At the Cliburn — a competition filled with brilliance — Magdalene Ho’s performance stood out.

Not because it won, but because it moved people.
Sometimes, the lasting impression is the real prize.

Magdalene Ho’s path has never followed convention. Born in California, raised in Malaysia, and now studying at the Royal College of Music in London on a full scholarship, she continues to refine her artistry under the guidance of Dmitri Alexeev — one of the great pianists and pedagogues of our time. A laureate of the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition and the International German Piano Award, she is already being called one of the most distinctive voices of her generation — not for pyrotechnics, but for poetry.

Her appearance at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition became one of the most talked-about moments of the season.

Audiences were captivated. Critics took notice. And across forums, YouTube channels, and concert halls, one sentiment kept echoing:
“She was unforgettable.”

One of those listening was Gary Levinson, Senior Principal Associate Concertmaster of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and a respected voice in the international music community. After hearing Magdalene perform, he reached out to Concerts in America without hesitation.

“She was the focus of every conversation,” he said.
“She is truly a generational talent. The world needs to hear her.”

Deeply moved by her artistry, Gary joined forces to co-produce this tour — as a celebration of authentic musical voice.

A pianist whose playing speaks with quiet power, emotional clarity, and artistic conviction.

This is your opportunity to witness an artist on the cusp of international acclaim — and to say you heard her not before the world did, but just as it truly started to listen.

Program

J.S. Bach
Capriccio on the Departure of a Beloved Brother
Composed in 1700, this vivid musical narrative charts the bittersweet emotions of farewell and the promise of reunion.
Thomas Adès
Three Mazurkas, Op. 27
A bold reinvention of the Polish dance form, Adès’s mazurkas pulse with folk-inflected rhythms and his signature harmonic daring.
Robert Schumann
Davidsbündlertänze, Op. 6
A suite of 18 character pieces that alternate between the fiery Florestan and the lyrical Eusebius, revealing the dual soul of early Romanticism.