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Sunday, February 29, 2026
Michael Romans & Kelly Cho
violin & violin
Dialogues in Virtuosity:
Music for Two Violins
What happens when two identical instruments share the stage—without orchestra, without piano, without safety net? Dialogues in Virtuosity explores the extraordinary expressive range possible when two violins converse as equals. Spanning from the Classical era to the 20th century, this program traces how composers have used the pairing not merely for brilliance, but for intimacy, tension, wit, and depth.
The journey begins with the poised elegance of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. In the Duo in B-flat Major (adapted from his Violin and Piano Sonata K. 378), Mozart demonstrates that virtuosity need not be flashy to be profound. Here, refinement lies in balance, clarity, and the seamless exchange of melodic lines. The work establishes the duo as a true partnership—two voices in graceful equilibrium.
With Henryk Wieniawski’s Études-Caprices, Op. 18, Nos. 1 and 2, virtuosity steps into the spotlight. Written by one of the 19th century’s great violin virtuosos, these works transform technical challenges into thrilling musical dialogue. Rapid passagework, daring coordination, and brilliant interplay demand absolute trust between performers. Here, virtuosity becomes both spectacle and shared athleticism.
The language shifts dramatically in the Sonata for Two Violins, Op. 56 by Sergei Prokofiev. Composed in 1932, the work blends crisp neoclassical clarity with unmistakable modern edge. Rhythmic bite, haunting lyricism, and sharply etched counterpoint expand the emotional palette of the duo. The two instruments alternately cooperate and collide, revealing wit, irony, and unexpected tenderness.
Finally, the Duo Sonata (Movement I) by Eugène Ysaÿe brings late-Romantic intensity to the forefront. Passionate, harmonically rich, and deeply expressive, Ysaÿe’s writing pushes the violin to its limits. The dialogue becomes rhapsodic—at times tender, at times fiery—showing how two instruments of identical voice can create astonishing depth and color.
Together, these works reveal the violin duo as both a proving ground and a playground. Across centuries, composers have used this pairing to explore equality and contrast, brilliance and lyricism, structure and freedom. Dialogues in Virtuosity celebrates not only technical mastery, but the art of listening—two musicians shaping a shared story in real time.
PROGRAM
Mozart
Duo No. 1 in B- flat Major
I. Allegro Moderato
II. Andante sostenute e cantabile
III. Rondo
Wieniawski
Etude Caprices Op. 18
I. Moderato
II. Andante
Prokofiev
Sonata for 2 Violins in C Major
I. Andante cantabile
II. Allegro
III. Commodo (quasi Allegretto)
IV. Allegro con brio
Ysaye
Duo Sonata in A minor
I. Poco lento- Maestoso- Allegro fermo
BIOGRAPHY
A dynamic violinist, musical leader, and an educator, Kelly Cho brings artistry, versatility, and deep human connection to every facet of her work. She currently serves as a violinist with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, a position she won and began in January 2025, and performs regularly with the Washington National Opera Orchestra.
From 2022–2025, Ms.Cho was a member of The United States Air Force Band, where she served not only as a violinist but also as a music ambassador, performing in support of both domestic and international outreach efforts. As Music Director of the Strolling Strings, she led ensembles in a wide range of performances, using music as a powerful tool for diplomacy, community engagement, and cultural connection.
From an early age, Ms.Cho has been drawn not only to performance, but to leadership within ensembles. She has served as concertmaster of numerous orchestras and chamber ensembles, both during her studies and professionally, leading performances at major venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Tilles Center. Her early orchestral experience includes serving as concertmaster of the Long Island Youth Orchestra, performing as a member of the New York Youth Symphony, and attending the School of Orchestral Studies, where she was also concertmaster and awarded a New York State Scholarship.
Her training continued at the highest levels. Ms.Cho earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, spent two summers at the Music Academy of the West on full scholarship, and studied abroad as an exchange student at the Staatliche Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart.
An active chamber musician, Ms.Cho performs regularly in smaller ensembles worldwide, bringing the same precision, passion, and collaborative energy to intimate settings as she does on the orchestral stage. Alongside her chamber work, she is an active accompanist and arranger, known for her adaptability and collaborative spirit.
Her versatility extends into the recording studio. Based in New York, Ms.Cho performed on film soundtracks for major motion pictures including “Joker“, “In the Heights”, and “Gemini Man“, and collaborated with Michael Bublé on his song “My Valentine.”
Fun fact: she has also performed twice with BTS on their world tour, appearing in both New York and Chicago.
Equally passionate about education, Ms.Cho has been teaching and mentoring for over 20 years and currently teaches regularly at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division. She is the founder of NOVA Violin Studio in Fairfax, Virginia, where she works closely with students of all ages and levels. Known as a deeply attentive teacher, she listens carefully to each student’s individual needs, discovers their unique potential, and brings out the very best in their playing.
Whether leading an orchestra, collaborating in chamber music, recording for film, or mentoring the next generation, Kelly Cho is a musician who connects the hearts of audiences and transforms the lives of students through music.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Dr. Michael Romans captivates audiences worldwide with his extraordinary artistry and magnetic stage presence. Hailed as a “fine musician and a great leader,” he commands the violin with both technical brilliance and profound musical intelligence. Dr. Romans serves as a distinguished member of the Air Force Strings ensemble in Washington, D.C., regularly performing for the President of the United States, foreign dignitaries, and members of Congress. His international career spans Europe’s most celebrated venues, including the Berlin Konzerthaus and Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie as co-associate concertmaster of the Schleswig-Holstein Festival Orchestra, plus notable performances at Carnegie Hall and the Sarasota Music Festival. As co-concertmaster of the renowned Aspen Conducting Academy Orchestra and former concertmaster of the National Repertory Orchestra, he has led America’s finest musicians on prestigious stages worldwide. Dr. Romans earned his Doctorate in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan under renowned pedagogues Fabiola Kim and Danielle Belen, receiving a prestigious full merit scholarship for his Master’s degree. He also holds dual bachelor’s degrees from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and Kelley School of Business.
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