Season 32
1983-1984
Roster
November 1983 Concert
CYS opened its 32nd Season in November 1983 with a series of performances led by music director Dr. Lauren Jakey. The concerts were held on Sunday, November 13, at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and on Sunday, November 20, at the De Anza College Flint Auditorium. As was standard for the orchestra's major productions, radio station KKHI recorded the performances for future broadcast.
The program presented a sophisticated chronological journey through musical history, beginning with Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D Major, the composer's final symphony, performed in its full four-movement structure from the opening Adagio: allegro to the Finale: spiritoso. This was followed by the Romantic era centerpiece, Schumann’s Concerto for Piano in A minor, which featured Patricia Hou as the guest piano soloist.
The second half of the concert shifted to the 20th century with a performance of Henry Cowell’s Symphony No. 11. This unique work consisted of seven brief, titled movements: Andantino (Life - child asleep), Allegro (Work), Lento (Love), Presto (Dance and Play), Adagio (Music), Vivace (War), and Andante (Death). The afternoon reached a grand conclusion with the sweeping operatic themes of Wagner’s Overture to Die Meistersinger.
March 1984 Concert
CYS presented its second concert series of the 33rd Season in March 1984, led by musical director Dr. Lauren Jakey. Performances took place on Sunday, March 18, at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center and on Sunday, March 25, at the Flint Center in Cupertino. These concerts served as a festive prelude to the orchestra's upcoming invitational tour of Mexico in June, which included benefit performances for UNICEF and Mexico’s children's fund in major venues such as the Sala Ollin Yoliztli in Mexico City. Critics praised the March 25 performance for its "rousing, upbeat" energy, noting that Dr. Jakey’s "intelligent programming" allowed the 100 young musicians to "play their hearts out" with rhythms that were kept "clear and crisp".
The program prominently featured works that honored the upcoming tour, including Aaron Copland’s El Salon Mexico and Jose Moncayo’s Huapango, both of which highlighted the infectious rhythms of Latin American mariachi traditions. The concert opened with the high-energy Overture to Smetana's The Bartered Bride and included Schubert’s Symphony No. 3 in D Major, a selection that provided a more classical, though occasionally less seasoned, contrast to the exuberant modern works. The centerpiece of the afternoon was Dimitri Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto in C Major, featuring 15-year-old soloist Susan Hahn, a junior at Monte Vista High School and the winner of the 1983 CYS solo competition. Hahn’s performance was described as "simply stunning," with reviewers noting her "seemingly effortless maturity of expression" and "serene command" over the syncopated orchestral accompaniment.
The 1984 Goodwill Tour: A Musical Journey Through Mexico
In June 1984, CYS embarked on a historic international invitational tour of Mexico. This cultural exchange was organized at the formal invitation of the Mexican government and served as a high-profile platform for the orchestra to demonstrate its musical excellence on the international stage. Under the leadership of Dr. Lauren Jakey, approximately 100 young musicians aged 11 to 18 represented the San Francisco Bay Area in some of Mexico's most prestigious concert halls.
The tour was distinguished by its humanitarian focus, featuring major benefit concerts for UNICEF and Mexico’s children’s fund (D.I.F.). Key performances took place across several culturally significant cities:
Mexico City: A cornerstone performance was held at the Sala Ollin Yoliztli, one of the city's premier concert venues.
Guadalajara: The orchestra performed at the historic Teatro Degollado in the state of Jalisco.
Regional Performances: The itinerary also included concerts in the colonial city of Guanajuato and the coastal destination of Puerto Vallarta.
To honor their hosts and celebrate Latin American culture, the orchestra prepared a vibrant repertoire that blended American classics with Mexican masterworks:
Cultural Tributes: The program featured Aaron Copland’s "El Salon Mexico" and Jose Pablo Moncayo’s rhythmic masterpiece "Huapango," both of which drew inspiration from traditional Mexican mariachi music.
Concerto Performance: 15-year-old violin soloist Susan Hahn was a central figure of the tour, performing Kabalevsky’s Violin Concerto in C Major to critical acclaim.
Symphonic Works: The ensemble also performed Henry Cowell’s Symphony No. 11 and Smetana’s Overture to "The Bartered Bride".
