Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center
Features works Chopin, Liszt and by living composers
Ketty Nez (NYC Premiere), Zhao Zhang and Rodney Lister

New York, NY — Forte International Group is proud to present a solo recital by pianist Chengcheng Ma (chengchengma.com) on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 7:30 PM at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center. The performance features the New York Premiere of suite française (2024) by composer Ketty Nez, alongside masterworks by Chopin, Liszt, and a revival by Rodney Lister, and concludes with Zhao Zhang’s electrifying Hua Yi Dance for piano four-hands with guest pianist Yimiao Fang.

This wide-ranging program highlights Ma’s dynamic artistry and deep commitment to championing contemporary music, presenting ambitious repertoire that bridges centuries, cultures, and musical aesthetics.

The performance takes place at Merkin Hall, 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY. Tickets are $25, with discounted $10 student tickets available by calling the box office at 212-501-3330. Visit www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org for tickets.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

New York Premiere — Ketty Nez: suite française (2024)
Inspired by the ornate keyboard language of French Baroque master François Couperin, Nez’s suite française is a vibrant, modern reflection on Baroque elegance, interlacing Couperin’s motifs with her own rich harmonic and textural imagination. Following its world premiere in Bismarck, ND, and Boston premiere at First Church Boston, Merkin Hall hosts the work’s highly anticipated New York debut.

Chopin: Twelve Études, Op. 10
Among the most iconic works in piano literature, Chopin’s Op. 10 Études fuse revolutionary technical design with profound poetic expression. Ma performs the complete set, showcasing his broad tonal palette and expressive virtuosity.

Rodney Lister: Many’s the Time I’ve Seen Her Nude at the Piano (1990)
A dazzling, virtuosic “modern toccata,” Lister’s piece—rarely performed due to its staggering difficulty—receives a brilliant revival through Ma’s advocacy. Lister, who wrote the work for pianist Kathleen Supove, praises Ma for bringing the piece vividly back to life.

Liszt: Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata
Liszt’s dramatic “Dante Sonata” transforms visions from Dante’s Divine Comedy into a monumental pianistic journey from inferno to transcendence.

Zhao Zhang: Hua Yi Dance for Piano Four-Hands (2014)
Joined by distinguished pianist and cultural leader Yimiao Fang, Ma closes the recital with Zhao’s exuberant four-hands work inspired by the rhythms and spirit of the Yi ethnic traditions of China.

ABOUT CHENGCHENG MA

Praised by Fanfare Magazine for his “superlative” artistry, “exquisitely blended sonority,” and “beautiful, moving” interpretations, pianist Chengcheng Ma has emerged as a compelling voice in both classical and contemporary music. A student of renowned pianist Boaz Sharon, Ma has performed concertos with major orchestras including Sinfonia da Camera, Brookline Symphony Orchestra, Boston University Symphony Orchestra, and Hebei Symphony Orchestra.

A committed collaborator with living composers, Ma has premiered works by Ketty Nez, Rodney Lister, and others, and recently recorded 21 choral works for the 2025 album OF MERE BEING (comp. Rodney Lister). His musical interests span classical repertoire, contemporary works, and historically-informed jazz research. More at chengchengma.com.

ABOUT GUEST ARTIST YIMIAO FANG

Pianist, educator, and cultural ambassador Yimiao Fang is Founder and Artistic Director of the Shanghai International Forte Yearly Music Festival and leads both Forte International Group (NYC) and Fym Cultural Media (Nanjing). Her performances—praised for “precision” and “crystalline, heartfelt expression”—have appeared at Carnegie Hall, Shanghai Oriental Art Center, and Harvard University, and she has guided students to major international competition successes.

ABOUT THE COMPOSERS

Ketty Nez, composer and pianist, teaches at Boston University School of Music and is known for her genre-blending works, including The Fiddler and the Old Woman of Rumelia and the piano concerto thresholds.
Rodney Lister, composer, pianist, and scholar, has been supported by leading foundations, and his works have been performed at Tanglewood, the Library of Congress, and international festivals.
Zhao Zhang, one of China’s most prominent contemporary composers, integrates ethnic influences with modern craftsmanship; his works are published by Schott and performed worldwide.

ABOUT FORTE INTERNATIONAL GROUP (NEW YORK CITY)

Forte International Group is a global cultural enterprise dedicated to fostering artistic exchange between China and the United States. Through concert production, competitions, and international collaboration, the Group provides transformative opportunities for the next generation of artists and supports a global network of performers, educators, and institutions.

New York, NY — Experience a powerful evening of music as Orchestra for People presents Azarashvili, Mozart and Elgar on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM at NYC’s Merkin Hall. Under the baton of conductor Hahnsol Kim, the program introduces a vibrant dialogue between Georgian and European masterworks, featuring acclaimed soloists Sandro Sidamonidze (cello) and Sam Boutris (clarinet) in a bold and moving lineup that bridges centuries and continents.

A highlight of the evening is the U.S. Premiere of Vaja Azarashvili’s Cello Concerto, performed by Sandro Sidamonidze. This concert introduces American audiences to one of Georgia’s most significant contemporary voices, music noted for lyricism, clarity, and emotional depth. Also featured are Mozart’s iconic Clarinet Concerto with Sam Boutris, the dramatic Symphony No. 40, and Edward Elgar’s virtuosic Introduction and Allegro for Strings.

The performance takes place at Merkin Hall, 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY. Tickets are $25, with discounted $15 student tickets available by calling the box office at 212-501-3330. Visit www.kaufmanmusiccenter.org for tickets.

Complete Program:

According to Hahnsol Kim, Founder of Orchestra for People: “This program beautifully captures what we hope to share with our audience as musicians. From the U.S. premiere of Azarashvili’s Cello Concerto to Mozart’s beloved Clarinet Concerto and symphony number 40, cherished by listeners for generations, it reflects what we value most at Orchestra For People: giving voice to music and musicians who deserve to be heard. With Azarashvili’s concerto performed in the U.S. for the first time, this concert celebrates the artistry of remarkable young musicians whose voices should resonate far beyond the stage.”