tchaikovsky & Rachmaninoff

Thursday, November 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM | The Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts & Sciences

Come early at 6:15 PM for “SPOTLIGHT SESSIONS” | A performance in the lobby by The Jonny Verbeten Trio, a classic jazz trio based in Lubbock, featuring the debut of composer and pianist Sam Ioppolo (of Lubbock Youth Orchestras).

Journey through the depths of Winter’s beauty and the heights of romantic passion with this charming program. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 1 “Winter Daydreams,” enchants listeners with its shimmering orchestration, capturing the quiet magic and icy grandeur of a snow-covered landscape. In contrast, Rachmaninoff’s 2nd Piano Concerto brims with emotion, making it one of the most beloved concertos of all time.

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1 “Winter Daydreams”

Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2

Fei-Fei, piano

David Cho, conductor

About Fei Fei

Infusing “intoxicating grace” with “exceptional musicality” and “inconceivable virtuosity,” pianist Fei-Fei conjures a special and undeniable connectivity with her audiences that brings joy, passion, and deep musical understanding (Badische Neueste Nachrichten). Her engaging and endearing personality shines through in every note, word, and expression—whether performing as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician on world stages or as an advocate for community engagement.

“Sporting a naturally gracious charm and stage presence,” Fei-Fei has “shared her musical passions unstintingly” around the globe (Peninsula Review). Recent projects include her role as artist-in-residence with the Baden-Baden Philharmonic touring in Germany, a Carnegie Hall performance and tour of Spain with the New York Youth Symphony, a cross-disciplinary collaboration with Ballet Arkansas, a performance of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at Lincoln Center with the Pegasus Symphony, a 19-city tour of China with the Aletheia Piano Trio (of which she is a founding member), and performances of lesser-represented repertoire, including concertos by Leroy Anderson, Florence Price, Clara Schumann, and Xiaogang Ye.

Additional concerto highlights include performances with the Fort Worth Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic, Aspen Music Festival Orchestra, Illinois Philharmonic, Spokane Symphony, Corpus Christi Symphony, Austin Symphony, Denver Philharmonic, Anchorage Symphony, and the Juilliard Orchestra. Internationally, she has performed with Canada’s Calgary Philharmonic, Germany’s Rostock and Baden-Baden Philharmonic Orchestras, and in China with the Shenzhen Symphony, Hong Kong Philharmonic, and China National Symphony Orchestras.

Fei-Fei was featured prominently as a Cliburn finalist in the documentary film, Virtuosity, about the 2013 Cliburn Competition, which premiered on PBS in August 2015. Deeply committed to sharing her joy for music and connecting with communities, Fei-Fei frequently engages students and community audiences through school and outreach concerts and masterclasses.

Born in Shenzhen, Fei-Fei began piano lessons at the age of 5. She is a graduate of The Juilliard School where she studied with Dr. Yoheved Kaplinsky and is currently pursing Doctoral of Musical Arts degree with pianist Yefim Bronfman at Manhattan School of Music. Fei-Fei is also a member of the piano faculty at John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University and teaching associate to Yefim Bronfman at Manhattan School of Music.

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This performance is also made possible in part through the CH Foundation; Helen Jones Foundation, Inc.; and, a grant from the City of Lubbock, as recommended by Civic Lubbock, Inc.