Zhu Wang, Emma Carina Meinrenken (Violin '22), and Sarah Fleiss are "On Stage at Curtis" This Month

Curtis musicians kick off the 17th season of WHYY's acclaimed series

Season 17 of WHYY’s On Stage at Curtis series began this month with three new episodes featuring pianist Zhu Wang, violinist Emma Carina Meinrenken, and soprano Sarah Fleiss. Episodes are available to watch online and air on WHYY-TV on Friday nights at 8:30 p.m.

October 14, 2022: Zhu Wang

Zhu Wang, a pianist and enthusiastic ambassador of classical music from Hunan Province, China, entered Curtis in 2020 and studies with Robert McDonald. In this season-opening episode, he shares memories of his grandfather, a high school music teacher who set his career aspiration in motion as a child and served as a constant source of inspiration.

Mr. Wang performs Florence Price’s Adoration (originally composed for organ), Helen Hagan’s Movement 1 from Concerto in C Minor, and Franz Liszt’s Réminiscences de Norma de Bellini.

Visit Zhu Wang‘s official website HERE, and watch his On Stage at Curtis episode HERE.

 

October 21, 2022: Emma Carina Meinrenken

Curtis alumna Emma Carina Meinrenken (Violin ’22) from Toronto, Ontario, began her musical studies at age four and has won numerous awards and prizes throughout her burgeoning career. Since making her solo debut with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra at age ten, Ms. Meinrenken has performed as a soloist with orchestras across North America, and in this episode of On Stage at Curtis, she discusses her journey playing a 1689 Baumgartner Stradivarius violin, and encountering renowned classical music star Hilary Hahn (Violin ’99) in concert at age 12. It was this inspiring performance that led her to Curtis in 2017.

Ms. Meinrenken performs Heinrich Wilhelm Ernst’s Grand Caprice, Op. 26, Arvo Pärt’s Fratres, and Béla Bartók’s Contrasts (Fast Dance) for violin, clarinet, and piano.

Watch the On Stage at Curtis episode with Emma Carina Meinrenken HERE.

 

October 28, 2022: Sarah Fleiss

Soprano Sarah Fleiss entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2019 and studies voice with Julia Faulkner. The North Bergen, New Jersey native can currently be seen on stages across the U.S. with internationally acclaimed bass-baritone Eric Owens and singers from the Curtis Opera Theatre through Curtis on Tour. In this episode of On Stage at Curtis the talented young singer, who is equally at home performing musical theater and opera, shares how she came to the school, and gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at her role as Monica in Curtis’s upcoming cinematic adaptation of Gian Carlo Menotti’s (Composition ’33) opera The Medium.

Ms. Fleiss performs selections by Giovanni Bottesini and Gabriel Fauré, each waxing on themes of love and loss, along with Anton Arensky’s Quartet, Op. 57, No. 1, and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Siren.”

Visit Sarah Fleiss‘s official website HERE and watch the On Stage at Curtis episode HERE.

Want More Curtis News?

Sign up today to receive Curtis Institute of Music's newsletter. We'll provide updates on performances, upcoming events, and so much more! Don't miss a moment of all that's happening at Curtis.

Celebrating AAPI Heritage & History: Nikki Chooi (Violin ’12)

The award-winning violinist and Curtis alumnus currently serves as concertmaster of the GRAMMY-winning Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.

Miguel Harth-Bedoya (Conducting ’91) Named Director of Orchestras and Professor of Conducting at Rice University

The Emmy award-winning and GRAMMY-nominated conductor joins the faculty of the Shepherd School of Music during the 2024–25 academic year.

Commencement: Curtis Celebrates the Class of 2024

On Saturday, May 11, Curtis awarded degrees, diplomas, certificates, and special prizes to the 36 graduates of the class of 2024.