Community Calendar

At the start of an international career, pianist Sophia Liu has already appeared with leading orchestras and at major concert halls across Europe, Asia, and North America. Born in Shanghai, raised in Japan, and trained in Montreal, Liu has performed with the NHK Symphony, the Cleveland Orchestra, and other distinguished ensembles while earning first prize at international piano competitions such as the 18th Ettlingen International Piano Competition and the Thomas & Evon Cooper International Competition.

Critics have noted the remarkable maturity of her artistry, praising her “poise and authority” at such a young age and the “sincerity and craft” that shape her performances. Her debut solo album, released in 2025, features Liszt’s Réminiscences de Norma and Chopin’s Andante spianato et Grande Polonaise.

This recital is presented in partnership with Le Piano Symphonique in Lucerne, Switzerland, reflecting a shared commitment to identifying and supporting the next generation of exceptional pianists. Following her Kalamazoo performance, Liu will present the same program at Le Piano Symphonique in January 2027. Audiences will hear a young artist whose thoughtful musicianship and commanding performances have earned her invitations to some of the world’s most respected stages.

Program

C.-V. ALKAN
Etude de Concert Le Preux, Op. 17
F. CHOPIN
Polonaise in A-flat Major, Op. 53
Scherzo No. 4 in E Major, Op. 54
Intermission
P. TCHAIKOVSKY / trans. M. PLETNEV
Nutcracker Suite
P. TCHAIKOVSKY
Selections from The Seasons
M. BALAKIREV
Islamey, Op. 18

The Wealthy Street Block Party is back and bigger than ever! Join us for a day of local flavor and festive vibes, featuring live music, food trucks, craft drinks, and a street full of neighbors, makers, and music lovers. We’ve extended our hours until 9:00 PM this year, giving you even more time to explore, shop, and eat.

We’re also doubling down on the fun with extra family activities throughout the day to keep the kids entertained. Then, as the sun goes down, the party moves to the grass for a special after-sunset showing of Shrek on a pop-up screen, hosted by the iconic Wealthy Theatre.

Don't forget to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to hang out on the lawn and get cozy for the show! No matter where you’re from, you’re invited to celebrate the heart of our community and everything that makes Wealthy Street so special. See you there!

Presented by: East Hills Council of Neighbors + Wealthy Street Business Alliance
Sponsored by: Uptown GR, Triumph Music Academy, Haus of Rizos, Wealthy Theater/GRCMC, City2Shore, Vetr Health, B+P Photography, Less Traveled by Long Road Distillers, Speciation Cellars & VGI

Event Map (WIP): https://canva.link/34clzrxmokshar6

Dabin Ryu, piano
Matt Penmen, bass
Johnathan Blake, drums

Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Dabin Ryu brings a distinctive voice shaped by her roots in Seoul and her career in New York City. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School, Ryu has performed with acclaimed artists including David Virelles, Randy Brecker, Anat Cohen, and Billy Harper.

Winner of the 15th UNISA International Piano Competition and the 2025 Jazz Gallery Residency Commission, Ryu has earned praise for performances that combine “fierce chops and control” with crisp, authoritative ideas. The NYC Jazz Record has called her “a force,” citing her bright energy, deep awareness of jazz history, and extraordinary command at the piano.

Ryu balances an active performing career with teaching as an associate professor at Berklee College of Music, continuing to shape the next generation of jazz musicians while pursuing her own work as a compelling artist “to keenly watch.”

Dabin Ryu, piano
Matt Penmen, bass
Johnathan Blake, drums

Award-winning jazz pianist and composer Dabin Ryu brings a distinctive voice shaped by her roots in Seoul and her career in New York City. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Manhattan School of Music, and The Juilliard School, Ryu has performed with acclaimed artists including David Virelles, Randy Brecker, Anat Cohen, and Billy Harper.

Winner of the 15th UNISA International Piano Competition and the 2025 Jazz Gallery Residency Commission, Ryu has earned praise for performances that combine “fierce chops and control” with crisp, authoritative ideas. The NYC Jazz Record has called her “a force,” citing her bright energy, deep awareness of jazz history, and extraordinary command at the piano.

Ryu balances an active performing career with teaching as an associate professor at Berklee College of Music, continuing to shape the next generation of jazz musicians while pursuing her own work as a compelling artist “to keenly watch.”

Praised for performances of remarkable depth and poise, Aristo Sham is one of the most exciting young pianists on today’s international stage. Winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Sham has appeared with the London Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and other leading ensembles, collaborating with conductors including Simon Rattle and Marin Alsop. Critics have praised his performances as “noble” and “thorough, strong, and brilliant,” recognizing both his musical insight and commanding technique.

Sham first drew international attention as a young artist when he was featured in the 2009 Channel 4 documentary “The World’s Greatest Musical Prodigies”. Since then, he has performed for royalty and dignitaries, including King Charles and the Queen of Belgium. In 2024, he recorded and hosted the complete solo piano music of Brahms for RTHK Radio 4, Classical Radio in Hong Kong.

A graduate of Harvard University, New England Conservatory, and The Juilliard School, Sham brings exceptional artistry and maturity to every performance.

Program
L.v. BEETHOVEN
Sonata No. 13 in E-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 1
S. RACHMANINOFF
Six Moments Musicaux, Op. 16
F. CHOPIN
4 Impromptus
L.v. Beethoven
Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 27 No. 2, (“Moonlight Sonata")

Dan Tyminski was six years old when his parents began taking him to fiddle contests, square dances, and bluegrass festivals across New England. For a young musician who would later become one of the biggest names in modern-day bluegrass, those early experiences were life changing. "Watching live music always spoke to me much louder than sitting in front of my record player," he remembers. "I loved it. Wherever music was being played, I wanted to go watch. Years later, I still feel that way."

