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# BU School of Music Students to Shine at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall
## The annual BU concert at New York City’s renowned performance venue spotlights student competition winners
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Music
#### *The annual BU concert at New York City’s renowned performance venue on March 25, 2025, spotlights a select group of student performers.*
January 23, 2025
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Boston University College of Fine Arts  is proud to present its annual **BU Spotlight at Carnegie Hall** concert on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 7:30pm in New York City’s renowned Carnegie Hall. The winners of BU School of Music’s annual Carnegie Hall competition will showcase their expressive and technical gifts through the infinite variety of short works for soloist and piano accompaniment by the world’s great composers in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall.
The performers and program for the evening include: **Ana Diaz Asencio** (CFA’27), soprano saxophone – *Mi Bailaora* by David Salleras; **Catherine Butler** (CFA’23,’27), flute – *Syrinx, L. 129* by Claude Debussy; **Yun-Chen Chou** (CFA’27), marimba – *Etude in F-sharp Minor* by Pius Cheung; **Lily Uijin Gwak** (CFA’27), cello, and **Kyunga Lee** (CFA’27), piano – *Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen,” WoO46* by Ludwig van Beethoven; **Erin Matthews** (CFA’27), soprano, and **Ethan McGrath** (CFA’27), piano – *On this Island: 1. Let the Florid Music Praise; 4. Nocturne; 5. As It Is Plenty* by Benjamin Britten; **Alexandru Prigalo** (CFA’21,’26), piano – *3 Movements from Petrushka, K12: III. La semaine grasse* by Igor Stravinsky; **Libang Wang** (CFA’26), baritone, and **Ethan McGrath** (CFA’27), piano – *Phidylé; Le Manoire de Rosemonde* by Henri Duparc.
The BU musicians were selected through a rigorous multi-stage competition held in the fall of 2024, involving preliminary auditions within each applied department within BU School of Music—Voice, Piano, Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion. Finalists then competed before a panel of esteemed external adjudicators, culminating in the selection of performers and program under the curatorship of the School of Music’s director.
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> The opportunity to perform in Carnegie Hall can be one of the most inspiring and motivating moments in a performer’s life. The students chosen through rigorous competition to perform in this hallowed space represent the best of us at Boston University School of Music. Their hard work, passion for their art, and creative artistry remind us all about how fortunate we are to teach and learn from each other. We’re so proud to be working with such stellar and talented young musicians!
This  underscores BU’s commitment to providing its students with real-world, professional experiences, with these students performing on the same stage that hosts world-class, top-tier soloists and performing groups from prestigious musical organizations.
Concert tickets are $14 ($10 + $4 fee) and can be reserved through the . Visit , CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800, or the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th and Seventh.
## 2025 BOSTON UNIVERSITY SPOTLIGHT CONCERT
#### *Presented by Boston University School of Music*
##### DATE & TIME
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 • 7:30pm
##### LOCATION
Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
154 W 57th St, New York, NY
Directions and parking information can be found on the 
##### ADMISSION/TICKETS
Concert tickets are $14 and can be reserved through the . Visit , CarnegieCharge 212-247-7800, or the Carnegie Hall Box Office at 57th and Seventh.
#### PERFORMERS & PROGRAM
* **Ana Diaz Asencio** (CFA’27) • soprano saxophone – *Mi Bailaora* – David Salleras
* **Catherine Butler** (CFA’23,’27) • flute – *Syrinx, L. 129* – Claude Debussy
* **Yun-Chen Chou** (CFA’27) • marimba – *Etude in F-sharp Minor* – Pius Cheung
* **Lily Uijin Gwak** (CFA’27) • cello, and **Kyunga Lee** (CFA’27) • piano – *Variations on “Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen,” WoO46* – Ludwig van Beethoven
* **Erin Matthews** (CFA’27) • soprano and **Ethan McGrath** (CFA’27) • piano – *On this Island: 1. Let the Florid Music Praise; 4. Nocturne; 5. As It Is Plenty* – Benjamin Britten
* **Alexandru Prigalo** (CFA’21,’26) • piano – *3 Movements from Petrushka, K12: III. La semaine grasse* – Igor Stravinsky
* **Libang Wang** (CFA’26) • baritone, and **Ethan McGrath** (CFA’27) • piano – *Phidylé; Le Manoire de Rosemonde* – Henri Duparc
##### **Ana Díaz Asencio** (CFA’27) • DMA Saxophone, Studio of 
Born in Sevilla, Spain, Ana Díaz Asencio is a versatile saxophone player who embraces a colorful repertoire strongly influenced by her studies in Europe and the United States. Making her debut as soloist with orchestra at the age of 22, Ana has also soloed with the Gerena Concert Band and the “Clara Sonus” Sax Ensemble. Among the awards she has received, Ms. Díaz Asencio won 1st prize in the London International Competition (2023), Chamber Music Competition “José Gámez” (2022), and King’s Peak International Music Competition (2022). Ana was a recipient of the Boston Woodwind Society Scholarship in 2023. She graduated with her BM from the Sevilla Conservatory and an MM at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, receiving honors for her academic achievements. Ana is currently completing her DMA with the renowned saxophone player Kenneth Radnofsky at Boston University.
