Professor Tsang and the Longhorn Cellos are both referenced by Ariane Todes in her article “Spread the Love,” from the June 2013 issue of The Strad, which reports about the enormous influences of pedagogues Aldo Parisot and the recently deceased (April 28) Janos Starker. Arianne writes…
“The festival’s format was to have seven 50-minute masterclasses, a different professor and two students each, all in a row, from 9am to 5pm, with an hour for lunch and 10-minute breaks, over three days. The relentless pace of this immersion might not have led to in-depth problem solving, but then how much can be achieved in a masterclass anyway? The best classes tackled one or two problems and just nudged the students to think in a different way. For example, Bion Tsang (a Parisot student), in the limited time, encouraged the students to listen to themselves properly, and to learn how to teach themselves. He asked, ‘What can you self-assess?’ ‘Can you tell me what you’re doing to work on it?’ After getting one student to work on the consonant sound of a chord in the Elgar Concerto by singing it, and working out if she wanted a ‘ya’ or a ‘bam,’ he said, ‘You have to experiment on your own—a teacher can only tell you so much.’
“Another aspect [of the festival] that has developed is the participation of cello ensembles—something that is a key part of the Parisot training, with his Yale Cellos group. Some teachers brought ensembles made up of their students, and as well as the members taking part in the masterclasses, each group performed in the final concert. This culmination involved a wide ranging programme that showed what a versatile and exciting instrumentation massed cellos can provide. At one end of the spectrum was a sonorous arrangement of the Bach Chaconne performed by Bion Tsang’s Longhorn Cellos, sounding more like a Walton film score in this sound world, and taking on a romantic life of its own.”
Diana Burgess (BM ’15) is a member of Mother Falcon, an orchestral indie band born in Austin, Texas that has quickly become an award winning recording act and a top concert draw, performing in rock clubs while maintaining a presence in the performing arts scene scoring plays and films. The band releases its latest album You Knew on May 7. 
Michelle Ferry Williams (BM ’09), with the 
Yi Xin (DMA ’14) advanced to the final round of live auditions for the Principal Cello position in the Lyric Opera Orchestra in Chicago, IL. He was one of only four cellists remaining from 200 or so applicants worldwide. It was Yi’s first time competing for an opera orchestra position.
Bion Tsang Appointed as Fellow to Newly Created Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Cello
Watch and hear Michelle Ferry Williams (BM ’09) this and every Sunday as she plays in the 
Tonight at 5:30 PM in the San Antonio Museum of Art, Benjamin Westney (BM ’03, MM ’05) performs his last of three concerts at the Brahms Festival in San Antonio, TX. The Brahms Festival is created and curated by Sebastian Lang-Lessing and the San Antonio Symphony. Ben performs the Brahms Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8, and the Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34. For tickets, visit 
Longhorn Cellos 