March 18, 2012
The Arts Council of Princeton PResents
Bravura Philharmonic
Young Virtuosi
Program
Bach English Suite in A minor
Debussy Ondine
Chopin Berceuse, Op. 57
William Chen, piano
Haydn Concerto No. 1 in C major
Jessica Hong, cello
Liszt Gnomenreigen
Barber Nocturne, Op. 33
Charlie Liu, piano
Liszt Tarentella from Venezia e Napoli
Amanda Liu, piano
Schubert String Quartet "Death and the Maiden"
Bravura Youth Orchestra String Quartet
Constance Kaita, violin I - Matthew Liu, violin II
Cindy Gong, viola - Joel Howard, cello
Mendelssohn Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14
Vivian Xu, piano
Wieniawski Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 22
Kathryn Chamberlain, violin
Return to 2011-12 Season
Kathryn Chamberlain, age 15, began violin studies at the age of 5. She has won numerous awards, including the ASTA Solo Auditions, JCC Handler Master Class Auditions, and the Don Bosco Young Artists Series. She has appeared as a soloist in the Andrew DeGrado Music Festival at Weill Recital Hall in New York City and has toured Europe with the Sussex County Youth Orchestra. Kathryn was a member of the North Jersey Regional Orchestra and Concertmaster of Sussex County Youth Orchestra. She is a student of Grigory Kalinovsky at the Manhattan School of Music pre-college division.
Eight-year-old William Chen started studying the piano at age five. His teachers are Michael Thomopoulos and Olga Alino at The Palisades School of Music in Fort Lee, New Jersey. At this young age, Williams has already given a one-hour solo recital which featured composers Haydn, Debussy and Chopin. At age 7, William gave his debut performance as a soloist with “Le Petit Orchestre”. William has received the Gold Prize from the “American Association for the Development of the Gifted and Talented”(“AADGT”), 1st prize in the Crescendo International Competition, 1st prize in the ‘Little Mozarts’ Competition, the 14th New York Music Competition for the Young Artists, an award of “Special Performance for Contemporary Music,” 1st prize, and the special award in the Young Pianist Competition of New Jersey. He won the Grand Prize in the Prima International Competition. William has won 2nd Prize at the New Jersey Music Teacher Association Competition. He has performed at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall as a result of winning these competitions.
Jessica Hong, 13, started playing the cello since the age of seven. Jessica was the principal in the Central Jersey Regional Orchestra, and the assistant-principal of the New Jersey All- State Orchestra. She has won a gold prize at the National League of Performing Arts Competition, an Honorable Mention in the Goldblatt Scholarship Competition, and earned 2nd place at the 14th New York Music Competition. Jessica won the 2011 New Jersey Intergenerational Orchestra’s Young Artist’s Concerto Competition, and performed with the orchestra at the Saint Elizabeth College in Morristown, NJ. Jessica is a student of Clara Kim at the Juilliard School of Music Pre-College Division. She also enjoys playing tennis, swimming, reading, and playing with her puppy.
Amanda Liu, 14, from Cherry Hill, NJ, is a great music enthusiast. She has participated in MTNA, Westchester, SJMTA competitions, and many more. She has won awards such as 1st place in NJMTA for 2 years, 1st place in the Steinway Society Competition, 2nd place in IYAPC, 7 years of High Honor awards from NJMTA, and played in Carnegie Hall earning 2nd place for YPCNJ. Amanda attends Cherry Hill East High School, playing the piano in jazz band, earning an award for "best soloist" at a festival. She enjoys track, tennis, and playing the snare in the school marching band drum line.
11-year-old Charlie Liu has been a winner in over 20 solo competitions, including 1st places in New Jersey Music Teacher Association, Massachusetts Music Teacher Association, Steinway Society Scholarship Competition, top Prize of American Fine Arts Festival, AADGT International and Cecilian Music Club competitions. Charlie became a winner of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation Scholarship in 2008 and set a record at age 8 by completing a Carnegie Hall "Grand Slam" (performing in all 3 concert halls of the world-famous Carnegie Hall). Charlie has performed in the Youtube Symphony Orchestra debut in the Carnegie Hall, on the Ellen DeGeneres Show and Oprah Winfrey Show, and for luminaries such as Queen Rania of Jordan and Bono of U2. He also performed at other venues on both coasts, like the Lincoln Center, Merkin Hall, and the Segerstrom Concert Hall. Charlie has studied with Tatyana Berketova, Irina Kirilenko, Soo-Kyung Cho. He has been studying with Ingrid Clarfield since 2007.
Vivian Xu, 12 years old, is from East Brunswick, New Jersey. She is a student of Ingrid Clarfield. Her former teacher was An-Li Young. Vivian has won numerous top awards in various piano competitions, including New Jersey Music Teachers Association (NJMTA) Young Musicians Competitions, Cecilian Young Artist Competition, Golden Key Music Festival, and Young Artist Award from Shore Music Educator Association. As a result of winning the Cecilian Young Artist Competition and Golden Key Music Festival, Vivian performed as a soloist in Lincoln Center Alice Tully Hall and Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall. Vivian is also a First Prize winner of the Associated Music Teacher League Scholarship Competition. Vivian has received the distinction award in the Associated Board of Royal Schools of Music Examinations (Grade 8). Vivian also plays the flute, and is a member of the Central Jersey Regionals Band. Vivian enjoys swimming, tennis, basketball, and soccer. In late March 2010, Vivian was chosen as a Discovery Girl to represent New Jersey in the February/March 2011 issue of Discovery Girls Magazine.
The Bravura Youth Orchestra is an outgrowth of the Bravura Philharmonic Orchestra. The youth orchestra is in its 2nd season with over 60 members with a special focus on chamber music training as an important aspect of the Bravura Youth Orchestra. All four performers in this string quartet have been members of the New Jersey All-State Orchestra. Violist Cindy Gong is a freshman from Westfield in the Union County Allied Health School. Cellist Joel Howard is a senior from Highland Park High School. Violinist Constance Kaita, co-concertmaster of the 2011 All-State Orchestra, is a senior in the Freehold High School Medical Sciences program. Matthew Liu, a sophomore from Marlboro High School, is also an exceptional composer, winning the Grand Prize in the 2012 NJMEA Young Composers Competition.