The Liliane Questel Recital Series
Founded in 2003 by SCC board member and pianist, Liliane Questel.
Saturday, October 3, 6:00 pm
Jonathan Mamora
Seventeenth Van Cliburn Competition
Acclaimed for his “most assured pianism,” and “natural, songful lyricism” (The Dallas Morning News), pianist and educator Jonathan Mamora strives to uplift and positively influence others using music as a means for service. An Indonesian-American and Southern California native now with a burgeoning performing career, Jonathan’s commitment to service is steadfast—whether playing in church or in the community or on the concert stage.
Applauded as “a rising star in the piano realm” (New York Classical Review), Mr. Mamora has performed throughout North and South America, Europe, and Asia, and he has enjoyed remarkable recent success, winning first prize at numerous prominent international piano competitions (IPC’s), including: Hilton Head IPC; Scottish IPC; Maria Canals Barcelona IPC; Olga Kern IPC (New Mexico); AntwerPiano International Competition; Dallas IPC; and the Palm Springs IPC (formerly the Virginia Waring). In May 2025, he was one of 30 elite pianists invited to compete in the Van Cliburn IPC in Fort Worth, TX.
His May 2023 debut recital at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall drew great praise from the New York Concert Review: “Mr. Mamora’s playing itself is larger than life…(with) a technique so solid that it seemed at times that he couldn’t play a wrong note if he tried (and)…an encyclopedic array of dynamics and articulations.” He returned to Weill Hall in October 2025 for another critically praised recital presented by the HHIPC, and other current recital engagements include: Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Recital Series; Cincinnati’s Matinee Musicale; The College of Charleston (SC) International Recital Series; Cleveland Museum of Art; Bachauer Festival in Salt Lake City; Green Lake Festival in Wisconsin; Savannah Music Festival (GA); and Cliburn Festival America 250 in Ft. Worth, TX.
Following his concerto debut at age 13 with the La Sierra University Orchestra, Mr. Mamora has gone on to perform with such orchestras as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfónica de Madrid, New Mexico Philharmonic, Orquesta Ciudad de Granada, Santa Barbara Symphony, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Greenville Symphony Orchestra, and the American Festival Pops Orchestra. Upcoming concerto engagements include: South Carolina Philharmonic; Lexington Philharmonic (KY); Las Colinas Symphony (TX); DuPage Symphony (IL); and a return with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
Mr. Mamora has served as a church musician much of his life and currently serves as Organist at La Sierra University Church in Riverside, CA. He often performs as a collaborative pianist for vocalists, instrumentalists, ensembles, and choirs, and has received the Eastman ‘Excellence in Accompanying’ Award. He also values education as an important tool in music making and now serves as Director of Keyboard Studies at La Sierra University.
Jonathan Mamora is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance and Literature at the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Douglas Humpherys, whom he served as studio assistant. He received his Bachelor of Music from La Sierra University and his Master of Music from The Juilliard School. His previous piano teachers include Elvin Rodríguez and Hung-Kuan Chen.
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About The Liliane Questel Recital Series
Founded in 2002 as “The Rising Stars Piano Series” by SCC board member and pianist Liliane Questel, a graduate of the Brussels Conservatory and Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory under the guidance of Leon Fleisher. The series’ mission focuses on performance opportunities primarily for participants and alumni of Pianofest of the Hamptons. These highly talented pianists attract a loyal following. The Tenth Anniversary Season celebrated some of those musicians who were not “Rising Stars” by then but celebrated performers. In 2024, the Series was renamed “The Liliane Questel Recital Series” in memory of its founder and to cement her legacy.
Konstantin Soukhovetski, an award-winning pianist, educator, and composer, is the Artistic Director of The Liliane Questel Recital Series.
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A Tribute to Liliane Questel
by Paul Schenly
Liliane Questel’s journey was not just about her own accomplishments as a concert pianist but about the many lives she touched, the music she brought to the world, and the legacy she leaves behind.
From her early days at the Royal Conservatory in Brussels to her studies at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore under the guidance of the legendary Leon Fleisher, Liliane’s musical journey was one of dedication and brilliance. Her performances, whether it was the Bach Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue or the formidable Liszt Sonata, captivated audiences and left an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of listening to her play.
But Liliane’s impact extended far beyond the concert stage. She was a mentor, a teacher, and a friend to countless young musicians. Her support and guidance helped shape the careers of many aspiring artists, and her commitment to nurturing talent through the Rising Stars Concert Series, which is now renamed The Liliane Questel Recital Series and will continue to inspire generations to come.
Those who knew Liliane remember not only her musical prowess but also her warmth, humor, and generosity of spirit. Whether it was hosting fabulous parties with her beloved husband Arthur or sharing her insights on music interpretation, Liliane brought joy and laughter wherever she went.
Her love for her family, her husband Arthur, their son Remy, and their beloved dogs Maya and Loki, was evident to all who knew her. They were her greatest treasures, and her devotion to them knew no bounds.
Let us celebrate the legacy she leaves behind. Let us carry forward her passion for music, her commitment to nurturing young talent, and her spirit of generosity and kindness. Her music will continue to echo in our hearts, reminding us of the beauty and joy she brought into the world.
In 2005 after a recital at the Southampton Cultural Center, Fred Volkmer in the Southampton Press reviewing the concert wrote: For those in the audience who know Liliane Questel only as a presenter the evening came as a delightful surprise. We heard a pianist of rare ability, not only someone with a razor-sharp technique, but plenty of temperament and interpretive acuity, someone with a profound commitment to the music about which she has thought so long and so deeply before it emerged from her fingers as they touched the keyboard.
We will always remember Liliane.