Haunt the bars in Grand Rapids with us at our 2 DAY Halloween Bar Crawl on Oct. 30th & Oct. 31st - don’t ghost us! 🎃 Get Spooky With US This Halloween! 🎃 Round up your boo crew, show off your costumes, and prepare for a night of creepy cocktails, chills, and unforgettable bar-hopping fun! 👻🍹 Click ✅ GOING ✅ On The Facebook Event ⬇️ So You Don't Miss Updates https://www.facebook.com/events/1109656521109231 Here's What You Get: 👽 Join a Spine-Chilling Crowd of Spooky Crawlers! 🤩 2 Days Full Of Bar Crawl Adventures (Friday AND Saturday) 🍹 2-3 Drinks or Shots Included With Ticket Purchase 🚫 No Cover At All Bars, Mid Party, & After Party 📸 Professional Photographers 🥤 Crawl With US Stadium Party Cup and Bottle Opener Lanyard 🍻 Exclusive Drink Specials 🍔 Food Specials at Select Venues 🔥 Awesome After Party 📛 Custom Halloween Bar Crawl Badge With Vouchers 🗺️ Access To Our Grand Rapids Pub Crawl Map 🚨 Get tickets NOW before prices go up! 🚨 _______________________________________ Get ready to celebrate Halloween like never before! On October 30th and 31st, join us for a spooktacular TWO-DAY bar crawl featuring creepy cocktails, outrageous costumes, and an electrifying atmosphere. We’re making our way through Grand Rapids’s top bars with exclusive drink deals, Halloween-themed entertainment, and surprises lurking around every corner. Grab your friends and throw on your most hilarious, horrifying, or out-of-this-world outfits—because this night is all about bold looks and big scares. Each stop on the crawl will bring a new vibe, from bone-rattling beats to ghoulishly good drinks. Whether you're dressed as a vampire, villain, or just out to vibe, this is the place to be for Halloween night. Grand Rapids is turning up the fright and fun — and you won’t want to miss a moment. 🎃👻 _______________________________________ 🚨For all the latest venue information, special offers, event details, and ticket purchases, be sure to visit our website! It's your one-stop shop for everything you need to know. ⬇️ www.crawlwith.us/grandrapids/halloween 🎃 CHECK IN 4PM - 6PM 🎃 🎃 CRAWL LOCATIONS 4PM - 10PM 🎃 🎃 MID PARTY 7PM - 9PM 🎃 🎃 AFTER PARTY 10PM - 12AM 🎃 _______________________________________ 100% CANCELLATION REFUND GUARANTEE: 👌If the event is cancelled for any reason, all tickets will be refunded in full! No vouchers, no credits, just your money back in your bank! Guaranteed! _______________________________________ ✔️ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ✔️ https://www.crawlwith.us/faq _______________________________________ 🚫 DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE 🚫 We Highly Suggest Using Uber or Lyft To And From The Bar Crawl! _______________________________________ ㉑ ATTENDEES MUST BE 21+ ㉑ Due to the nature of our events, all attendees must be 21+ with a valid government issued ID.

“They nearly always come back,” said Béla Fleck. “All the people that leave bluegrass. I had a strong feeling that I’d be coming back as well.” Fleck’s album My Bluegrass Heart, was released on Renew Records in 2021 and is the return the 15-time Grammy winner is talking about – the third chapter in a decades-spanning trilogy which, by his counting, started with 1988’s Drive and continued with The Bluegrass Sessions, released eleven years later. Over the long and lauded course of his unique creative run, Fleck – the world’s premier banjo virtuoso and a celebrated musical adventurer – has both dug deep into his instrument’s complex global history and unlocked the breadth of its possibilities. My Bluegrass Heart is a homecoming in sound, to be sure.

Pianist Tom Borrow has earned international attention since his breakthrough performance with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in 2019, when, with just 36 hours’ notice, he stepped in for Khatia Buniatishvili in a 12-concert tour performing Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G. Born in Tel Aviv and a protégé of Murray Perahia, Borrow has since appeared with leading orchestras around the world, including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, and NHK Symphony Orchestra, while giving recitals at renowned venues and festivals such as the BBC Proms, Wigmore Hall, and the Concertgebouw.

Praised for playing that is “both light and powerful,” Borrow combines technical brilliance with remarkable musical insight, making every performance both compelling and memorable.

Program
W.A MOZART
Sonata No. 8 in A Minor, K. 310
F. LISZT
Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418
Sonata in B Minor, S. 178

Pianist Caelan Cardello brings imagination, lyricism, and deep musical connection to every performance. Praised by Bill Charlap for playing that is “an extension of his soul,” Cardello has performed with celebrated artists including Christian McBride, Jimmy Cobb, and Randy Brecker.

This performance marks a return to Kalamazoo for Cardello, who previously appeared at Sounds of the Zoo in 2023. A finalist in both the 2026/27 American Piano Awards and the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, he is equally at home leading his own trio or collaborating with fellow artists. Among his notable collaborations is Rufus Reid Presents Caelan Cardello, a duo album with NEA Jazz Master Rufus Reid that grew from an impromptu showroom performance and was released in 2023.

A graduate of The Juilliard School, Cardello blends a strong foundation in both jazz and classical music with performances marked by spontaneity and expressive storytelling.