Art Song in West Falls

Celebrate Levine Music’s new campus in West Falls Church with an evening of art song in our new performance space. Faculty member Mark Irchai is joined by guest mezzo-soprano Amanda Zoe Vest for a program featuring vocal works by Brahms, Strauss, Muhly, and Cipullo.

Event Program

“Heimliche Aufforderung,” Opus 27, no. 3 by Richard Strauss
“Regenlied,” Opus 59, no. 3 by Johannes Brahms
“Mein wundes Herz verlangt,” Opus 59, no. 7 by Johannes Brahms
“Dämmrung senkte sich von oben,” Opus 59, no. 1 by Johannes Brahms
“Die Mainacht,” Opus 43, no. 2 by Johannes Brahms
“Dein blaues Auge,” Opus 59, no. 8 by Johannes Brahms
“Nachklang,” Opus 59, no. 4 by Johannes Brahms
“So Many Things” by Nico Muhly
“Aubade with a Chance of Rain” by Tom Cipullo
“Einerlei,” Opus 69, no. 3 by Richard Strauss

About Amanda Zoe Vest

Mezzo-soprano Amanda Zoe Vest has a sound that is “nuanced, rich, and creamy, with superb diction and wonderful dynamic control (Wednesday Music Club).” Her recent season highlights include the Witch (Hansel and Gretel), Marcellina (Le nozze di Figaro), mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and Saint-Saens’s Christmas Oratorio, a feature on the WQXR (NYC) Young Artist Showcase with duo partner Mark Irchai, and three recital programs: “Moravian Melodies: Music of Antonin Dvorak” with Halcyon Trio and mezzo Madeline Manaker, “A Fairytale Triptych” with pianist Sasha Bersovsky, and “Brahms/Muhly” with Mark Irchai.

Amanda’s operatic and stage credits include Dinah (Trouble in Tahiti), Zita (Gianni Schicci), Zia Principessa (Suor Angelica), Praskowia (Merry Widow), Frau Schmidt (The Sound of Music), Mercedes (Carmen), and Zemfira (Aleko). She holds degrees with distinction from Pepperdine University and Westminster Choir College and received further training through Opera Roanoke (Apprentice Artist), National Music Festival Vocal Fellowship, Canto Vocal Programs Opera Studio, and Charlottesville Opera–Ader Emerging Artist Program. Summer 2025 brings a return for her second season as an Ader Emerging Artist with Charlottesville Opera, with whom she will perform the role of Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance. Learn more about Amanda on her website: www.amandazoevest.com.

About Mark Irchai

Mark Irchai is an American concert pianist and conductor, hailed as a “virtuoso… who perform[s] with gorgeous balance” (Wednesday Music Club). Recently featured on broadcasts for WQXR (NYC Public Radio) and KPBX (Spokane Public Radio), his concertizing has taken him across the United States and Europe, where he has become known for his diverse musical programming and multi-colored sound. His awards include 1st prizes at the XIV International Orfeo Music Competition, the George Mason University Concerto Competition, and the Golden Classical Awards International Music Competition. He was also awarded the Newton Swift Award in Collaborative Piano by the Mannes School of Music in recognition of his accomplishments as a collaborative pianist.

A committed educator, Mark is currently an adjunct professor at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, VA, and is on faculty at the Levine Music in Washington, DC, and the Berkshire High Peaks Music Festival in Great Barrington, MA. He also teaches piano and conducting lessons both virtually and in person from home in Falls Church, VA.