Sunday, March 22, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.
Armstrong Concert Hall
Shenandoah Conservatory

Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 4 in C Major, op. 102, no. 1

I. Andante – Allegro vivace
II. Adagio – Tempo d’Andante – Allegro vivace

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)

- brief pause -

Cello Concerto in B Minor, op. 104

I. Allegro
II. Adagio ma non troppo
III. Finale: Allegro moderato

Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904)

Matthew Reffner, twenty-two, is a student currently attending Shenandoah Conservatory and is studying cello performance under the instruction of Julian Schwarz for his master’s degree. At Shenandoah Conservatory, during his undergraduate degree, Reffner was principal of the Symphonic Orchestra and has performed works such as Beethoven’s Symphony No. 8, Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G Major, Poulenc’s Piano Concerto in C-sharp Minor and Britten's A Midsummer Night’s Dream. As a versatile musician, he has also performed in the conservatory’s pit in works such as Into the Woods and Tuck Everlasting. Reffner has attended the Eastern Music Festival in the summer of 2023 and 2024 and has also attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival. Most recently, he took his studies in summer of 2025 to the Brevard Summer Music Festival Orchestral Institute. In 2023, he toured to Argentina with the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra, performing Mahler’s Symphony No. 5 in various cities. Reffner has participated in masterclasses held by John Koen, Patrick Jee, Lluis Claret, Amit Peled, Shar Prescott and Gloria dePasquale. In efforts to expand his career, Reffner has begun to take professional orchestra auditions. He has won a seat in the Fredericksburg Symphony and Northern Neck Orchestra. Reffner has also won sub positions in the Roanoke Symphony and West Virginia Symphony.

Matthew Reffner is from the studio of Brook Speltz. This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Master of Music in Performance (Cello).

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