PROGRAM

Wilson Liu, piano
Étude, Op. 25, No. 6 in G-sharp minor by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Nashville Barrel Waltz by Alexander Rosenblatt by Alexander Rosenblatt (b. 1956)

Christian Luevano, double bass
The Great Green Sea Snake by Edgar Meyer (b. 1960)

Alette Williams, violin and host Peter Dugan, piano
Summerland for violin and piano by William Grant Still (1895-1978)

Bokyung Bo, guitar
Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega (1852-1909)
Tango en Skai by Roland Dyens (1955-2016)

BIOGRAPHIES (in order of appearance)

Wilson Liu, Piano

Wilson Liu, 12, is a young pianist whose deeply personal musical voice, shaped by imagination and sensitivity, reaches beyond the notes to create performances of lasting emotional resonance. 

He was admitted to The Juilliard School Pre-College Division at 7, where he received the Bachauer Prize with a full scholarship and won the Concerto Competition. He currently studies with Hung-Kuan Chen and Tema Blackstone. 

This summer, Wilson distinguished himself at two internationally recognized and highly competitive piano competitions: the 2026 Cleveland International Piano Competition and the 2026 Gina Bachauer International Junior & Young Artists Piano Competition. At Cleveland, he was the only pianist representing the United States and won First Prize, along with the Classical and Romantic Special Prizes. One month earlier, he was one of five Prize Winners in the Junior Division at Gina Bachauer, and the sole representative of the Western Hemisphere among them. 

These achievements build on a sustained record of success. Wilson won First Prize at the 2024 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition and the 2025 Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition, where he also received three major honors, including the Junior Alexei Sultanov Prize, a special honor created especially for him, as well as the Best Mazurka Prize and Commissioned Work Prize. At age 10, competing as the youngest contestant, he won both the International Young Artist Concerto Competition in Chicago and the Young Artist Concerto Competition in Vancouver, and now serves as a Founding Ambassador for IYACC. 

Beyond competitions, Wilson has sought opportunities to learn from and collaborate with distinguished artists. Through the Artemisia Foundation, he worked with Jerome Lowenthal, Veda Kaplinsky, and Misha Voskressensky, and collaborated with Metropolitan Opera soprano Leah Hawkins. 

His connection with audiences extends beyond the concert hall. At age nine, Wilson was featured on PBS’s Great Performances: Now Hear This and performed at The Juilliard School’s annual scholarship benefit. As a 2025–26 From the Top Fellow, he has been featured in NPR broadcasts and podcasts and invited back for an additional feature on Here & Now. In October 2026, he will perform at From the Top’s inaugural KERA launch event in Dallas and participate in From the Top’s collaboration with NPR Music’s Tiny Desk, with filming taking place at NPR headquarters in Washington, D.C. 

Wilson has also been invited to perform as guest soloist with Camerata Filarmónica de Puerto Rico at the Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals as part of the orchestra’s inaugural classical concert series in 2026. 

For Wilson, music is not simply about achievement, but about communication: sharing something meaningful with an audience and creating a connection that extends beyond the stage. 

Christian Luevano, Double Bass

A native of Ann Arbor, Michigan, double bassist Christian Luevano began his studies at age five with Derek Weller. At age seven, he moved to Denton, Texas, where he studied with Gudrun Raschen and Jeff Bradetich and spent nine seasons as a member of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra program. Christian holds his Bachelor’s in Double Bass Performance from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was a student of Hal Robinson and Edgar Meyer.

Christian was named Associate Principal Bass in the Dallas Symphony in 2025 while completing his studies at Curtis and has been a bassist in the Grant Park Music Festival since 2024. He previously participated in numerous summer festivals, including the Perlman Music Program, the National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America, the inaugural NYO “All Stars” Orchestra, and he served as an Orchestral Leadership Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival.

Outside of his orchestral career, Christian has been a prizewinner and finalist in major competitions for double bassists, including the Sphinx,Stulberg, and Klein Competitions. In 2022, he was featured as a fellow on NPR’s From the Top and gave the world premiere of a concerto written for him by renowned bassist-composer Andrés Martín. Christian has also appeared as a soloist with Basically Beethoven (formerly Fine Arts Chamber Players) in Dallas.

In addition to his classical work, Christian and enjoys collaborating and creating in diverse musical settings including jazz and folk music. Outside of performing, he enjoys cooking, hiking, reading, and exercising.

Alette Williams, Violin

Grounded in the belief that music is a gift to audiences, 16-year-old violinist Alette Williams has captivated listeners with artistry described as “poised” and “commanding” (Sphinx Organization).

