praised for his “clarity and an approachable sensitivity” (The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 2019), cellist Joseph Gotoff is recognized as a thoughtful and passionate performer, scholar, and teacher. With a repertoire spanning the Baroque to the modern era, Dr. Gotoff works closely with a number of composers working today, with premieres by composers including Lowell Liebermann, Cody Forrest and Binna Kim. In 2020, his debut album “The Voice of the Cello” was released to critical acclaim.

Dr. Gotoff has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in concert halls across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, and performs regularly throughout the Washington and Baltimore region, with diverse ensembles such as Counterpoint Concerts, Washington Classical Arts, the New Orchestra of Washington, and the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra. In 2021, he joined the faculty of Towson University as Assistant Professor of Cello, and he also teaches cello and chamber music at the Levine Music in Washington, D.C. He is the founder and conductor of the Towson University String Orchestra, and in 2023 took over as conductor of the Levine Philharmonic. Gotoff recently made his European conducting debut with the Philharmonica di Sarteano in Sarteano, Italy.

Pianist Wan-Chi Su has captivated audiences across Asia, Europe, and the U.S., performing at prestigious venues like Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Salle Cortot in Paris, and Taiwan National Concert Hall. An advocate for contemporary music, Dr. Su has premiered works by Jordan Chase, William Weigel, and Aaron Malone, and collaborated with composers like George Walker and Curt Cacioppo. She has won first prizes in the Taiwan Cultural Cup and Taiwan National Student Music Competitions and has been a semi-finalist in the San Jose International Piano Competition and a finalist in the Harrison L. Winter Piano Concerto Competition. Her festival appearances include the Taos School of Music and the Paris Piano Program.

As a founding member of Duo Sorolla and an artist with the Piatigorsky Foundation, Dr. Su tours extensively across the U.S. She frequently collaborates with distinguished musicians, including members of the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and other notable soloists.

Do you love contemporary genres like blues, jazz, rock, and soul? Modern music styles were built on a foundation created by Native American communities. Native American music, with its diverse traditions and rich history, is rooted in centuries-old practices. This music often involves powerful drumming, ethereal flute melodies, and a wide range of vocal styles, from prayer songs to those sung during ceremonial dances. As we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, let’s explore the work of Native American musicians, past and present, who carry on these traditions and push the boundaries of musical expression.

Discover Native American Musicians

Thomas Commuck (Narragansett, 1804-1855): A pioneering Native American composer and historian, Commuck’s 1845 collection Indian Melodies is considered the first published musical work by an Indigenous person. 

Dennison Wheelock (Oneida, 1871-1927): A talented bandleader, composer, and cornet soloist, Wheelock was highly regarded in his time. He was also a dedicated advocate for Native American rights. 

Mildred Bailey (1907-1951): Known as the “Queen of Swing,” Bailey was a prominent Native American jazz singer during the 1930s. Her unique style and powerful voice made her a beloved figure in the music industry.

Louis W. Ballard (Quapaw/Cherokee, 1931-2007): Often called the “father of Native American classical music,” Ballard composed groundbreaking orchestral, choral, and chamber works that merged traditional Indigenous elements with Western classical forms.

Joanne Shenandoah (Oneida, 1957-2021): A gifted singer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, Shenandoah’s music blended traditional melodies with modern instrumentation. Her lyrics often explored themes of nature, women’s lives, and Iroquois culture. 

Brent Michael Davids (Menominee, b. 1959): A contemporary composer and flutist, Davids incorporates Indigenous musical traditions into his classical compositions. His works often delve into themes of identity, spirituality, and social justice. 

Pura Fé (Tuscarora/Taíno, b. 1959): A singer-songwriter, Pure Fé was the founding member of Ulali, an all-female a capella singing group. Ulali’s music is deeply rooted in traditional Indigenous vocal styles, and their powerful performances and socially conscious lyrics have made them prominent voices in Indigenous music.

Ulali

Dawn Avery (Mohawk, b. 1961): A talented composer, cellist, vocalist, and educator, Avery’s work seamlessly blends classical music with traditional Mohawk musical elements. She is a passionate advocate for Indigenous music and culture.

Jerod Impichchaachaaha’ Tate (Chickasaw, b. 1968): A renowned composer and pianist, Tate’s work draws inspiration from traditional Native American musical elements and explores themes of cultural identity and history. 

Timothy Archambault (Kichesipirini Algonquin First Nation, b. 1971): A talented architect, composer, and flutist, Archambault fuses traditional Indigenous musical elements with contemporary classical music. 

Raven Chacon (Navajo, b. 1977): A versatile composer and visual artist, Chacon creates experimental music that blends traditional Native American sounds with contemporary electronic and experimental music. He is the first Native American to win the Pulitzer Prize for music.

Raven Chacon, photographed by Adam Conte

Learn More About Native American Heritage Month and Native American Music

• Native American Heritage Month: Visit the official website for information and resources.
• NEH Resources for Native American Heritage Month: The National Endowment for the Humanities has funded numerous projects that preserve and document Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian language and history.
• National Museum of the American Indian: Explore the museum’s website for exhibits, educational programs, and information on Native American music and culture.
• Native American Heritage Collection: Explore PBS’s collection exploring Indigenous art, history, and culture as told through the historians, artists, students, and scientists in this featured resource collection.

By exploring the rich and diverse world of Native American music, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural heritage of Indigenous peoples and the enduring power of their music.

Community and Accessibility at Levine

Since our founding in 1976, Levine Music has been committed to cultivating an inclusive and supportive community that educates, inspires, and provides opportunities for all students, families, faculty, and staff. The art form of music has developed throughout the course of human history, serving a variety of sacred and secular functions in the history of nearly every culture across the globe. In our study of musical traditions past and present, we come across examples of historical figures, events, and ideologies that contradict our values. In our role as music educators, Levine not only provides context for these examples but also provides opportunities to expand our repertoire to include works, genres, artists, and cultures historically excluded from the canon.

Levine’s Community and Accessibility Working Group meets regularly to ensure we embody these ideals by monitoring our work, creating best practices, and encouraging transparency in the continual integration of Levine’s core values throughout our campuses and programs.

Learn more about Levine’s commitment to Community and Accessibility and our Community and Accessibility Working Group and its initiatives.