Season 64
2015-2016
Senior Orchestra Roster
Associate Orchestra Roster
Wind Ensemble Roster
String Ensemble Roster
Seniors
November 2015 Senior Orchestra Concert
The California Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra launched its 64th season with two captivating performances on November 15, 2015, at the Flint Center in De Anza College and November 22 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Under the seasoned guidance of Music Director Leo Eylar, returning for his 26th season at the helm, the orchestra presented an ambitious program that showcased the full range of orchestral color and technique.
The afternoon opened with Paul Hindemith’s lively "Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by C.M. von Weber". Across four contrasting movements, Hindemith expands on Weber's original melodies using rich harmonies, dynamic march rhythms, and syncopated jazz inflections in the famous "Turandot Scherzo". The first half continued with Sergei Rachmaninov’s monumental Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, a work celebrated for its intense Russian lyricism and incredible technical demands.
Following the intermission, the orchestra performed Igor Stravinsky’s world-famous Suite from The Firebird (1919 edition). Telling the magical Russian fairy tale of Prince Ivan, the enchanting Firebird, and the evil ogre Kastchei, the score moves from gentle folk melodies during the "Princesses' Round" to explosive, modern rhythms in the "Infernal Dance". The suite culminated in a majestic and radiant "Finale," providing an inspiring start to a celebratory season that would lead the Senior Orchestra on an exciting summer concert tour across Austria and Italy.
Featured Soloist: Misha Galant, Piano
CYS was thrilled to feature eighteen-year-old pianist Misha Galant as the soloist for Rachmaninov's formidable Third Piano Concerto. A senior at California High School in San Ramon, Misha won the CYS Concerto Competition and represents the fourth generation of a distinguished musical family. He began piano studies at age six under his mother, Olya Katsman, and traces his artistic lineage to legendary teachers such as Heinrich Neuhaus and Maria Yudina.
Misha has accumulated a remarkable list of honors, including top prizes at the Ross McKee Piano Competition, the Marilyn Mindell Piano Competition, the San Jose International Russian Music Piano Competition, and the inaugural Junior Van Cliburn Competition in Fort Worth, Texas. Since making his concerto debut at age twelve with the Oakland Symphony, he has performed as a guest soloist with the Utah Symphony, the Peninsula Symphony, and the Livermore-Amador Symphony. Guided by coaches Sharon Mann and Yoshikazu Nagai at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Misha’s commanding technique and deep emotional maturity delivered a truly unforgettable performance to launch the 2015-2016 season.
March 2016 Senior Orchestra Concert
The California Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra continued its exciting 64th season with two outstanding performances on March 13, 2016, at the Flint Center in De Anza College and March 20 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Under the masterful leadership of Music Director Leo Eylar, the orchestra presented a rich and colorful program that bridged contemporary American imagery, Russian virtuosity, and vivid Italian tone painting.
The program opened with Jennifer Higdon’s "Blue Cathedral," one of the most frequently performed contemporary orchestral works in America. Commissioned in memory of the composer's brother, the piece takes listeners on an ethereal, skyward journey through a glass cathedral, using delicate dialogues between the flute and clarinet to convey a moving transition from loss to spiritual illumination. The first half concluded with Sergei Prokofiev’s formidable Sinfonia Concertante for Cello and Orchestra in E minor, Op. 125. Born from a close collaboration between Prokofiev and cellist Mstislav Rostropovich, this monumental hybrid work combines deep symphonic development with incredible solo virtuosity.
Following the intermission, the orchestra brought the concert to a dramatic, high-energy finish with Ottorino Respighi’s celebrated symphonic poem, "Pines of Rome". Through four seamlessly connected movements, Respighi creates a vivid sonic portrait of the Eternal City, from the playful children dancing in the "Pines of the Villa Borghese" to the serene moonlight and nightingale song of the "Pines of the Janiculum". The afternoon reached its triumphant peak with the "Pines of the Appian Way," as powerful brass fanfare and marching rhythms depicted a vision of an ancient Roman army advancing towards the Capitoline Hill.
Featured Soloist: Jeremy Tai, Cello
CYS was proud to present seventeen-year-old cellist Jeremy Tai as the featured soloist for Prokofiev's challenging Sinfonia Concertante. Jeremy earned this prominent performance opportunity after winning the instrumental division of the 2015 California Youth Symphony Young Artist Competition held at Stanford University. A senior at Saint Francis High School living in Cupertino, Jeremy studies with Jonathan Koh at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music Pre-College Division and has trained under renowned cellist Hans Jensen at the Meadowmount School of Music.
