Season 58
2009-2010
Senior Orchestra Roster
Associate Orchestra Roster
Seniors
November 2009 Concert Program Overview
The California Youth Symphony launched its 58th season with a dynamic "First Concert" series that masterfully paired energetic rhythms with monumental classics. Under the baton of Conductor Leo Eylar, the orchestra kicked off the concert series on November 15, 2009, at the Flint Center in Cupertino, followed by a repeat performance on November 22, 2009, at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center.
The program opened with George Gershwin's Cuban Overture, a rhythmically complex work enlivened by authentic Latin American percussion instruments like bongos, maracas, guiros, and claves that Gershwin brought back from Havana. This was followed by Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15, which introduced a wide-ranging harmonic depth and Classical vigor to the afternoon. Following intermission, the concert culminated in Sergei Rachmaninov’s final masterpiece, the Symphonic Dances, Op. 45. This powerful swan song treated audiences to a rich kaleidoscope of instrumental colors, balancing the mellow crooning of an alto saxophone with the incisive dance rhythms of a full symphony orchestra.
Featured Soloist: Alex Chien
The centerpiece of the November series was an extraordinary performance by pianist Alex Chien, who stepped into the spotlight as the soloist for Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1. In April of that year, Alex made history by becoming the youngest musician ever to win the California Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition at just 10 years old.
Now 11 and a 6th-grade student at Saint Andrew School in Saratoga, Alex arrived on the CYS stage with an astonishing list of competitive accolades, having recently won the grand prize in the Mondavi Young Artist Competition and first place in the Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition. A seasoned performer who had already appeared at Carnegie Hall and given an international solo recital at Newcastle University in England, Alex delivered a formidable performance of the concerto's dramatic Allegro con brio, lyric Largo, and high-spirited Rondo movements.
Media and Cultural Context
Archival program notes and regional highlights from this season opener emphasized the sheer breadth of talent within the orchestra, drawing a parallel to the intense technical discipline of its young members. The concert served as a celebration of youth overcoming immense musical challenges, mirrored on stage by an 11-year-old virtuoso executing a "titanic" Beethoven masterpiece originally designed for the composer’s own competitive concerts in Vienna. This triumphant fall series set a high standard of precision and artistic excellence for the rest of the 2009–2010 season.
March 2010 Senior Orchestra Concert
The 58th season of the California Youth Symphony continued in March 2010 with a compelling "Second Concert" series that balanced fiery Spanish rhythms, landmark Russian virtuosity, and vast, cinematic tone poems. Under the direction of Conductor Leo Eylar, the orchestra delivered two masterfully executed performances, taking the stage on March 7, 2010, at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center, followed by a performance on March 14, 2010, at the Flint Center in Cupertino.
March 2010 Concert Program Overview
The spring repertoire showcased the orchestra’s ability to move between theatrical storytelling and deep, transcendent modern compositions. The concert opened with Manuel de Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat, Dances from Part II, which brought the vibrant flair of Spain to life through the Neighbor's Dance, the virile Miller's Dance, and a joyous final Final Dance. This was followed by Peter Illich Tchaikovsky's legendary Violin Concerto in D, a work well known as one of the ultimate tests of a violinist's technical ability. Following intermission, the symphony explored modern American lyricism with Jennifer Higdon's Blue Cathedral, an ethereal, deeply personal piece commemorating her late brother through moving instrumental dialogs between the flute and clarinet. The program concluded with Ottorino Respighi's magnificent symphonic poem Pines of Rome. The ensemble brilliantly captured Respighi's highly programmatic movements without pauses, moving from the light, high-spirited Pines of the Villa Borghese and the dark, Gregorian chant-infused Pines near a Catacomb, to the moonlit serenity of Pines of the Janiculum—complete with prerecorded nightingale songs—before mounting to a massive, brassy peak in Pines of the Appian Way.
Featured Soloist: Stella Chen
The spring concerts spotlighted 17-year-old violin virtuoso Stella Chen, a student at Palo Alto High School and a winner of the 2009 CYS Young Artist Competition. Chen performed Tchaikovsky's emotionally complex and technically daunting Violin Concerto in D, delivering its forthright blend of soaring lyricism and dazzling virtuosity with maturity. Studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music under Li Lin as a Marilyn Jo Wood Scholarship recipient, Chen had already established a stunning international pedigree. She held the distinction of being the youngest prizewinner ever at the Yehudi Menuhin International Competition, won first place at the Los Angeles Philharmonic's Bronislaw Kaper Awards, and had performed with prestigious ensembles such as the London Chamber Orchestra and the Welsh National Symphony Orchestra. Having spent three summers at the Perlman Music Program, she was invited just a month prior by Itzhak Perlman to be his guest soloist for "An Evening with Itzhak Perlman" in Napa Valley, further cementing her position as a phenomenal young talent.
