Student Recital

Aidar Fazylov, percussion

Aidar Fazylov is a percussionist currently pursuing a graduate degree at Carnegie Mellon University, where he studies with Paul Evans, Christopher Allen, and Jeremy Branson.

Originally from Kazakhstan, he studied percussion at the Kazakh National University of Arts and has over 18 years of musical training. Fazylov is a five-time laureate of international and national competitions, including Shabyt International Festival of Creative Youth and Astana Music Festival.

He has performed marimba concertos with orchestra, including works by Ney Rosauro and Emmanuel Séjourné, and has appeared as a soloist with the State Symphony Orchestra of Kazakhstan. Aidar also studied privately with Don Liuzzi, principal percussionist of The Philadelphia Orchestra, from 2018 to 2023.

Program:

TBA

Cost: Free and open to the public; No tickets required. 

Tickets:

Student Recital

Kathryn Giordano is a euphonium and trombone doubler and educator based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Kathryn currently attends Carnegie Mellon University fulfilling her Masters degree in Euphonium Performance under the tutelage of GnySgt. Hiram Diaz, and has been deemed an S.E. Shires Rising Artist. Preceding her time at Carnegie Mellon, Kathryn earned her B.M. in Music Education at Montclair State University, studying with SSgt. Philip Broome, Dr. Thomas McCauley, Michael Boschen, and Dr. Marissa Silverman. Kathryn has performed with several ensembles including the Montclair State University Wind Symphony, Montclair State University Jazz Ensemble, and the Carnegie Mellon Wind Ensemble, as well as performing for Wynton Marsalis, the New York Philharmonic Brass Quintet, and tenor-horn soloist Sheona White. In addition to her work in the United States, Kathryn has been a musician on two international tours at venues in Austria, Czechia, and France, performing on both euphonium and trombone. Kathryn holds a private studio where she teaches euphonium, trombone, piano, and voice on a platform that revolves around an accessible and holistic music education approach.

Kathryn Giordano, euphonium

Donna Amato, piano

Program:

TBA

Cost: Free and open to the public; No tickets required. 

Tickets:

Carnegie Mellon Philharmonic

Daniel Nesta Curtis, conductor 
Daniel Teadt, baritone

Program:

John Adams: The Wound Dresser

Barbara York: Concerto for Tuba and Orchestra “Wars and Rumors of War”

Claudia Shassberger, tuba (undergraduate winner of the 2025 Philharmonic Soloists Competition)

Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9

Cost:

$10 Regular Admission

$5 Senior Citizen (65+) Admission

All students, along with CMU/Pitt faculty and staff, are free w/ valid ID

Tickets:

Student Recital

Jordan Proctor, cello

Born to a family of musicians, Jordan Proctor grew up in a home surrounded with the warm embrace of music. As a result of her upbringing, Jordan began to play the cello and study under Maria Lopeman. Jordan then went on to receive her Bachelor’s of Music Performance and Graduate Certificate in Cello Performance at Park University’s acclaimed International Center for Music. She is currently studying under Anne Williams for her Master’s degree in Cello Performance at Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Music. She has previously worked with Daniel Veis and Michael Mermagan.

As a passionate music educator, Jordan has worked as a lead cello teacher for the Kansas City String Sprouts; a program which seeked to provide children from underserved communities with a music education and performance opportunities. She also collaborated as a cello teacher with Harmony Project KC and opened her own private studio. Jordan is currently pursuing a Music Education Certification from Carnegie Mellon University.

Jordan has performed as an Assistant Principal cellist of the Topeka Symphony, and has performed with the Saint Joseph Symphony. In 2019, Jordan won first prize in the Shooting Stars Scholarship Competition held by the Arts Council of Johnson County.

Program:

J.S. Bach Cello Suite IV

Ludwig van Beethoven Cello Sonata No. 2 in G minor

Cost: Free and open to the public; No tickets required. 

Tickets:

Student Recital

Aidan Lobenstein, double bass

Rodrigo Ojedo, piano

Born in Hauppauge, New York, Aidan Lobenstein is currently a first-year master’s student at Carnegie Mellon University, where he studies double bass under Micah Howard. Prior to his graduate studies, he attended Louisiana State University as a recipient of the LSU Music Premiere Scholarship, studying with Yung-Chiao Wei.

Aidan has performed with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Canton Symphony Orchestra, Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, and Rapides Symphony Orchestra, and previously held a full-time position with the Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra. He is also a New World Symphony substitute and has attended prestigious summer festivals such as the National Orchestral Institute and the Chautauqua Institution.

Program:

Giovanni Bottesini Introduction & Gavotte

J.S. Bach Bach Cello Suite 3, BWV 1009

Henry Eccles Sonata No. 11

Serge Koussevitsky Concerto Op. 3

Cost: Free and open to the public; No tickets required. 

Tickets:

Student Recital

Xinyu Hu, oboe

Amin Carrillo, piano

Xinyu Hu is a master's student studying oboe under Cynthia DeAlmeida, principal oboist of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and professor at Carnegie Mellon University.

He completed his undergraduate studies at Renmin University of China in Beijing, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance. During his undergraduate years, he was invited to perform as a second oboe with several professional orchestras, including the National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra(NCPAO), the China National Opera House Orchestra(CNOHO), the Beijing Symphony Orchestra(BSO), and the China Film Orchestra(CFO), where he worked with conductors such as Daniele Gatti, Yuan Ding, Jing Huan, Xia Xiaotang, Zhang Bingbing, and Peng Jiapeng.

Program:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Concerto for Oboe in C Major, K.314

Johann Sebastian Bach Cantata BWV 156

William Grant Still Incantation and Dance

Zhao Jiping（赵季平）Southern Shaanxi Sketches(陕南素描)

Cost: Free and open to the public; No tickets required. 

Tickets:

Student Recital

Grace Kikuchi, harp

Currently in her second year of her Masters of Music at Carnegie , Grace Kikuchi is studying with Gretchen Van Hoesen, principal harpist of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Previously, she received her Bachelor of Music majoring in Harp Performance at the Queensland Conservatorium and studied with both Sayo and Sebastien Lipman as well as Jill Atkinson. Recently, Grace was the graduate winner of the 2025 CMU Philharmonic Soloist Competition, and her duo Le Lys won PCS in 2026.

Program:

Rhapsodie pour la harpe, Op. 10 Marcel Grandjany

Largo from Violin Sonata No. 3, BWV 1005 J. S. Bach

Spanish Dance No. 1 (from La Vida Breve) Manuel de Falla

Better than One Gary Schocker

Cambria No. 2 John Thomas

Petite Suite Claude Debussy

The Moldau, Op. 43 Bedřich Smetana

Cost: Free and open to the public; No tickets required. 

Tickets: