Season Finale Concert
Maestro Eylar closes the CYS Associate Orchestra and CYS Wind Symphony season with a program of immense power and drama. We open with the Overture to Die Meistersinger, composed in 1867 by the titan of German opera in the 19th century, Richard Wagner. Associate Orchestra solo competition winner Ethan Chen will perform Tchaikovsky's elegant and virtuosic Variations on a Rococo Theme. Our other competition winner, Matthew Kim, is unfortunately unable to perform due to an injury, and we at CYS wish him all the best for a speedy recovery. We are delighted to have a special guest artist join the orchestra in Matthew's place to perform the last movement of Weber's Clarinet Concerto op. 73. Zhenyu (Johnny) Wang is a freshman at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and he has graciously agreed to perform with us on very short notice. Bravo, Johnny! A very special addition to this concert will be the CYS Associate Orchestra percussion section performing two works under the direction of our esteemed Percussion Director Artie Storch. We conclude our season with selections from perhaps the greatest orchestral work ever composed: Beethoven Symphony no. 5. Our Wind Symphony will feature works by Balmages, Mackey, and more, and will be conducted by longtime CYS favorite Maestro Pete Nowlen. Don’t miss our exciting final concert of the 2018-19 season!
Leo Eylar, Music Director / Associate Orchestra Conductor
Pete Nowlen, Wind Symphony Conductor
Artie Storch, Percussion Director/Conductor
Ethan Chen, Cello
Zhenyu (Johnny) Wang, Clarinet
Concert Highlights
Wind Symphony
Balmages: Industrial Loops
Mackey: Lightning Field
Schmidt: Adoration
Tchaikovsky: "Finale" from Symphony No. 6
Associate Orchestra
Wagner: Overture to Dei Meistersinger
Weber: Clarinet Concerto No. 1, 3rd Mvt (Matthew Kim, clarinet)
Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme (Ethan Chen, cello)
Aukofer: Jug Heads (CYS Associate Orchestra Percussion)
Halferty: Street Dance (CYS Associate Orchestra Percussion)
Beethoven: Symphony No. 5
Associate Orchestra Concerto Competition Winners
Winner of 2018-19 California Youth Symphony Associate Orchestra Concerto Competition, Ethan Chen was born into a third-generation musical family. He has been learning Cello since he was six years old and this is his second year playing in California Youth Symphony Associate Orchestra as a principle Cello. Playing in CYS greatly enhanced Ethan’s passion and devotion to Music and taught him to be disciplined. Ethan also enjoys playing chamber music and is an enthusiastic soloist.
Matthew Kim, 15, is in 10th grade at Sacred Heart Preparatory, Atherton. He started clarinet at the age of nine. Matthew has been playing with the California Youth Symphony since 2015, currently as first clarinet in the Associate Orchestra. Matthew also participates in various solo and ensemble competitions. As a soloist, he was awarded Grand Place in the 2018 Silicon Valley Youth Music Competition, First Prize in the New York Classical Music Award 2018 International Competition, Second Place in the 2017 Silicon Valley Youth Music Competition, and 2nd Prize in the 2017 Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition, Vienna.
Special Guest Artist
Clarinetist Zhenyu (Johnny) Wang is a young artist enjoying a fulfilling musical life. As an orchestral musician, Wang currently performs with the San Francisco Youth Symphony and has performed with El Camino Youth Symphony. His summer engagements include the Philadelphia International Music Festival, Boston University Tanglewood Institute young artist orchestra and the Eastern music festival.
Associate Orchestra Concerto Competition
California Youth Symphony's annual CONCERTO COMPETITION for the Associate Orchestra offers its current students a special challenge and an opportunity for public recognition. All students in the Associate Orchestra are encouraged to compete. The second and third winner will debut in this Season Finale concert.
