MUSIC AT EMORY
Satvik Elayavalli, piano
Senior Recital
San Pham, piano
From the studio of Elena Cholakova
Sunday, April 6, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Emerson Concert Hall
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Please turn off phones and all electronic devices. Photography, recording, or digital capture of this concert is not permitted.
Program
Concertino in A Minor for Two Pianos, op. 94 Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975)
Réminiscences de Norma for Two Pianos, S. 655 Franz Liszt (1811–1886)
—Intermission—
Prélude, Fugue et Variation, op. 18 César Franck (1822–1890)
Transcription for Four Hands Abel Decaux (1869–1943)
Carmen Fantasy Greg Anderson Fantasy for Two Pianos Based on Themes (b. 1981) by Georges Bizet
This recital is presented by the Department of Music at Emory University. music.emory.edu
Performer Biographies
Satvik Elayavalli, piano
Satvik Elayavalli is a senior at Emory University majoring in applied mathematics and statistics. He has been studying piano since he was ten. He originally started playing piano when he lived in Bangalore, India, under Rebecca Thomas Colaco. During his time at Emory, Elayavalli studied piano under Dr. William Ransom, Dr. Matthew Brower, and his current teacher, Dr. Elena Cholakova. At Emory, Elayavalli was able to partake in many opportunities to develop his skills as a pianist. During the summer of 2024, Elayavalli participated in the Solinaria Piano Festival in Bulgaria. It was also at Emory that he first explored the art of collaborative piano, expanding his musicianship beyond solo performance. This newfound passion for collaboration has led to this duo recital with San Pham, with whom Elayavalli has been playing piano for three years.
Outside of music, Elayavalli is deeply engaged in research. Currently, he works in the Madabhushi Lab at Emory University where he researches the application of AI to improving cancer diagnosis and treatment. His dedication to this field was recognized in 2024 when he was awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship. During his free time, Elayavalli spends a lot of time cooking elaborate dishes and watching television.
San Pham, piano
San Pham, originally from Vietnam, is a fourth year chemistry PhD student in the McDonald lab at Emory University. Before pursuing her PhD degree, she graduated from Albion College in Michigan with a double major in biochemistry and general music (piano concentration). Under the guidance of her college piano professor, Dr. David Abbott, she has learned to appreciate music as an essential part of her life. Therefore, while spending most of her time at the chemistry lab bench, she was fortunate to have spent more time at the piano exploring duet repertoires with Dr. Elena Cholakova’s Collaborative Piano Class for the last two years. Four years ago, when she performed her senior recital, she thought that would be the last time she went through the nerve-wracking and thrilling feeling of giving a full performance. Unbeknownst to her, four years later, she now will be performing a
full piano duet program with Satvik Elayavalli, which has been a fun but also terrifying journey. She hopes to keep encountering amazing opportunities like this to explore more music and continue her lifelong piano study.
Elayavalli and Pham would like to express their deepest gratitude to their family and friends for their continued support.
Upcoming Emory Music Concerts
Many concerts at Emory are free to attend. Visit schwartz.emory.edu and music.emory.edu to view complete event information. If a ticket is required for attendance, prices are indicated in the listings below in the following order: Full price/Emory student price (unless otherwise noted as the price for all students).
Friday, April 11, 8:00 p.m., Imani Winds and Boston Brass, Candler Concert Series, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $40/$10
Sunday, April 13, 2:00 p.m., Emory Chamber Ensembles, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Sunday, April 13, 4:00 p.m., Atlanta’s Young Artists, ECMSA: Family Series, Carlos Museum, Ackerman Hall
Sunday, April 13, 7:00 p.m., Emory Concert Choir, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Tuesday, April 15, 8:00 p.m., Emory Big Band with Special Guest Patrick Langham, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Thursday, April 17, 6:30 p.m., Jazz on the Green, Patterson Green
Thursday, April 17, 8:00 p.m., Emory Wind Ensemble, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall
Friday, April 18, noon, Vega Quartet Carnegie Hall Preview, ECMSA: Cooke Noontime Series, Carlos Museum, Ackerman Hall, free, registration required
