As the Chopin Academy of Music concludes its 20th Anniversary Season, we invite our community to a special weekend of concerts and masterclasses—a celebration of artistry, education, and the next generation of exceptional pianists.

This milestone season has brought internationally acclaimed performers, distinguished faculty, and rising artists to the Seattle area. Now, we close the series with a dynamic weekend that captures the heart of what the Academy represents: high-level performance and meaningful musical mentorship.

A Weekend of Piano Masterclasses

In addition to Sunday’s featured concert, the weekend includes three piano masterclasses, offering students and audiences a rare opportunity to experience the artistic process up close.

Masterclasses are a cornerstone of the Chopin Academy’s philosophy—bridging performance and pedagogy, and giving young musicians invaluable insight into interpretation, technique, and musical expression.

These sessions provide:

• Direct interaction between performers and students
• Real-time musical problem-solving and refinement
• A deeper understanding of how great artistry is shaped

Whether participating or observing, masterclasses are among the most inspiring and educational musical experienceswe offer.

Final Concert: Award-Winning Artists

The weekend culminates in a special concert featuring Sean Terada Yang and Cezary Karwowski, two outstanding pianists who represent the next generation of international artists.

Both were top prize winners in the 2024 Seattle International Piano Competition (Collegiate Division):

• Sean Terada Yang — Gold Medal
• Cezary Karwowski — Silver Medal

Their performances promise an afternoon of virtuosity, depth, and compelling musical storytelling, bringing this anniversary season to a powerful close.

Celebrating 20 Years of Musical Excellence

For two decades, the Chopin Academy of Music has been dedicated to cultivating technical mastery, artistic depth, and a lifelong connection to music. Our students have gone on to achieve recognition in competitions, perform on major stages, and develop into thoughtful, expressive musicians.

This anniversary season has been both a reflection on that legacy and a forward-looking celebration of what is still to come.

Event Details

📅 Date: Sunday
🕑 Time: 2:00 PM Concert
📍 Location: Sacred Heart Chapel
Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Bellevue, WA)

🎟 Admission: $20 at the door
🎓 CAM Students: Free (with up to two accompanying adults)

Join Us for a Weekend of Music

From the interactive energy of the masterclasses to the polished artistry of the final concert, this weekend offers a complete musical experience for students, families, and audiences alike.

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you.

The post Finale Weekend of Concerts & Masterclasses appeared first on Chopin Academy of Music.

If you thought our 20th Anniversary season started strong with Dominic Doutney’s electrifying performance, get ready—the celebration continues with another world-class artist. On Sunday, October 19, 2025 at 2 PM, the Chopin Academy of Music proudly welcomes Sara Davis Buechner, one of North America’s most compelling concert pianists, in a live recital at Sacred Heart Chapel, Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (4800 139th Ave SE, Bellevue).
Free parking is available, and admission is $20 at the door—CAM students attend free with up to two accompanying family members.

A Rare Artist, A Remarkable Career

With performances hailed as “fascinating and astounding virtuosity” (Philippine Star) and “intelligence, integrity and all-encompassing technical prowess” (New York Times), Sara Davis Buechner stands among the foremost pianists of our time. Her artistry has captivated audiences at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, and the Hollywood Bowl, and she has appeared as soloist with the world’s leading orchestras—from New York and Philadelphia to Tokyo and Shanghai.

A prodigious competition winner, Ms. Buechner earned top honors at the Queen Elisabeth, Leeds, Salzburg, Sydney, and Vienna international piano competitions, as well as the Gold Medal at the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition. This year, she performed duos by personal invitation from Martha Argerich at the Argerich Festival in Hamburg—an honor reserved for the rarest few.

Sara Davis Buechner’s Program: Impressions from America and France

For this special Sara Davis Buechner piano concert, audiences will enjoy an evocative program titled, “Impressions from America and France,” featuring masterworks of elegance, wit, and color:

• John Alden Carpenter – Diversions (1923): A witty, jazz-tinged suite evoking early American modernism.
• Dana Suesse – The Cocktail Suite (1942): Sparkling vignettes—“Old-Fashioned,” “Champagne,” “Bacardi,” and “Manhattan”—that channel the glamour of 1940s Manhattan.
• Claude Debussy – La Plus Que Lente: A lush waltz that breathes the smoky perfume of Parisian salons.
• Francis Poulenc – Les Soirées de Nazelles: Nine sparkling character sketches that dance between nostalgia and wit—a perfect showcase for Buechner’s lyrical and mercurial touch.

Experience It Live

This concert is not to be missed. To witness Sara Davis Buechner in person is to experience both a virtuoso and a storyteller—one whose performances have been praised for their “thoughtful artistry in the full service of music” (Washington Post).

Online ticket purchases for non-CAM guests (or for additional invited friends and family beyond the two free family members) can be made securely here:
👉 Purchase Tickets Online
Simply show a screenshot of your receipt at will call to receive your ticket.

The Celebration Continues

The 20th Anniversary Season is just beginning. Upcoming highlights include:

• Oct 20 – Sara Davis Buechner Masterclass (2:30–6 PM, CAM)
• Nov 8–9 – Alexandre Dossin Masterclasses
• Nov 23 – Dr. Zeru Wang in Recital
• Jan 25, 2026 – CAM Faculty in Concert
• Mar 1, 2026 – Alumni Recital
• Mar 29, 2026 – Drs. Ivona Kaminska & Christopher Bowlby in Concert
• Apr 25–26, 2026 – Sean Terada Yang & Cezary Karwowski Masterclass and Recital

For CAM students enrolled in Exam Track, attendance at two professional concerts during the anniversary season counts toward the Honors Recital requirement—but we encourage everyone to attend as many as possible. The lessons you’ll gain from hearing artists like Sara Davis Buechner are immeasurable. Live performances can ignite a student’s imagination in ways that lessons and recordings never can.

The post A Legend at the Keyboard: Sara Davis Buechner in Concert appeared first on Chopin Academy of Music.