Shining a Spotlight on Shepherd Talent
These special concerts showcase Shepherd School Concerto Competition-winning instrumentalists, graduate orchestral conducting students, and new compositions by recent composition alumni, all performed by the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra.
The orchestration of Xingyi Chen’s Shattered Sky/Remaining Land mimics cycles of breath, with inspiration taken from James Turrell’s Twilight Epiphany Skyspace. Dvořák’s final solo concerto, one of the most lyrical and heartachingly beautiful works in the cello repertoire, features Shepherd School Concerto Competition winner Sebastian Berofsky.
Tickets required, reserved seating
*Shepherd School Concerto Competition winner
Repertoire
Xingyi Chen ('25): Shattered Sky/Remaining Land (World Premiere)
Dvořák: Cello Concerto (Sebastian Berofsky, soloist)
Artists

Cellist Sebastian Berofsky recently received his Bachelor of Music from the Shepherd School of Music studying under Professor Desmond Hoebig. He was a winner of the Shepherd School's Concerto Competition in the Spring of 2025.

Ana Spasovska and Kyle Haake are currently pursuing master’s degrees in Orchestral Conducting under Professor Miguel Harth-Bedoya. In addition to their roles as assistant conductors of Shepherd School Orchestra ensembles, they are also Associate Conductors of Rice University's Campanile Orchestra.

Xingyi Chen recently received her master’s degree in Composition from the Shepherd School of Music studying under Professor Richard Lavenda.