Jeremy made his solo debut at age thirteen performing the Elgar Cello Concerto with the UC Davis Symphony at the Mondavi Center. Since then, he has performed as a soloist with numerous prestigious orchestras, winning top honors in the MTNA National String Competition, the Mondavi Center National Young Artists Competition, and the MTAC VOCE Competition. A National YoungArts Finalist and a semi-finalist in both the Klein and Stulberg International String Competitions, Jeremy has also been featured twice on National Public Radio's From the Top. His expressive depth and technical mastery in handling Prokofiev's demanding score served as a true highlight of CYS's 64th season.
May 2016 Concert
The California Youth Symphony Senior Orchestra brought its landmark 64th season to a grand conclusion with performances on May 15, 2016, at the Flint Center in De Anza College and May 22 at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center. Led by Music Director Leo Eylar in his 26th season at the CYS helm, the orchestra delivered an ambitious, high-energy program celebrating vibrant Latin dance rhythms, classical concerto masterworks, and iconic American symphonic selections.
The first half opened with Arturo Márquez’s seductive and popular "Danzón No. 2," immersing the audience in elegant Mexican popular dance rhythms. The program then highlighted two outstanding Senior Soloist Competition winners: cellist Hannah Choi in the opening movement of Edward Elgar’s deeply personal Cello Concerto in E minor, and flutist Yulan Chen performing the thrilling first movement of Jacques Ibert’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra. The orchestra closed the first half with Manuel de Falla’s colorful "Three Dances from The Three-Cornered Hat", bringing the vibrant theatrical spirit of Spanish ballet to life.
Following the intermission, CYS Senior Soloist Samuel Chien took center stage to perform the expansive opening movement of Samuel Barber’s romantic Violin Concerto. To bring the season to a spectacular, celebratory close, the Senior Orchestra performed George Gershwin’s famous tone poem, "An American in Paris". Complete with real French taxi horns and infectious blues melodies, the performance captured a picturesque stroll through the bustling streets of 1920s Paris, providing a triumphant send-off as the Senior Orchestra prepared for its upcoming summer concert tour across Salzburg, Verona, Montecatini, and Rome.
Featured Soloists
Hannah Choi, Cello
Seventeen-year-old cellist Hannah Choi performed the opening movement of Elgar’s Cello Concerto. A CYS member for seven years and Senior Principal Cellist for three, Hannah studies under Stephen Harrison at Stanford University. She has amassed an extraordinary list of accomplishments, including First Prizes at the American Protégé International Concerto Competition, the Contra Costa Young Artist Competition, the Golden Era of Romantic Music Competition, and the U.S. Open Music Competition. Hannah has performed four times at Carnegie Hall and has even soloed for the Principal Ballerina of the Moscow Ballet. Beyond her musical achievements, she founded the Youth for Music Organization to bring live music to hospitals and retirement homes. A veteran of CYS tours to New Zealand and Eastern Europe, Hannah will begin her studies at Stanford University in the fall.
Yulan Chen, Flute
Seventeen-year-old flutist Yulan Chen was featured in the first movement of Ibert’s Flute Concerto. In her sixth year with CYS and second year as co-principal flutist, Yulan studies with Maria Tamburrino. Her honors include being named a National YoungArts Foundation Winner, attending the Boston University Tanglewood Institute, and placing as a finalist in the National Flute Association High School Soloist Competition. She also served as principal piccolo for the California All-State Honors Orchestra and won the Aragon High School Concerto Competition. Outside of music, Yulan is a four-year varsity tennis co-captain and an avid outdoors enthusiast who has backpacked through Yosemite and Death Valley. She will attend Northwestern University in a five-year dual-degree program, studying flute performance and pre-med neuroscience.
Samuel Chien, Violin
Homeschooled senior Samuel Chien performed the opening movement of Barber’s Violin Concerto. Samuel has played violin for nearly ten years, studying under Zhao Wei, and is celebrating his fifth year in the CYS Senior Orchestra. He has earned top honors across numerous regional and national competitions, including the U.S. Open Music Competition, the Southwestern Youth Music Festival, the Henry Schwab Competition, and the CMTANC Competition. In addition to his violin talent, Samuel is a varsity debate competitor who has qualified four times for the National Invitational Tournament of Champions, an avid programmer, and a Rubik's Cube speedsolver. He will attend UC Berkeley in the fall to major in Computer Science.
