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Free@3 Presents: Pianist Lori Sims and her Rising Stars
Acclaimed Pianist Lori Sims Returns to First Reformed Church with Three Rising Stars
The First Reformed Church Concert Series presents internationally celebrated pianist Lori Sims alongside three exceptional young talents in a showcase of virtuosity spanning baroque masterworks to 20th-century innovations on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 3:00 PM.
Gold medalist of the 1998 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition, Sims brings her artistry to Bach's magnificent Partita No. 6 in E Minor, BWV 830. Having performed throughout North America, Europe, and China with prestigious ensembles including the Israel Philharmonic and National Symphony of Ecuador, Sims has earned critical acclaim from the New York Times for her Alice Tully Hall debut and is the John T. Bernhard Professor of Music at Western Michigan University.
The concert features three of Sims's most promising students, whom we have called her "Rising Stars." Thirteen-year-old Yuntian "Raphael" Wu, fresh from his first prize win at the 2025 Gene Marcus Piano Competition, tackles Liszt's dazzling Venezia e Napoli. Despite his youth, Wu has already captivated audiences with his musical storytelling and technical prowess.
Isaac Sandelin, a junior at Vicksburg High School and 2024 Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Youth Soloist competition winner, performs Scriabin's emotionally charged Sonata No. 2 in G-sharp Minor. When not immersed in classical repertoire, Sandelin explores jazz piano and plays tenor drums in marching band.
West Ottawa High School senior Nathan McCoy rounds out the program with Dutilleux's Choral et Variations from Sonata for Piano. A 2025 Schoolcraft Honors Festival Piano Competition winner and alumnus of Juilliard's Summer Performing Arts Festival, McCoy balances his classical piano studies with percussion performance.
This multi-generational concert demonstrates the power of mentorship in classical music, as an internationally renowned artist shares the stage with the next generation of pianists. The program's arc—from Bach's baroque elegance through Liszt's romantic virtuosity and Scriabin's mysticism to Dutilleux's modern harmonic language—promises an afternoon of diverse and captivating pianism.
The Free@3 Concert Series, now in its twenty-sixth season, continues its tradition of bringing world-class performances to the Holland community at no cost to audiences. We hope you will join us for an afternoon of passionate piano!
Event Links
Website: https://go.evvnt.com/3324947-0
