Faculty and Guest Artist Concerts
We are proud to welcome guest artists to perform in our venues and showcase faculty members in exciting individual and collaborative programs at the Don Wright Faculty of Music.
In addition to the opportunities listed below, we are proud to host distinguished artists in residence, those visiting for residencies and public masterclasses, as well as those who perform each week during our signature "Fridays @ 12:30" concert series.
| Joining us on campus for an in-person event? Please visit the Audience Information page before joining us on campus, and always check the Events Calendar on the day of the event for any schedule changes. |
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2025-26 Performances
Sunday, September 28, 2025
3pm | Paul Davenport Theatre | 1.5 hours
Commemorating the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Emma Pennell, soprano
Rebecca Crane, mezzo-soprano
Evan Korbut, baritone
Western University Singers under the direction of Dr. Mark Ramsay
Join the Don Wright Faculty of Music for a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation commemoration concert. As part of the events leading up to September 30, this event will feature solo performances by alumni Emma Pennell and Evan Korbut and Master's student Rebecca Crane as well selections performed by the Western University Singers. Programming includes selections from Ian Cusson's Five Songs on Poems by Marilyn Dumont: “Letter to Sir John A MacDonald”, “Red + White”, and “The Devil's Language”.
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
8pm | von Kuster Hall | 1.5 hours
Stephan Moccio, piano
General admission tickets: $50 in advance, $55 at the door (if available)
Student (with valid ID) and Senior (55+) tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door (if available)
Join us at the Don Wright Faculty of Music for an evening with Western alumnus Stephan Moccio, piano. One of the most compelling writers in music today, Moccio possesses a rare power to express incredibly complex and nuanced emotions through melody alone. In recent years, the classically trained pianist, composer, producer and arranger has shown his melodic ingenuity in such iconic hits as Miley Cyrus’ seven-times-platinum Wrecking Ball, garnered three Grammy nominations and received an Oscar nod for co-writing The Weeknd’s seven-times-platinum Earned It—all while establishing himself as a highly esteemed recording artist.
Proceeds from ticket sales will support Music student scholarships at Western.
This concert is part of a two-day guest artist residency. Visit the Masterclasses and Residencies page for details.
Thursday, October 9, 2025
12:30pm | von Kuster Hall | 1 hour
New Orford String Quartet Performs Mendelssohn Op. 13 and Schumann Piano Quintet
New Orford String Quartet
Jonathan Crow, violin
Andrew Wan, violin
Sharon Wei*, viola
Joseph Johnson, cello
Michael Kim*, piano
Western’s official Artists-in-Residence New Orford String Quartet returns to von Kuster Hall to perform music inspired by the Northern Tornadoes Project.Programmed works include Mendelssohn's passionate Op. 13 string quartet and Schumann's exuberant Piano Quintet where the ensemble will be joined by Dean Michael Kim*.
This three-day residency also includes masterclasses with current string students, all of which are open to the public. Visit the Masterclasses and Residencies webpage for more information.
Friday, October 10, 2025
8pm | von Kuster Hall | 1.5 hours
Art Decade
Evan Ziporyn and ContaQt with Contemporary Music Studio
Conductor/composer/clarinetist Evan Ziporyn and ContaQt present music of Brian Eno, Robert Fripp, David Bowie and Howard Budd arranged for chamber ensemble. ContaQt is a hybrid chamber ensemble composed of cellist Mary-Katherine Finch, percussionist Jerry Pergolesi, pianist Allison Wiebe*, violinist Sarah Fraser Raff and guitarist Andrew Noseworthy who is a Western Music alumnus. Students from Western’s Contemporary Music Studio will join during the first half of the concert.
This concert is part of a three-day residency (October 8-10) including masterclasses, talks and a performance with Contemporary Music Studio and is supported with funding by the Music Undergraduate GiftFund and Moscovich Innovation Fund. Visit the Masterclasses and Residencies page for more details.
Thursday, October 16, 2025
7pm | von Kuster Hall | 2 hours
Flute Recital and Chat with Gillian Derer - Social Media for Musicians
Gillian Derer, flute
Angela Park*, piano
We excitedly welcome back alumna Gillian Derer—or @gill.flutes as you may know her on social media—for a wonderfully novel evening of flute performance and social media strategy for musicians. The evening will begin with the recital portion at 7pm followed by a lecture, Social Media for Musicians, at 8pm.
Saturday, October 18, 2025
7:30pm | von Kuster Hall | 1.5 hours
Parsons and Poole Concert featuring Sir Stephen Hough, piano
Sir Stephen Hough, piano
General admission tickets: $45 in advance, $50 at the door (if available)
Student (with valid ID) and Senior (55+) tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door (if available)
Named by The Economist as one of twenty living polymaths, Hough was the first classical performer to be awarded a MacArthur Fellowship (2001). He was awarded Northwestern University’s 2008 Jean Gimbel Lane Prize in Piano, won the Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist Award in 2010, and in 2016 was made an Honorary Member of RPS. In 2014 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) and was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2022.
