Six outstanding musicians who represent musical excellence at West Virginia University will take the stage with the WVU Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Arnold, as the Orchestra presents its annual Young Artists Concert on Thursday (Feb. 28).
The program begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre at the Creative Arts Center.
The Young Artists Competition is open to all full-time junior, senior and graduate student music majors, and the winners are selected after a rigorous competitive audition process.
“The competition winners represent the finest among our talented musicians at the WVU School of Music. The competition process is rigorous, so it’s a pleasure to collaborate with students who have worked so hard,” Arnold said.
The Young Artists Competition winners performing are: violinist Taylor Giorgio, trombonist Kenneth Johnson, flutist Mirim Lee and pianists Wensi Zhao, Sheila Barnhart and Grace Leong Zhe Fui.
Giorgio, a junior, will perform the fiery “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso” by Camille Saint-Saens; Kenneth Johnson, a senior, will perform “Ballade” by Swiss composer Frank Martin; and Mirim Lee, who is pursuing a master’s degree, will perform the melodious “Concertino for Flute and Orchestra” by Hisatada Otaka.
Three works for piano and orchestra complete the evening’s program: Wensi Zhao performs the first movement of Mozart’s “Concerto in A Major”; Sheila Barnhart performs the “Adagio and Finale” of Edvard Grieg’s popular “Concerto in A Minor”; and Grace Leong Zhe Fui joins WVUSO for the first movement of George Gershwin’s bluesy, spikey “Concerto in F.”
“When winners are announced at the end of the competition, the program always proves to be full of surprises and interesting connections and this year is no different,” Arnold said. “This is the sixth time I have had the pleasure of collaborating with such talented students here at WVU. This year, as before, the program offers music of stunning virtuosity and depth.”
For tickets and information, contact the WVU Box Office at 304-293-SHOW.
For more information, visit the WVU Symphony Orchestra’s Facebook Page or http://wvuso.weebly.com.
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CONTACT: Charlene Lattea, College of Creative Arts
304-293-4359, Charlene.Lattea@mail.wvu.edu
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