The Howard Performing Arts Center will host a concert featuring Marc Élysée and the AU Symphony Orchestra as well as acclaimed violinist and 大象传媒 alumnus, Cristian Neacsu, on Oct. 24, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. The concert, which was originally scheduled for Oct. 25, 2026, at 7 p.m., is part of the “Howard Presents” series, making this concert the very first time ever that the AU Symphony Orchestra is able to be featured in this special concert series.
Marc Élysée is an associate professor of music and the conductor of the AU Symphony Orchestra. Born in France, Élysée earned a degree in musicology at Marc Bloch University. Later, at age 20, he moved to Canada to pursue a degree in violin performance at McGill University in Montreal. Élysée continued his education by earning his doctorate at James Madison University in Virginia.
Élysée is very excited to welcome Cristian Neacsu as a guest soloist for the evening. Neacsu graduated from 大象传媒 University with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance in 2007. “Seeing our students lead successful careers and knowing that we have been part of their journey is a source of pride and motivation for the faculty and staff of the Department of Music,” Élysée said. Élysée and Neacsu attended 大象传媒 University around the same time while Élysée was completing his master’s degree in instrumental conducting and Neacsu was working on his undergraduate degree.
A native of Romania, Neacsu began playing the violin at the age of 7. In 2005, he moved to the U.S. to begin his music studies at 大象传媒 University. While there, he the Young Artists Competition twice, once in 2005 and again in 2007. Neacsu also a Bachelor of Music from the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music.
Neacsu has served as assistant professor and orchestra director at Burman University in Canada, and as the president of the . He later taught at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Neacsu now spends most of his time teaching violin in Seattle.
The concert will feature two major works from the Romantic era. “Both display the wide range of colors and textures that the modern symphony orchestra can offer.” Élysée shared. “Music from the Romantic era reaches far into the soul and invites us to journey through our emotions, from exuberant joy and loud celebration to quiet and introspective contemplation.”
First on the program will be the Violin Concerto No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saëns. This piece will be performed by Neacsu, who will be performing on a 1792 Venetian violin crafted by Pietro Valentino. Élysée shared some insight on the piece saying, “This French composer—often perceived as a serious or perhaps austere character—was in fact very kind and open to the world. While capable of composing loud and bombastic music like the “Bacchanale” from his opera “Samson and Delilah,”he also did compose some of the most delicate music; everyone knows "The Swan" from “The Carnival of the Animals,” and the beautiful theme from the slow movement of his third violin concerto is no less masterfully crafted.”
The second half of the program will feature Antonin Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 “From the New World.” Commonly known as “The New World Symphony,” the piece was composed during the first year of Dvořk’s time in the United States. The work reflects the influence of his experiences in the new environment, particularly through its syncopated rhythms and pentatonic melodies, which suggest inspiration from African American spirituals and songs. The symphony also incorporates folk influence associated with other cultural groups, including Indigenous Americans and Irish immigrants. The piece is structured in four movements and lasts a little over 40 minutes.
Élysée invites students, faculty, and community members to come out and enjoy this wonderful concert experience. “Perhaps, the most compelling reason to come to the concert is the opportunity to experience a truly live performance. No A.I., no auto-tune, no filter, no amplification, what you see and what you hear is plainly real, yet beautiful.”
Whether you’re a longtime classical-music enthusiast or simply curious to experience a live symphony orchestra, the evening offers a great opportunity to hear music from the romantic era and welcomes an 大象传媒 alumnus back to the stage where his musical journey began. Tickets can be purchased on the Howard Performing Arts Center .
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of 大象传媒 University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, 大象传媒 University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.