FINAL GRADUATION RECITAL: Shaun Choo | "Romantics in Retrospect"

Event: "Romantics in Retrospect" – Final Graduation Recital Date: Saturday, 13 December 2025, 7PM Location: Joseph-Joachim-Konzertsaal, UdK Berlin Graphics & Video Production: Rebekka Kürschner Audio Production: Joshua Böke ____________________________________________________________ Dear MusicShaun & Fiestravaganza supporters, Exactly two decades ago, I left my home country, Singapore, to pursue my musical journey in Europe. It all began in Salzburg, Austria, where I joined the Mozarteum University’s Leopold Mozart Institute for Young Talents at the age of 14. Since then, I’ve completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees with the highest distinction — a journey that eventually brought me to Berlin, where I became the first external piano candidate in many years to be accepted into the Konzertexamen postgraduate program at the University of the Arts. Almost immediately after my move, the pandemic hit, shutting down performance opportunities and making it difficult to build new connections. Yet, from that period of stillness, something beautiful was born. My private piano class kept me anchored through online lessons, and that extra time and reflection gave rise to a daring new idea — Fiestravaganza — a non-profit organization that has since grown into three vibrant branches: the Academy, the Orchestra, and the Ensemble. I present to you today yet another milestone – the live recording of my final graduation recital "Romantics in Retrospect". This recital marks the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another. Together, we’ll journey through some of my favorite Romantic piano works by Chopin, Rachmaninov, and Mendelssohn, as well as my most substantial original composition to date "The Time Traveller’s Sonata", a three-movement work that carries you across musical eras, from Baroque elegance to Jazz exuberance. I hope you enjoy my performance, and for those who were at the full-house concert, thank you for your support! ____________________________________________________________ Program: 0:00 Frédéric Chopin – Scherzo No. 1 in B minor, Op. 20 11:36 Frédéric Chopin – Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1 18:14 Frédéric Chopin – Polonaise in F-sharp minor, Op. 44 29:23 Felix Mendelssohn – Fantasie in F-sharp minor, Op. 28 (I. Con moto agitato) 34:42 II. Allegro con moto 36:51 III. Presto 43:36 Sergei Rachmaninoff – Prelude in B minor, Op. 32 No. 10 49:46 Sergei Rachmaninoff – Prelude in G minor, Op. 23 No. 5 54:19 Sergei Rachmaninoff – Vocalise, Op. 34 No. 14 (Arr. Zoltán Kocsis) 1:00:54 Shaun Choo – The Time Travellers Sonata (I. Allegro brioso) 1:05:36 II. Dolente – Molto espressivo 1:12:54 III. Allegro assai 1:21:30 (Encore) Shaun Choo – Rudolph in Winterland 1:26:42 (Encore) Shaun Choo – Silent Night