By: Simon L.
On July 26, 2025, the Pasadena Steinway Gallery was filled with music, celebration, and community spirit as the International Classical Music Alliance (ICMA) successfully concluded its annual music festival with a high-level Closing Concert. Hosted by Concert Star and co-organized by Steinway & Sons, the concert drew over a hundred attendees, including families, local leaders, and music enthusiasts.
The event began with welcoming speeches by San Gabriel City Councilmember Jorge Herrera Avila and Walnut Councilmember Dr. Allen Wu, who both emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and praised the festival’s commitment to youth music education. Their remarks set a dignified tone for the afternoon, underscoring the festival’s impact beyond the stage.
One stunning performance came from Yuanyuan Liu, who interpreted Bach-Busoni’s Chaconne in D minor with a combination of power and elegance that left the audience breathless. Other student performers, such as Beier Nie, Longcheng Ma, Shuimiao Zeng, and Xue Zhang, demonstrated not only technical excellence but also expressive maturity.
Councilmembers later joined the stage to present Certificates of Recognition to the performers and organizers, creating a memorable and encouraging moment for all participants. ICMA Chairman Dr. Mingfu Han and Vice Chair Dr. Yaqi Wang expressed heartfelt thanks to faculty, students, families, and collaborators, highlighting the concert as a celebration of growth, effort, and shared artistry.
ICMA President Dr. Mingfu Han Opening remarks.
ICMA President Dr. Mingfu Han in his Opening remarks: “We will continue to promote international dialogue in music education, empowering more young artists to grow and excel on professional platforms. In the coming year, we plan to expand the program further by introducing more interdisciplinary collaborations, creating a more open and professional environment for emerging musical talents worldwide.”
Looking ahead, ICMA and Concert Star are committed to expanding opportunities for young musicians on an international scale. As Dr. Yaqi Wang, Founder of Concert Star and Vice Chair of ICMA, noted:
“We will continue to promote international dialogue in music education, empowering more young artists to grow and excel on professional platforms. In the coming year, we plan to expand the program further by introducing more interdisciplinary collaborations, creating a more open and professional environment for emerging musical talents worldwide.”
This forward-thinking vision reflects ICMA’s ongoing mission: to not only nurture technical excellence, but also to foster creativity, cultural understanding, and personal development. With continued community support and a growing global network, the ICMA festival is poised to inspire even more young artists in the years to come.
In addition to the concert itself, the 2025 ICMA festival featured workshops, masterclasses, and cultural exchange activities throughout the week, allowing students to engage more deeply with their peers, mentors, and international guests. The festival also spotlighted the Los Angeles regional winners of the Concert Star Competition, held on May 23 at the Curtis Theatre. These talented young musicians had the opportunity to perform and receive feedback from renowned adjudicators, laying the groundwork for future performances at Carnegie Hall and beyond.
By integrating performance, education, and community engagement, ICMA and Concert Star are not simply hosting events—they are reshaping the role of music festivals in the lives of young musicians and the communities they touch. Through masterclasses, international collaborations, cultural exchanges, and thoughtfully curated performance opportunities, the festival offers far more than a stage—it provides a platform for growth, mentorship, and cross-cultural dialogue. This holistic approach ensures that students gain not only technical skills, but also a deeper understanding of music’s role in fostering empathy, discipline, and global awareness. As music continues to serve as a bridge across borders, the ICMA festival stands as a powerful example of how artistic excellence and meaningful human connection can coexist—nurturing the next generation of musicians who are as engaged with their communities as they are with their craft.
