Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Weill Recital Hall
Features two world premieres by Stella Sung and Rodney Lister, a U.S. premiere by Nansong Huang and Works by Chen Yi, Mary Lou Williams, Prokofiev/Pletnev.

New York, NY — Forte International Group presents pianist Chengcheng Ma in an evening celebrating cross-cultural dialogue through piano music on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 at 7:30 PM at his Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall. This appearance follows his full-house New York City solo recital debut at Merkin Hall, Kaufman Music Center, in January 2026. The program features new works and established masterworks for solo piano and two pianos. Ma is joined by distinguished guest pianists Boaz Sharon, Rodney Lister, EunAe Lee, and Yimiao Fang. The program includes two world premieres by Stella Sung and Rodney Lister, the U.S. premiere of Nansong Huang’s Reflections on Dunhuang, and works by Chen Yi, Mary Lou Williams, Prokofiev/Pletnev.

The performance takes place at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, 57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, NY. Tickets start at $30, with student and senior discount tickets available at the box office. Visit www.carnegiehall.org for tickets.
Watch a performance by Chengcheng Ma here.

PROGRAM

Nansong Huang; Reflections on Dunhuang, Piano Suite for solo piano (U.S. premiere); Chengcheng Ma, piano
Mary Lou Williams; Offertory Meditation; Chengcheng Ma, piano
Rodney Lister; My Time with the Cholmondeleys for two pianos (commissioned work; world premiere); Rodney Lister and Chengcheng Ma, pianos
Stella Sung; The Persistence of Time for two pianos (commissioned work; world premiere); EunAe Lee and Chengcheng Ma, pianos
Chen Yi; China West Suite for two pianos; Yimiao Fang and Chengcheng Ma, pianos
Sergei Prokofiev, arranged by Mikhail Pletnev; Cinderella Suite for two pianos; Boaz Sharon and Chengcheng Ma, pianos

“In creating this program, I wanted to bring Chinese, American, and European musical voices into dialogue, allowing each tradition to retain its identity while illuminating the others. These works also reflect my own path – from China to the United States, from classical repertoire to contemporary commissions and jazz – and the artistic relationships that have shaped this concert.”    – Chengcheng Ma

BIOS

Pianist Chengcheng Ma has appeared as a concert pianist, concerto soloist, orchestral pianist, collaborative artist, and interpreter of contemporary music, with performances across the United States, Europe, and Asia. He has performed with orchestras including Sinfonia da Camera under Maestro Ian Hobson, Brookline Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Andrew Altenbach, Boston University Symphony Orchestra under Maestro James Burton, and Hebei Province Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Peng Tuo. His concerto repertoire includes major works by Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Brahms, and John Corigliano.

Boaz Sharon, Professor of Piano at Boston University, is an internationally known pianist, recording artist and international competition juror.

Rodney Lister is currently on the faculty of Boston University and the Preparatory School of the New England Conservatory, where he teaches composition, theory, and chamber music and is co-director of the annual contemporary music festival. His 2025 Métier choral album Of Mere Being, features Chengcheng Ma as pianist on 21 works. He will join Ma in the world premiere of his commissioned two-piano work at this concert.

Dr. EunAe Lee is an award-winning Korean pianist. Throughout her career, she has delivered deeply engaging solo recitals and appeared with leading orchestras.

Yimiao Fang is an active classical pianist, piano educator and harpsichordist who has given performances and lectures around the world. Ms. Fang is a current doctoral candidate in piano performance at The Hartt School, and graduated from Manhattan School of Music in New York City for both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in piano performance.

Stella Sung served as the first Composer-in-Residence for the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (2008-2011), and was one of the five composers nationally selected for a “Music Alive” award, a three-year award that allowed Dr. Sung to serve as Composer-In-Residence for the Dayton Performing Arts Alliance (2013-16), Dr. Sung is currently Composer-in-Residence for Dance Alive National Ballet (Gainesville, FL).

Chen Yi is a prolific composer who blends Chinese and Western traditions, transcending cultural and musical boundaries.

Nansong Huang graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Northwestern University, and he is currently a full-time member of the piano faculty at Xi’an Conservatory of Music.

Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981) was one of the most influential American jazz pianists, composers, and arrangers of the twentieth century.

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.