##### **Catherine Butler** (CFA’23,’27) • DMA Flute Performance, Studio of 
Catherine Butler is a Michigan native and accomplished flutist with an MM in Flute Performance from Boston University (2023) and a Bachelor’s in Music Education and Flute Performance from Wayne State University. A finalist in the prestigious 44th James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition, Catherine was also the winner of the 2018-2019 Wayne State Concerto Competition. Currently based in the Boston area, she is building a vibrant freelance career of teaching and performing with ensembles such as the Du Bois Orchestra, New England Philharmonic, and Longwood Symphony. Catherine is also a regular summer performer with the Ohio Light Opera. Her international performance experience includes collaborations with the Wayne State Camerata in Italy and the International Symphony Orchestra in Sarnia, Canada. In addition to her orchestral work, she is an active chamber musician and frequent soloist, having performed with artists from the Detroit Opera House and the Ohio Light Opera, and in solo engagements with orchestras in both Detroit and Italy.
##### **Yun-Chen Chou** (CFA’27) • DMA Percussion, Studio of 
Yun-Chen Chou is a Boston-based Taiwanese percussionist known for her dynamic artistry across classical, contemporary, and global music genres. Born in 1999, Chou began her musical journey at the age of 12 with the marimba. She is an award-winning marimbist and percussionist, as well as a burgeoning drummer and steel pannist. Her talents have graced international stages, including the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the TAPS LA Music Festival, where she collaborated on steel pan with Grammy-nominated composer and steel pannist Andy Akiho. An advocate for contemporary music, Chou frequently premieres innovative works and has recorded albums with the North Texas Wind Symphony under the baton of Eugene Corporon during the 2021-22 season. Chou’s artistic interests span diverse genres, from solo and chamber ensembles to film scoring orchestras, pop orchestras, musical theatre, opera, Balinese gamelan, and Brazilian bateria. She has performed in musical theatre productions such as *Something Rotten!* (drums) and *Into the Woods* (percussion). Chou is an active member of Gamelan Galak Tika, a Boston-based Balinese gamelan ensemble, and Grooversity, a Boston-based Brazilian bateria group. Currently pursuing a DMA at Boston University, Ms. Chou holds an MM in Percussion Performance from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and a BM in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas.
##### **Lily Uijin Gwak** (CFA’27) • DMA Cello, Studio of 
Cellist Lily Gwak was born in South Korea and began her cello studies at the age of 7. Recognized for her exceptional talent from a young age, she performed with various orchestras in Korea and won prizes at prestigious domestic competitions, including the Buam Art Hall Competition and the Strad Competition. Lily also had a strong interest in chamber music and orchestral performance, participating in several events as part of a cello ensemble and performing in exchange concerts with Indiana University. After completing her undergraduate studies in Korea, Lily continued her studies at the New England Conservatory, where she earned a place on the Dean’s List every semester. During her studies, she had the opportunity to attend masterclasses with renowned cellists such as Laurence Lesser and Guy Johnston. Lily graduated from Seoul Arts High School, Korea National University of Arts (BM), and New England Conservatory (MM), having studied under Professors Kangho Lee and Lluis Claret.
##### **Kyunga Lee** (CFA‘27) • DMA Collaborative Piano, Studio of 
South Korean pianist Kyunga Lee is acclaimed for her refined artistry and versatility as a collaborative musician. Recent performance highlights include appearances at the Aspen Music Festival, the Rheingau and Seoul Spring Chamber Music festivals, and Music in PyeongChang. As a Collaborative Piano Fellow at the Yale School of Music, she has played in masterclasses for such luminaries as Augustin Hadelich, Hilary Hahn, and Steven Isserlis. A native of South Korea, Kyunga began her piano studies at the age of six. As a DMA candidate at Boston University under the mentorship of Sheila Kibbe, she is a recipient of a full-tuition College of Fine Arts Scholarship. Kyunga holds a Graduate Diploma and MM degree in Collaborative Piano from New England Conservatory, where she was honored with the Dean’s Scholarship, and a BM in Piano Performance from The Juilliard School.
