Jonathan Mak, a third-year Doctor of Musical Arts student at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, recently earned the top prize at the inaugural Sorel-Tracy International Piano Competition in Quebec, winning a $20,000 scholarship. For the final round, Mak performed Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Trois-Rivières Orchestra — a piece he will reprise with the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra at a Dec. 6 program titled “Brahms, Strauss & Blacher,” which will also feature Richard Strauss’ “Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks” and Boris Blacher’s “Variations on a Theme of Paganini.”
“Being able to perform Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2 for the very first time knowing I’d get to play it later with Shepherd symphony made it a really meaningful experience,” Mak said.
For Mak, the Brahms concerto is a substantial undertaking with its demanding first two movements and a distinct “conversational” feel that requires careful collaboration with the orchestra.
“It feels like a giant piece of chamber music for piano and orchestra with constant back-and-forth and dialogue,” Mak said. “It’s a wonderful piece to play with the Shepherd orchestra because the orchestra program here is so renowned and everyone really brings their A game.”
Mak’s passion for music has been shaped by years of dedicated practice, beginning with his orchestra debut at age 4. Mak is known not only for his technical skill but also for his commitment to musical outreach. Reflecting on his choice to pursue his doctoral studies at Rice, Mak credits both the Shepherd School’s rigorous program and his teacher, Jon Kimura Parker.
“As a Canadian myself, I grew up hearing him in recitals,” said Mak. “It’s wonderful to have a teacher who has such a long career and understanding of the craft.”
Adding a unique historical element to the evening, ticket holders are invited to Room 1133 in Alice Pratt Brown Hall at 6:45 p.m. for a special presentation of Viennese music critic and Brahms biographer Max Kalbeck’s musical album. The one-of-a-kind album owned by collector Ronald Franklin features an original Brahms signature from around 1874. Franklin will discuss the album’s significance and display the rare page containing Brahms’ autograph, offering a special glimpse into the legacy of the composer whose work will be featured that evening.
Mak and the Symphony Orchestra will be under the baton of guest conductor William Eddins. Eddins, an accomplished conductor and music director emeritus of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, is a familiar face at the Shepherd School, having guest conducted there last December. This time, however, he is not only leading a concert; Eddins will also be coaching students in the Chamber Players music program.
“For me, it is always fun being with younger artists who are working hard at navigating this art form. I’ve found that conducting orchestras is the art of the simple made difficult,” Eddins said. “At the same time, when you are conducting, it should be your job to make the difficult seem easy.”
On Dec. 5, the Shepherd School Chamber Players will perform a concert created by Richie Hawley, professor of clarinet and director of the Chamber Players, that includes Andy Akiho’s “NO one To kNOW one,” Joan Tower’s “Copperware” and Mozart’s Symphony No. 39, showcasing a mix of contemporary and classical repertoire. This concert is performed without a conductor even though the works are often led from the podium, creating unique leadership opportunities for the members of the ensemble.
Tickets for both events are available through pay-as-you-wish pricing beginning at $0. For more information about the Shepherd School, the concert and ticketing, click here.