As the DePaul University School of Music's 2025-26 academic year comes to a close, two concerts in the coming weeks will showcase student performance at its highest level. The two concerts feature winners from the school's annual concerto competition. For audiences, the evening concerts will provide an opportunity to hear two rising artists performing some of the most demanding repertoire for their instruments. 

The first concert of the week features undergraduate performance student Olha Tytarenko performing with the DePaul Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the newly appointed Music Director and Conductor, Francesco Milioto. Olha will perform Korngold's Violin Concerto, Op. 35. 

"The Korngold Violin Concerto has been on my 'wishlist' for years," says Olha. "I began learning the concerto over the summer. I think this concerto is full of hope and appreciation for life; you can hear it in the harmonic lines that the orchestra creates. I love music like that: dreamy characters with rich texture and sentimental moments."

Olha was born in Ukraine, where she began playing the violin at the age of four. She and her family moved to the United States in 2019, giving them all a chance to start a life that her parents had dreamed of. Her decision to study violin at DePaul was driven by her strong desire to work with I-Hao Lee, associate professor of violin. She describes it as the best decision she could have made, with the last few years she has spent in Chicago among the most gratifying and life-changing of her life. 

Another special moment for Olha will be performing on a golden period Antonio Stradivari violin, courtesy of Reuning & Son Violins.

The DePaul Symphony Orchestra performs on Friday, May 22, at 8 PM in Gannon Concert Hall. 

Next week, graduate performance student, Alexander Day, performs with the DePaul Wind Symphony under the direction of Erica Neidlinger. Alexander will be presenting Libermann's Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra, Op. 50. 

For Alexander, the Libermann concerto had been a favorite for many years. He had learned portions of it over the years, but always wanted to learn the whole piece. He says, "When the concerto competition came up, I chose this piece because it felt like the right time!"

Originally from Virginia, Alexander came to DePaul two years ago and has been studying with faculty member Alyce Johnson. As Alexander is about to graduate this June with his master's degree, he says of Johnson, "She has helped me grow as an artist and shows me what it takes to be successful in our musical world."  He is looking forward to the beautiful melodies Liebermann gives the piccolo, with each movement featuring wonderful moments when the piccolo soars over the ensemble. 

The DePaul Wind Symphony will perform on Friday, May 29, at 8 PM in Gannon Concert Hall. 

For both of our concerto competition winners, the excitement of performing these concertos is palpable. They both say they look forward most to playing on stage with their friends in the ensembles and to the special connection it creates. To quote Olha, "the great thing about DePaul's School of Music is the atmosphere of kindness and endless drive that pushes us to achieve something great."

These performances also mark a milestone for all the student musicians in the two ensembles. As the final concerts of the academic year for each, it represents both a culmination of months of rehearsals and practicing and a closing chapter for many of the soon-to-be-graduates in the ensembles. 

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to all of the students who participated in the concerto competition.  

Concerto Competition participants: 

DePaul Wind Symphony Runner-up
Julian Ramcharan, trumpet; Alexander Arutunian | Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra 

DePaul Symphony Orchestra Runner-up
Pou I Chao (Kitty) and Socrates Hwang, percussion duo; Jacob Ter Veldhuis | Goldrush Concerto 

Honorable Mentions (listed in order of performance)
Carlysta Tran, violin; Stephen Kilpatrick, double bass; Blake Staines, voice; Nickoli Kumm, saxophone.

Get more information on the two concerts and reserve your seats on the School of Music website.