At the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Gaithersburg, Maryland, the Washington International Young Artists Music Series (WIYAMS) presented “Resonance” on May 9, an afternoon concert highlighting a new generation of international classical musicians. The performance featured repertoire spanning Beethoven, Chopin, Prokofiev, Ginastera, Granados and Aperghis, reflecting WIYAMS’ continuing mission of creating performance opportunities for emerging artists from around the world.
The concert brought together performers from conservatories and universities across the United States, with many artists balancing performance careers, advanced doctoral studies and teaching positions. Audience members filled the church sanctuary for a program that moved between virtuosic piano works, chamber music and vocal repertoire before concluding with a reception that allowed attendees to meet the musicians.
Among the standout performers was pianist Yajing Kang, who performed Enrique Granados’ “Los Requiebros” from Goyescas. Kang, currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, brought a colorful and technically demanding interpretation to the Spanish masterpiece. Her international performance background, which includes appearances in Los Angeles, Shanghai and Baltimore, was reflected in a performance marked by rhythmic precision and expressive depth.
Mezzo-soprano Yiqi Yin presented Vincenzo Bellini’s “Malinconia, ninfa gentile,” accompanied by pianist Nolan Alex Ancil. Yin, who studies at the Catholic University of America, has previously performed at the Sydney Opera House and with the Kona Chamber Orchestra in Hawaii. At “Resonance,” her interpretation emphasized Bellini’s lyrical phrasing and operatic elegance, offering one of the afternoon’s most intimate moments.
Violinist Hanbo Wang joined pianist Changyue Liu for Richard Strauss’ Violin Sonata in E-flat major, performing the second movement, “Improvisation.” Wang, an internationally recognized violinist and founder of the Rhodora Quartet, is currently pursuing doctoral studies at Stony Brook University. His performance displayed the chamber artistry that has earned him awards in both solo and ensemble competitions, balancing Romantic lyricism with controlled intensity.
Pianist Jianyi Gu delivered Alberto Ginastera’s Piano Sonata No. 1, opening movement, a work known for its rhythmic drive and percussive textures. Gu, who studies at the Eastman School of Music, has performed at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and major venues in Europe and China. Her interpretation captured the sonata’s dramatic contrasts and modernist energy, drawing strong audience response.
Percussionist Zeyi Guo performed Georges Aperghis’ Le corps à corps, an experimental solo percussion work combining rhythm, movement and vocalization. Guo, currently studying at Oberlin Conservatory, is known for integrating percussion with Chinese Wing Chun martial arts traditions. His performance stood apart from the traditional classical repertoire on the program, introducing theatrical and contemporary elements that highlighted the concert’s stylistic range.
Pianist Meng Yuan joined violinist Dan Qiao in performances of Prokofiev’s Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 2 in D Major and Beethoven’s Sonata for Piano and Violin No. 7 in C minor. A co-founder of the ensemble DuoMente and an artist trained at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Meng demonstrated both technical control and musical sensitivity throughout the program. Her playing balanced clarity and power in Beethoven’s dramatic passages while bringing agility and warmth to Prokofiev’s more lyrical and energetic writing. The performance highlighted her strengths as a collaborative pianist, with nuanced phrasing and attentive interplay that anchored the chamber works with confidence and precision.
Other performers included pianist Andrew Wood in Chopin’s Piano Sonata No. 3, Estella Duo in selections by Margaret Bonds, pianist Lizhuo Sun in Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 32 and pianist Tzuan Chang in Isaac Albéniz’s “El Corpus Christi en Sevilla.” Together, the artists represented the broad international scope of WIYAMS, whose performers this season come from multiple countries and leading conservatories across the United States.
Founded in 2023, WIYAMS continues to expand its presence in the Washington area through partnerships with churches, embassies and cultural organizations, presenting concerts designed to connect young musicians with diverse audiences through classical music and cultural exchange.