In the 2025-2026 season, Alette won First Prize in the Sphinx Competition and Lynn Harrell Competition, the latter earning her a performance engagement with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. In the 2026-2027 season, Alette will be honored with the National Arts Club’s Herman and Mary Neuman Music Award, which recognizes emerging artists in classical music.

Alette has appeared regularly as a soloist, including recent performances with the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, and the American String Teachers Association Texas Chapter Orchestra. She has also been featured on NPR’s “From the Top” and currently serves as a Youth Ambassador for Chamber Music International.

Alette is honored to study under Julia Bushkova at the University of North Texas and performs on a violin generously loaned to her by Crispin-Hammer Violins.

Peter Dugan (piano/host of From the Top)

Peter Dugan leads a multifaceted and dynamic career as pianist, composer, collaborator, and radio host. Equally at home in classical, jazz, and pop idioms, Peter has appeared as soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician across North America and around the world, touring extensively with violinists Joshua Bell and Charles Yang, and vocalist John Brancy. His performance of Ives’ Fourth Symphony with the San Francisco Symphony and Michael Tilson Thomas was described in the press as “stunning” and “fearlessly athletic.” He is heard on radios nationwide weekly as host of From the Top on NPR and as composer, he’s performed his works anywhere from Carnegie Hall to Café Carlyle, with his arrangements released by Disney+.

Recent and upcoming highlights include Yang & Dugan Duo appearances at Kristupo and Rheingau music festivals, with the Malaysia Philharmonic and on tour in China; a European tour with Joshua Bell including performances at Wigmore Hall and Amsterdam Concertgebouw; collaborations with clarinetist Mark Dover, violinist Tessa Lark, and baritone John Brancy, among others, at the Moab Music Festival, Carmel Music Society, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Cliburn Festival America 250, Café Carlyle and Kaufman Music Center, as well as his first concerto – the jazz-inflected, improvisation-laced “Brothers Concerto” which was co-written with Leonardo Dugan and commissioned and premiered by the Kalamazoo Symphony and Boston Conservatory at Berklee in Spring 2026.

Bokyung Bo, Classical Guitar

“Here is a simple fact: with artistry such as Ms. Byun’s, the state-of-the-art of guitar performance has reached a new level.” — Soundboard Magazine

A recipient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant, Bokyung Byun has firmly established herself as one of the most compelling classical guitarists of her generation. Beyond her technical brilliance, she is celebrated for cultivating an intimate connection with her audiences, delivering performances that feel deeply personal and refreshingly approachable.

This unique blend of warmth and virtuosity has earned her international acclaim. Byun made history as the first female winner of the prestigious JoAnn Falletta International Guitar Concerto Competition, where Maestra Falletta praised her playing as “stunning, showcasing her gorgeous tone, immaculate technique, and sophisticated musicianship.” Her artistry has been further recognized with grand prizes at both the Guitar Foundation of America (GFA) International Concert Artist Competition and the Montreal International Classical Guitar Competition.

A sought-after concerto soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician, Byun has appeared on some of the world’s most distinguished stages, including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Seoul Arts Center. Her artistry is equally evident in her recordings: her Naxos Laureate Series album was named a Critics’ Choice in 2022 by American Record Guide, which noted her playing as “reminiscent of Andrés Segovia.”

Deeply committed to the future of her instrument, Byun curates performances that celebrate the rich heritage of the classical guitar while championing new voices. “It’s vital and exciting to audiences for concerts to join the new with the old,” she says. “For guitar music to continue to grow, I believe that new works must actively be cultivated… it is my hope that audiences leave my performances with new experiences.”

This dedication has led to dynamic collaborations with contemporary composers, highlighted by her recent sold-out premiere performances of Nicky Sohn’s Guitar Concerto No. 1 with the Albany Symphony.

Born in Seoul, Korea, Byun began playing the guitar at age six after a chance encounter with a televised guitar performance that left a lasting impression. A teenage phenom, she quickly garnered top prizes in international youth competitions before moving to the United States to attend The Juilliard School at the age of sixteen. She holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California. Teachers and mentors include Tae-Soo Kim, Chen Zhi, William Kanengiser, Sharon Isbin, and Scott Tennant.

Now based in Texas, she is on faculty at the University of North Texas shaping the next generation of guitarists. She also serves as Artistic Director of the Guitar Foundation of America International Youth Competition\ and is co-founder and Artistic Director of Guitarlab Intensives. Byun is an Augustine Strings artist. Please visit www.bokyungbyun.com for more information.