Episode 152: Heifetz for the Holidays

It’s the most wonderful time of the year in HeifetzLand…when we get to experience the artistry of our outstanding alums in a joyous celebration of the season! The 2025 edition of the Heifetz Holiday Homecoming features Artistic Director Nicholas Kitchen leading a troupe of great Heifetz alums in music of the season and much much more – including a Heifetz holiday sing-a-along! Benjamin Roe hosts this broadcast of the stirring final Heifetz concert of the year in the Institute’s home arena of Francis Auditorium at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton. Featuring Heifetz alums Clark Snavely, violin; Jiwon Kim, viola; Hun Choi, cello; and Heifetz faculty pianist Yandi Chen. Enjoy the concert, have a happy, healthy, and harmonious holiday season, and we look forward to many shared musical memories ahead! Fritz Kreisler: 3 Old Viennese Dances I. Liebesfreud Clark Snavely, violin; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2025 arr. Nicholas Kitchen: World Holiday Songs I. Dreidel, Dreidel (Hanukkah) II. Twinkle, Twinkle (Kwanzaa) III. O Come, All Ye Faithful (Christmas) Clark Snavely, violin; Nicholas Kitchen, violin; Jiwon Kim, viola; Hun Choi, cello; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2025 Ralph Vaughan Williams, arr. Nicholas Kitchen: Suite for Viola & Small Orchestra II. Carol. Andante con moto III. Christmas Dance. Allegro Jiwon Kim, solo viola; Clark Snavely, violin; Nicholas Kitchen, viola; Hun Choi, cello; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2025 Anon: Greensleeves to a Ground [excerpt] Rachell Ellen Wong, violin; Coleman Itzkoff, cello Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2025 Gabriel Fauré: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A major, Op. 13 I. Allegro Molto Clark Snavely, violin; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2026 Sergei Rachmaninoff: Sonata for Cello and Piano in G Minor, Op. 19 III. Andante Hun Choi, cello; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2025 Niccolò Paganini arr. Fritz Kreisler, arr. William Primrose: Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 7 III. La Campanella Jiwon Kim, viola; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2026 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: December, fr. The Seasons, Op. 37 [excerpt] Stefan Petrov, piano Linehan Concert Hall, UMBC, Baltimore, MD Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.17.2017 Johannes Brahms: Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34 IV. Finale. Poco sostenuto - Allegro non troppo - Tempo I - Presto, non troppo Nicholas Kitchen, violin; Clark Snavely, violin; Jiwon Kim, viola; Hun Choi, cello; Yandi Chen, piano Francis Auditorium, Mary Baldwin University, Staunton, VA Heifetz Institute Recording | 12.20.2025