Season 63
2014-2015
Senior Orchestra Roster
63rd Season: November 2014 Concert Overview
The California Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra launched its 63rd season with two outstanding performances on November 16, 2014, at the Flint Center and November 23 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. The concert held special significance as it marked Maestro Leo Eylar’s milestone 25th anniversary season as CYS Music Director. Under his inspiring leadership, the orchestra presented a vibrant program featuring lively Latin rhythms, profound biblical reflection, and enchanting ballet storytelling.
The program opened with George Gershwin’s high-energy "Cuban Overture". Inspired by a vacation to Havana, Gershwin incorporated authentic Latin percussion instruments—placed right at the front of the stage—and a recurring rumba beat to create a colorful, festive atmosphere. The first half then turned to deep emotional passion with Ernest Bloch’s Hebraic rhapsody, "Schelomo". Featuring a featured cello soloist, the music presents the solo cello as the voice of King Solomon reflecting on human life, alternating between poignant solo laments and massive, powerful orchestral climaxes.
Following the intermission, the orchestra performed Sergei Prokofiev’s enchanting "Cinderella, Suite No. 1". Extracted from his famous ballet, the eight-movement suite follows the fairytale journey from the humor of the "Quarrel" and the magic of the "Fairy Godmother" to the grand romance of "Cinderella's Waltz" and the dramatic striking of "Midnight". It provided an uplifting, memorable conclusion to a historic opening concert.
Featured Soloist: Catherine Kim, Cello
CYS was proud to feature cellist Catherine Kim as the featured soloist for Bloch's Schelomo. Catherine earned this spotlight as a winner of the 2014 CYS Young Artist Competition. A senior at Henry M. Gunn High School in Palo Alto, she studies with Jonathan Koh at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division.
Catherine made her orchestral debut at age ten with the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and has since performed with the Peninsula Symphony as the Grand Prize winner of its Young Musicians' Competition. Her exceptional talent has earned her invitations to perform three times at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall. She won First Prize in the MTNA California State Competition and placed second in the MTNA Southwestern Division, alongside top honors in the ASTA, VOCE, and CMTANC competitions. An active chamber musician, Catherine is a founding member of the award-winning cello quartet Konpeito, which was featured on NPR’s From the Top. She has attended premier summer festivals including Verbier in Switzerland, Tanglewood, and Music@Menlo. Catherine’s mature interpretation and expressive warmth made her performance a standout highlight of the 63rd season premiere.