Associate Orchestra Season Finale Concert (May 2010)
Season 58 Finale: The May 2010 Concert Series
The California Youth Symphony brought its 58th season to a magnificent close in May 2010 with a grand concert series that showcased the advanced technical mastery and sweeping range of its musicians. Under the expert direction of Conductor Leo Eylar, the orchestra delivered two stellar performances: first on May 16, 2010, at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center, and subsequently on May 23, 2010, at Cupertino's Flint Center. This finale series served as a domestic celebration of the 108-member ensemble before they embarked on an international summer tour to Argentina and Uruguay.
May 2010 Concert Program Overview
The program for the 58th season finale was exceptionally ambitious, balancing vibrant orchestrations, intense 20th-century concertos, and dramatic programmatic masterpieces. The concert opened with Sir William Walton’s sleek and celebratory Johannesburg Festival Overture, a modern rondo piece infused with native African motifs and percussion flourishes. This was followed by Aram Khachaturian’s virtuosic Violon Concerto. Adding a striking contrast of modern Latin flavor before the intermission, the orchestra performed Arturo Márquez's spectacularly colored, rhythmically fiery Danzón No. 2—a work often hailed as Mexico's "second national anthem".
The second half opened with Georges Hüe's technically demanding Fantasie for Flute & Orchestra, a historic Paris Conservatory competition piece designed to push a soloist to their limits. The concerto portion of the afternoon concluded with Dmitri Shostakovich’s acerbic and emotionally profound Cello Concerto No. 1, featuring its fiercely complex solo cadenza. The entire concert culminated in an evocative selection from Sergei Prokofiev’s brilliant ballet suite Romeo & Juliet, bringing the evening to a powerful close with dramatic movements ranging from the menacing Montagues and Capulets to the cinematic intensity of Tybalt's Death.
Featured Senior Soloists
In keeping with CYS tradition, a highly competitive annual audition was held to select outstanding graduating seniors to perform as soloists for the final series. Given an abundance of exceptional talent, the 2010 series uniquely highlighted three senior virtuosos:
Miles Shen (Violin): The co-concertmaster of CYS and a senior at the Menlo School, Shen delivered a thrilling performance of Khachaturian's folk-infused Violin Concerto. A seven-year veteran of CYS who had toured with the orchestra to China (2006) and Japan (2008), Shen was also a highly accomplished pianist. Beyond his musical feats, he was recognized for his philanthropic efforts, having raised funds for myocarditis disease research through chamber performances and sales of his self-recorded CDs. Following graduation, he committed to attend Princeton University to study biochemistry and music.
Michelle Huang (Flute): The principal flutist of CYS and a 17-year-old senior at Lynbrook High School, Huang performed Hüe's dramatic Fantasie. A widely decorated musician, Huang had claimed top prizes in the MTAC State VOCE Solo Competitions (Junior in 2008, Senior in 2010) and sat principal flutist for the CBDA All-State Wind Symphony. Also a writer for her school's literary magazine, Huang announced plans to attend UCLA in the fall to major in music performance.
Michael Tan (Cello): Serving as the co-president of the CYS Musicians' Council and co-principal cellist, Tan tackled Shostakovich’s formidable Cello Concerto No. 1. A senior at The King's Academy, Tan had achieved the rare distinction of a Grade 8 certification with merit from the ABRSM. Also a talented pianist and a varsity soccer and track athlete, Tan was named a National Merit Finalist and received an academic scholarship to UCLA to pursue molecular biology and music.
Media and Contextual Notes
The program book and local regional notices from May 2010 captured an orchestra operating at a world-class standard. The printed materials drew immense praise for the student body's diverse capabilities, highlighting that these "youthful virtuosos" were balancing professional-grade symphonic schedules with high-level academic achievements and community leadership. The public reception underscored CYS's growing international reputation, especially as the ensemble prepared to carry American youth musicianship to South America later that summer.
Pictures: Miles Shen (Right), Michelle Huang (Middle), Michael Tan (Left)