Planned program:- Schubert: Klavierstück no 2 D 946
- Brahms: Klavierstück op 118 no 6
- Schönberg: 6 Kleine Klavierstücke op 19
- Stockhausen: Klavierstück III
- Beethoven: Bagatelle op 119 no 10
- Beethoven: Sonata op 53 (Waldstein)
*** - Schumann: Carnaval op 9
- Sherman/Hough: Mary Poppins Suite (2021)
A public masterclass with Western piano students is planned for the following morning. For more information, visit the Parsons and Poole Concert and Masterclass page.
The Parsons and Poole Concert and Masterclass was created by alumni to honour Margaret Parsons and Clifford Poole, and to bring world-class musicianship to Western. Learn moreSunday, November 16, 2025
3pm | von Kuster Hall | 1.5 hours
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, piano
Free admission | Pre-registration required
“A brilliant musician and an extraordinary visionary” (Wall Street Journal), Pierre-Laurent Aimard is widely acclaimed as an authority in music of our time while recognised also for shedding fresh light on music of the past. His international schedule of creatively conceived concerts, broadcasts and recordings is complemented by a career-long commitment to teaching, giving concert lectures and workshops worldwide.
Join us at Western’s Don Wright Faculty of Music as Aimard brings his unmatched artistry to the global stage, captivating audiences from Carnegie Hall to the Berlin Philharmonie, for a stunning concert of magnificent works.
Planned program:
- Beethoven: Bagatelles (selection)
- Boulez: Notations (selection)
- Berg: Piano Sonata, Op.1
- Boulez: Sonata for Piano No.1
- Kurtág: excerpts from Játekók
- J.S. Bach: excerpts from The Well-Tempered Clavier (books I & II)
Preregistration is required: Register
PLEASE NOTE: This event takes place on the same day at Western’s Fall Preview Day. If you are driving to campus, please arrive early to leave ample time for parking. The concert will begin promptly at 3pm and latecomers will need to wait for a suitable break in the program to enter the hall.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard also joins us for a masterclass featuring current piano students taking place the following morning, Monday, November 17 at 10am in von Kuster Hall. Pre-registration is required for the concert only, not the masterclass.
This concert and masterclass is made possible by the Moscovich Fund for Innovation in Music, established with a visionary gift from Jim and Barbara Moscovich.
Sunday, November 23, 2025
5pm | von Kuster Hall | 1 hour
Brass Day Concert
Will Leathers, trumpet
Western Music brass faculty members
Will Leathers, Principal Trumpet of the Nashville Symphony and Santa Fe Opera, joins our brass faculty members for this year’s public Brass Day concert.
William Franklyn Leathers is a young, gifted musician at the forefront of the classical trumpet music industry. Born in Mississauga, Canada, the 23-year-old has been noted for “the sparkling clarity” of his trumpet solos and has performed across Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and the Caribbean.
This young Canadian trumpet player is making his own musical mark on the world; in addition to trumpet, Will is also a pianist, songwriter and public speaker. He was recently recognized on CBC’s ‘30 hot Canadian classical musicians under 30’.
This concert is part of Brass Day. Admission to the concert is free and open for all to attend. Visit the Brass Day page for more details and to register for the full day's activities.
Brass Day is supported by the Music Undergraduate GiftFund.
Friday, January 9, 2026
7:30pm | von Kuster Hall | 2 hours
Vancouver Recital Society Visiting Artist Series
Paul Lewis, piano
Free admission | Registration required
Hailed as one of the foremost interpreters of Beethoven and Schubert, internationally celebrated pianist Paul Lewis captivates audiences worldwide with his profound artistry and award-winning performances alongside the world’s leading orchestras.
His numerous awards have included the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Instrumentalist of the Year, two Edison awards, three Gramophone awards, the Diapason d'or de l'année, the Preis Der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik, the Premio Internazionale Accademia Musicale Chigiana, and the South Bank Show Classical Music award. He holds honorary degrees from Liverpool, Edge Hill, and Southampton Universities and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2016 Queen’s Birthday Honours.
A masterclass with Paul Lewis featuring current piano students at Western will take place on Saturday, January 10 at 10am in von Kuster Hall. Pre-registration is required for the concert only, not the masterclass.
This concert is part of the Vancouver Recital Society Visiting Artist Series, made possible with a generous gift from alumna Elaine Adair.
Sunday, February 8, 2026
3pm | von Kuster Hall | 1.5 hours
Between Strings and Keys: Beethoven's Dialogues
Suren Bagratuni, cello
Kyung Kim*, piano
Join internationally acclaimed cellist Suren Bagratuni, silver medalist of the 1986 Tchaikovsky International Competition, and pianist Kyung Kim* for an inspiring all-Beethoven program.
This concert launches a series of concerts by associate professor Kyung Kim*, celebrating the brilliance and emotional depth of Beethoven’s chamber music for strings and piano.
Sunday, March 3, 2026
3pm | von Kuster Hall | 1.5 hours
Brett Kingsbury, piano
Western Music faculty member Brett Kingsbury* performs a solo piano recital featuring Rachmaninoff's rarely heard first Piano Sonata in D minor, Op. 28 as well as other works for piano.
*Western Music faculty member
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