Strings in the Spotlight: Recapping the 6th QVB Classical Pop-up
- May 2
- 3 min read
On 26 April 2026, we once again transformed the historic Queen Victoria Building into a vibrant hub of musical excellence, thanks to a diverse program that featured various string instruments. It was an exceptional ensemble of young pianists, violinists, cellists and a piano trio.
A special highlight of the afternoon was a brief but impactful address by our Special Guest Speaker, Sun Yi, the Associate Concertmaster Emeritus of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Taking a moment to welcome the crowd, he expressed his honour at standing in such a historic venue to support the next generation of classical musicians. His warm invitation encouraged passing shoppers to pause their day and enjoy the performances.
Here's a glimpse of the concert and the attentive audience – children included – that Sunday afternoon:
The children in the crowd were not only actively listening but also engaged in our signature Music Trivia. It was such a joyous interlude. Several of them impressively identified pieces and their respective composers (with parents sometimes whispering into their ears). In a spontaneous moment, a little girl sang into the microphone when she couldn't identify the composer of a piece.
The Program
The afternoon's performances commenced with the technical command of Allen Lu as he performed Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 in A minor. This iconic theme and variations demands an exhaustive catalogue of extended violin techniques, including left-hand pizzicato and parallel octaves, which immediately drew the attention of the surrounding arcade. The atmosphere then shifted to one of profound introspection with Stephanie Sun’s interpretation of the Prélude from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011. She navigated the French overture style's imposing dotted rhythms and the subsequent complex, single-line fugal section with deep musical maturity.
Jamie Kowitchindachai offered a moment of refreshing lyrical warmth with Percy Grainger’s Irish Tune From County Derry. He carefully voiced the dense, rolling harmonies on the piano to sustain the beloved melody. Following this, the bright, perpetual motion of Bach’s Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006: I. Preludio was delivered by Yuting Jin, with a brilliant, ringing resonance that carried beautifully throughout the venue.
Collaboration took centre stage as cellist Cindy Xiong and pianist Catherine Davis presented the third movement of Beethoven’s Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69. They expertly managed the structural transition from the brief, lyrical Adagio cantabile into the rhythmic exuberance of the Allegro vivace, demonstrating the equal, conversational partnership Beethoven established between the two instruments. Pianist Emma Rose Koeswandy then returned the programme to intricate counterpoint, performing Bach's Prelude and Fugue No. 18 in G-sharp minor, BWV 887. She maintained superb structural clarity across the expansive prelude and the subsequent complex, chromatic three-voice fugue.
The concert concluded with a remarkable showcase of chamber music by Trio Con Brio, featuring Jamie Kowitchindachai on piano, Stephanie Sun on cello, and Yuting Jin on violin. Their rendition of Mendelssohn’s Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 49 expertly navigated the expansive Romantic melodies and energetic, compelling rhythms. The ensemble played as one, with the musicians' sensitivity evident in their harmonious performance.
Performance Highlights
We extend our deepest gratitude to all the performers, their dedicated teachers, Sun Yi for his generous time and wisdom, and the supportive audience who stopped to listen and donate. It is through these shared moments of artistic dedication that we continue to build a stronger, more connected musical community across Sydney.
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