Performance Opportunities for McDonald Studios students -

We want to celebrate the performance opportunities of our students outside of competitions! Here are a few highlights -
Jenna Tran performed Mendelssohn’s concerto in g minor, mvt. 3 with the Plano Symphony in the concerts for kids 10 times in Spring 2026. She was dynamic, engaging, and inspirational. Way to go!

Lucas Pei will perform in the Basically Beethoven Festival as a Rising Star Recitalist - he will perform works of Mozart, Liszt, Stravinsky, and Fazil Say. It is held at Moody Performance Hall in Downtown Dallas. It is free and open to the public, and will be held July 26.

Evelyn Cheng will perform outreach concerts with the Richardson Symphony in Fall 2026. She will perform Haydn’s concerto in D major, mvt. 3.

While not strictly speaking a “concert”, Kiana Sharp performed a full rehearsal with Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under Fabio Luisi. She performed the complete Schumann concerto. What an incredible opportunity!

Last but NOT least, no fewer than 12 young performers (well… one of them is in her 50s! She is young at heart) performed movements of concertos with the Mozart Academy of North Texas Chamber Orchestra. Dylan performed MacDowell; Christine performed Rachmaninoff 2 mvt 3; Kiana performed Brahms 1, mvt 3; Roi performed Beethoven 1 mvt 1; Ethan performed Mozart d minor mvt 1; Henley performed Mozart F major K 459 mvt 1; Nathan performed Mozart G major K 453; and many others! Alex McDonald conducted.