##### **Erin Matthews** (CFA’27) • DMA Voice Performance, Studio of 
Praised by the *Boston Globe* for her “pristine timbre and expressive face,” Erin Matthews is a highly sought-after soprano and teacher in the Boston area. She has been seen locally with Enigma Chamber Opera, Guerilla Opera, and Promenade Opera Project, in roles including Flora (*Turn of the Screw*), Marzelline (*Fidelio*), Noémie (*Cendrillon*) and Despina (*Così fan tutte*). She performs regularly with Labyrinth Choir and Cappella Clausura, and she has been a featured soloist with Nightingale Vocal Ensemble, Quincy Choral Society, Trinity Church Copley Square, and Church of the Advent. A specialist of *chanson,* she has been a recitalist for French art song at the Boston MFA, Brookline Music School, and Boston College. Ms. Matthews received her BM in Voice Performance and BA in French from the University of North Texas, and her MM in Opera and Alexander Technique Certification from Boston Conservatory.
##### **Ethan McGrath** (CFA’27) • DMA Collaborative Piano, Studio of 
Ethan McGrath is a composer, pianist, and organist based in Boston. He holds a BM in Composition from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, an MM in Choral Studies from the University of Cambridge, and is presently working on his DMA in Collaborative Piano at Boston University. As a pianist, Ethan has served on the staff of the summer festival AIMS in Graz, Austria, and he maintains an active schedule of performances. For his compositions, Ethan has received awards from the Instytut Musica Sacra (Poland), Alfred Music, and the Southeastern Composers League, as well as commissions from the American Choral Directors Association, the New Consort, and the Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge. A selection of his works is in print with such publishers as Oxford University Press, Schott Music, and Beckenhorst Press.
##### **Libang Wang** (CFA’26) • DMA Voice, Studio of 
From Xiamen, China, baritone Libang Wang is pursuing a DMA at Boston University under the tutelage of James Demler. In 2023, he earned an MM in Vocal Performance from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Michael Meraw. He previously obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Xiamen University. Libang has performed as Papageno in Mozart’s *Die Zauberflöte* for NEC’s Opera. Featured in other Mozart operas, he has also sung Guglielmo in *Così fan tutte*, Count Almaviva in *Le nozze di Figaro*, and Don Giovanni in *Don Giovanni*. In 2023, he appeared as the baritone soloist in Gabriela Lena Frank’s Conquest Requiem with the NEC Philharmonia and Chorus at Boston Symphony Hall for its East Coast premiere. He also appeared as the baritone soloist in Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona Nobis Pacem with the BU Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Chorus in 2024.
##### **Alexandru Prigalo** (CFA’21,’26) • DMA Piano, Studio of 
Known for his expressive interpretations and international acclaim, Alexandru was born in Chișinău, Moldova, where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts under Inna Hatipova. He made his orchestral debut as a teenager with the Philharmonic National Symphonic Orchestra of Chișinău. His performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with this orchestra continues to be frequently broadcast on Moldovan television. A decorated performer, he has won numerous competitions, including the Richmond Piano Competition (2024), the Golden Hands Award at the Carles & Sofia International Piano Competition (2021, 2023), and Second Prize at the Transylvanian International Piano Competition (2018). He holds an MM from Boston University, studying with Pavel Nersessian, and a Postgraduate Concert Piano Soloist degree from the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp under Sergio Tiempo and Polina Leschenko. Currently pursuing a DMA at Boston University, he is a champion of contemporary and Moldovan composers, bringing their works to audiences on the international stage through both performance and collaboration.
*Headshots by Michael Rotiroti and Tom Tranfaglia*
##### BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 34,000 students, it is the fourth-largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges, along with a number of multi-disciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada. Learn more at .
##### BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS
Established in 1954, Boston University  (CFA) is a community of artist-scholars and scholar-artists who are passionate about the fine and performing arts, committed to diversity and inclusion, and determined to improve the lives of others through art. With programs in Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts, CFA prepares students for a meaningful creative life by developing their intellectual capacity to create art, shift perspective, and think broadly. CFA offers a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs, as well as a range of online degrees and certificates. Learn more at .
##### BU COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Founded in 1872, the School of Music combines the intimacy and intensity of traditional conservatory-style training with a broad liberal arts education at the undergraduate level, and elective coursework at the graduate level. The school offers degrees in performance, conducting, composition and theory, musicology, music education, and historical performance, as well as Artist and Performance diplomas and a certificate program in its Opera Institute.
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