Q&A with Vivace Music Festival Co-Artistic Director Marina Lomazov

Each summer, the Vivace Music Festival transforms Wilmington into an international gathering place for accomplished artists and serious young musicians. Through intensive instruction and public performances, students have the opportunity to learn from elite faculty members while sharing the stage with musicians from around the world.

We caught up with Co-Artistic Director Marina Lomazov ahead of the 2026 festival to learn more about Vivace, its local connections and this summer’s Showcase Concerts.

Briefly introduce yourself.

My name is Marina Lomazov and I, together with my husband and partner, Dr. Joseph Rackers, serve as Co-Artistic Directors of the Vivace Music Festival. Apart from making our home in Wilmington during the summer and Vivace, we serve as professors of piano at the Eastman School or Music at the University of Rochester.

For readers who may not be familiar, what is Vivace, and what makes the festival distinct from other summer music programs?

Vivace is an international music festival, with elite world renowned faculty and students gathering from all corners of the world, from US and as far as Europe, far East, and Australia. Our mission is to make attending Vivace possible for all who are admitted to the festival regardless of their financial circumstances.

Vivace is designed for serious young musicians from around the world. Are you aware of any local talent attending this year?

We’ve always had North Carolina students, including several from Wilmington, who have participated in the festival, with this year being no exception!

Are there any local musicians or Wilmington connections you can highlight?

We are partnering with the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for our final concert, Vivace Extravaganza on August 8, in the intimate and acoustically perfect Beckwith Recital Hall—which will highlight local and international talent side by side, in the musical showcase that will mix classical standards with some surprising and unexpected popular hits.

On Stage

Nicholas Canellakis & Michael Brown
August 2  |  7:30 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church

Alexander Kobrin
August 5  |  7:30 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church

Chamber Music Showcase
August 6  |  7:30 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church

Hung-Kuan Chen
August 7  |  7:30 p.m.
St. James Episcopal Church

Vivace Extravaganza
August 8  |  7:30 p.m.
Beckwith Recital Hall at UNCW