Program Information

Toronto-born pianist Jonathan Mak has emerged as one of Canada’s leading young classical musicians, appearing as a soloist with orchestras and at major festivals across North America and Europe. A winner of the inaugural Concours international de musique de Sorel-Tracy and the Bader & Overton Canadian Piano Competition, he was named one of CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30” and has performed with ensembles including the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, and RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra. Mak has appeared at Music@Menlo, Bravo! Vail, Festival of the Sound, Ottawa Chamberfest, and the Edinburgh International Festival, and is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University with pianist Jon Kimura Parker.

His Halifax recital, “The Enchanted Night,” explores the mysterious worlds of dreams, fantasy, and imagination. Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata opens the program in an atmosphere of quiet reverie, followed by Schumann’s Fantasiestücke, eight contrasting pieces that move between tenderness, excitement, introspection, and dreamlike fantasy. Liszt’s virtuosic transcription of Schubert’s “Erlkönig” draws the listener into a supernatural journey where fear, illusion, and fate intertwine. The program culminates with Brahms’s expansive Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, a passionate early work whose slow movement evokes two lovers united beneath the moonlight. This special Choose-What-You-Pay performance is presented in support of the Cecilia Concerts 2027 Developing Musician Award.

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Piano Sonata No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, “Moonlight”
I. Adagio sostenuto
II. Allegretto
III. Presto agitato

Robert Schumann (1810–1856)
Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
I. Des Abends
II. Aufschwung
III. Warum?
IV. Grillen
V. In der Nacht
VI. Fabel
VII. Traumes Wirren
VIII. Ende vom Lied

Franz Schubert (1797–1828) / Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
Erlkönig, S. 558, No. 4
after Schubert’s “Erlkönig,” D. 328

INTERMISSION

Johannes Brahms (1833–1897)
Piano Sonata No. 3 in F minor, Op. 5
I. Allegro maestoso
II. Andante espressivo
III. Scherzo: Allegro energico
IV. Intermezzo (Rückblick): Andante molto
V. Finale: Allegro moderato ma rubato

Artist Biography

Jonathan Mak, piano

Toronto-born pianist Jonathan Mak has appeared as soloist with orchestras and at major festivals across North America and Europe. Recent concerto engagements include Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Orchestre symphonique de Trois-Rivières, Kingston Symphony Orchestra, and the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra. Having made his orchestral debut at the age of four, he has also performed with ensembles including the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal and the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra.

Jonathan is the winner of the inaugural 2024 Concours international de musique de Sorel-Tracy and the Grand Prize at the 2023 Bader & Overton Canadian Piano Competition, as well as Grand Prize at the 2023 Plowman Chamber Music Competition with Trio Menil. Additional prizes include awards at the Ljubljana Festival International Piano Competition (Slovenia), the Maj Lind International Piano Competition (Finland), and the OSM Competition.

Named one of CBC Music’s “30 Hot Canadian Classical Musicians Under 30,” Jonathan is a recipient of the Michael Measures Prize from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award, and the Walter Prystawski Prize. He has appeared at festivals including Music@Menlo, Bravo! Vail, Festival of the Sound, Ottawa Chamberfest, and the Edinburgh International Festival. Jonathan is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at Rice University with Jon Kimura Parker and holds degrees from Yale University and the Cleveland Institute of Music. He is a 2025–2026 Rebanks Fellow at theGlenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will I receive my tickets?
Electronic tickets are emailed immediately after purchase to the email address used at checkout. Please keep your tickets handy on your smart phone or bring a printed copy with you to the concert so we can scan them at the door. If you do not receive your tickets, please check your spam or junk folder, as ticket emails are sometimes blocked or filtered by email providers. You may also wish to search your inbox for “Cecilia Concerts” or your order confirmation. If you still cannot find your tickets, please contact the Cecilia Concerts office before the concert and we’ll be happy to help. Rest assured, if you purchased tickets, your name will also be on our guest list at the door.

What time should I arrive?
Doors open at 7:00pm, and the concert begins at 7:30pm. We recommend arriving a little early so you have time to have your ticket scanned, find a seat, and get settled before the performance begins.

Can I arrive late?
Latecomers will be seated at an appropriate break in the performance, when possible. To avoid disruption to the artists and audience, we recommend arriving before the concert begins.

How long is the concert?
The approximate running time is 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.

What is the seating like?
Tickets are general admission. The Lilian Pierecey Concert Hall has unassigned seating, with chairs on the main floor and pews in the balcony. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have an accessibility-related seating need, please let us know when you arrive.

Are children welcome?
Yes, children are always welcome. Please keep in mind that this is a full-length concert in a traditional concert setting. Families may wish to choose seats close to a door in case a quick exit is needed during the performance.

What should I know about concert etiquette?
If you are new to classical concerts, you are very welcome. We simply ask that audience members help create a quiet and respectful environment for the artists and those around them. Please silence your phone before the concert begins, avoid talking during the performance, and wait for pauses between pieces to move around when possible.

When should I clap?
It is always fine to clap when a full piece has ended. Some longer works have several movements, with short pauses in between, and audiences usually wait until the entire work is finished before applauding. If you are unsure, it is perfectly okay to wait and follow the rest of the audience.

Can I use my phone during the concert?
Please silence your phone before the concert begins. We ask that phones and bright screens not be used during the performance, as they can be distracting to artists and audience members.

Can I take photos or videos?
Photos are welcome before or after the concert. Unless otherwise announced, photography, audio recording, and video recording are not permitted during the performance.

What accessibility features are available?
The Lilian Piercey Concert Hall is wheelchair accessible and includes access to an elevator. Companion seating is available if required. If you have a specific accessibility question before attending, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.

Is the venue scent-sensitive?
To help make the concert comfortable for everyone, we ask guests to avoid wearing strong scents or fragrances.

Is there parking or public transit nearby?
The Lilian Piercey Concert is located within the Maritime Conservatory of Performing Arts at 6199 Chebucto Road. There is a large parking lot surrounding the building and parking is free-of-charge. Street parking is available in the surrounding area. The venue is also located near major Halifax Transit routes.

What happens if there is a storm?
If a storm may affect a performance, ticket holders are encouraged to call the Cecilia Concerts office at 902-423-0143 for a recorded concert update. Updates will also be posted on the Cecilia Concerts website and social media channels.

What happens if a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled?
Concert schedule changes are very rare, but storms or other unexpected circumstances may occasionally require us to make adjustments. If a concert is changed, postponed, or cancelled, ticket holders will be contacted as soon as possible with available options. Depending on the circumstances, you may choose to attend the rescheduled concert, receive a credit toward a future Cecilia Concerts performance, request a refund, or convert the value of your ticket into a charitable donation tax receipt.