Composed of undergraduate music and non-music major students, the VCU Symphony, directed by Daniel Myssyk, is eager to present to you its third program of the season.
French composer Louise Farrenc’s Overture No 2 opens the concert before Chopin takes up the stage under the fingers of this year’s Concerto Competition winner and pianist Viet Dao. Come and listen! Who would resist the opportunity to connect with their romantic fiber?
Our other winner, cellist Arowyn Almeida, has an ability to make her instrument tell a story so, if you are ready to dip a toe into Elgar’s concerto, we have you covered. The program culminates with Autumn, from the Seasons, by Russian composer Glazunov, a piece brilliantly written that brings the best sound out of any orchestra, not to forget its heart-warming Adagio.
Drop by and see what kind of musical journey the VCU Symphony can take you on! Tickets to the performance are $5.00 for VCU students $14.00 for the general public.
Performance March 25, 2026 at 7:00PM in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall of the Singleton Center (922 Park Ave Richmond, VA 23284).
About The Winners
Viet Dao is a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth University pursuing dual majors in biology and music. Dao has earned several distinctions for his piano playing. Some notable achievements include winning the Virginia Music Teachers Association Concerto Competition, accepting the National Chamber Ensemble Young Artist Award, and receiving an honorable mention at the Paderewski International Competition of the Connecticut Chopin foundation.
With a natural curiosity toward music, Dao initially learned piano from his mother and began formal lessons when he was 10. Since then, he studied under several acclaimed classical pianists: Dr. Yin Zheng, Dr. Maria Yefimova, and currently Professor Alexander Shtarkman and Dr. Magdalena Adamek. In addition, he further refined his skills by participating in summer festivals at the Oberlin and Peabody Conservatories. Dao wishes to pursue medicine in the future while still continuing to develop as a pianist
Arowyn Almeida is a cellist from Richmond, Virginia, currently in her final semester of a Bachelor of Music in Performance at VCU. She has received recognition in the Virginia Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) competition, earning both a second-place award and an honorable mention.
Her passion for the cello and symphonic music began in high school as a member of the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra. She further developed her musicianship through summer studies at the Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival and by attending the Brevard Summer Orchestral Program for two summers, gaining extensive experience in both chamber and orchestral performance. Arowyn plans to continue her musical training by pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees in music, with the goal of refining her artistry and building a career as a professional cellist.
