FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2014
Midori in Concert with Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra and
Young People’s Chamber Orchestra on March 2 at Weill Hall
Renowned violinist will spend one week in residence with SRS Youth Ensembles
(SANTA ROSA, CA) – The renowned violinist Midori performs in
concert with the Santa Rosa Symphony’s Youth Orchestra (YO) and
Young People’s Chamber Orchestra (YPCO) in Weill Hall at the
Green Music Center on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 3 p.m. Midori’s
appearance is a result of the Symphony’s being awarded a weeklong residency with the artist from her Orchestra Residencies
Program (ORP), a comprehensive community engagement and
performance project. This prestigious 2013-2014 residency was
one of only two awarded nationally.
World Premiere by local composer on the program
The Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, directed by Aaron
Westman, begins the March 2 concert with a World Premiere piece, Variations on a Theme by Björk,
inspired by the Icelandic superstar and written for the ensemble by Ben Taylor, an accomplished
composer and Santa Rosa Symphony’s Director of Education. Midori performs Bach’s Concerto in D
minor for Two Violins side-by-side with YPCO soloists Emily Chu (first movement); Zachary Jorin
(second movement) and Peter Duranceau (third movement). YPCO violist Aimee Gruen is featured in
Brahms’ Adagio from the Viola Quintet in B minor. (See bios of all the SRS Youth Ensembles musicians
at the end of this release.) Mendelssohn’s Sinfonia No. 10 rounds out the YPCO portion of the concert.
The Youth Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Richard Loheyde, performs the overture to Verdi’s
opera Nabucco; the finale from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F minor; and Mendelssohn’s Concerto
for Violin in E minor, featuring Midori as violin soloist. In addition, members of the Santa Rosa
Symphony professional orchestra will join the young musicians for what should be a dazzling
performance.
Tickets
Single tickets are $25, $35 and $45. Call (707) 546-8742, purchase online at santarosasymphony.com,
or come in person to the Symphony Patron Services Office at 50 Santa Rosa Avenue (north door
entrance, off the elevator lobby), from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Wednesdays 10:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. and on Saturdays of performance weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Concert Time and Location
Midori in Concert with SRS Youth Ensembles takes place on Sunday, March 2, 2014 at 3 p.m.
Performance is at Weill Hall, Green Music Center, Sonoma State University (Petaluma Hill Road and
Rohnert Park Expressway). There is no additional parking fee for Santa Rosa Symphony concerts.
Midori residency
Midori will collaborate in a wide range of community activities in addition to rehearsing and
performing with the SRS Youth Orchestra and Young People’s Chamber Orchestra. Those that present
photo opportunities for members of the press are starred.
Wednesday, February 26
*10:00am
Press Q&A Opportunity with Midori
*10:15am
Presentation at Cali Calmecac School
1:00pm
Masterclass at Sonoma State University
Thursday, February 27
1:00pm
Presentation at Sheppard School
*3:00pm
Visit to Simply Strings program at Sheppard School
4:00pm
Masterclass at Santa Rosa High School
Saturday, March 1
Afternoon:
Super Strings Day rehearsal: school strings programs and community string
players of all ages are invited to participate in a fun experience of learning, sharing and music
making together with their community and special guest, Midori. RSVP required to participate.
*3:00pm
Super Strings Day concert: Free public performance by a string orchestra of
musicians from across Sonoma County, musicians of all ages, with special guest, Midori.
Sunday, March 2
*12:00pm
Panel Discussion & Masterclass: Challenges & Benefits for a Music Career
The public may observe a free, moderated discussion at the Green Music Center with Midori
and other professionals from a number of music disciplines as they address the unique qualities
of a professional music career. Includes a short masterclass with Midori.
3:00pm
Midori in Concert with the Youth Orchestra & Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, performing as
soloist on the Bach Double Violin Concerto and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto
Additional press opportunities are available during orchestra rehearsals by arrangement. Please
contact SRS Director of Education Ben Taylor, (707) 546-7097 ext. 220, for details.
Midori, brief biography
The 2013-2014 season marks the 31st year of violinist Midori’s performing career. It also brings the
release of two new recordings. Season highlights include her first performances in Iceland, India and
Africa; the UK premiere of Peter Eötvös' new violin concerto DoReMi, written for Midori and scheduled
for performance by one of its co-commissioners, the BBC PROMS, featuring the Philharmonia
Orchestra under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen; and an extended community engagement
program in Myanmar in December. She will appear with James Conlon and the Montreal Symphony,
the Louisville Symphony and Jorge Mester, and with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under
Christoph Eschenbach.
Midori is recognized as an extraordinary performer, a devoted and gifted educator, and an
innovative community engagement activist. In recognition of the breadth and quality of her work in
these three entirely separate fields, in 2012 she was given the prestigious Crystal Award by the World
Economic Forum in Davos, was elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and was awarded
an honorary doctorate in music by Yale University. In 2007, she was named a Messenger of Peace by
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
In essence, over the years she has created a new model for young artists who seek to balance
the joys and demands of a performing career at the highest level with a hands-on investment in the
power of music to change lives. Named Distinguished Professor of Music at the University of Southern
California in 2012, Midori works with her students at USC's Thornton School, where she is also Jascha
Heifetz Chair and Chair of the Strings Department. Complete bio here.
Youth Ensembles soloists’ biographies
Emily Chu, violin
Emily Chu started playing violin at four years of age. She also plays the piano and sings,
but her main focus remains on becoming an accomplished violinist. She studies under Ivy
Zenobi, and before that with Kathy Marshall and Linda Ghidossi-Deluca. Ms. Chu
currently sings with the Santa Rosa High School choir as a freshman and has attended the
Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan, where she majored in musical theater. She
has played with the Santa Rosa Symphony’s Young People’s Chamber Orchestra (YPCO)
since 4th grade, and the SRS Youth Orchestra (YO) since 7th grade. Ms. Chu recently
joined the Young Person’s Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) in Berkeley, CA with her older
sister Caroline, and they are looking forward to touring together this summer at Carnegie Hall and Harvard
University.
Peter Duranceau, violin
Eighteen-year-old Peter Duranceau is concertmaster of the Santa Rosa Symphony
Youth Orchestra and Young People's Chamber Orchestra. He has held positions as a
soloist, concertmaster, or principal with the Santa Rosa Symphony’s Preparatory and
Repertory Orchestras and the Santa Rosa Junior College Orchestra, and has performed
with Sonoma State University’s Chamber Ensemble and the San Francisco Conservatory
as a Young Artists' Winner. Mr. Duranceau was the 2012 Etude Competition first place
winner in Senior Piano and the 2013 second place winner in Senior Strings. Mr.
Duranceau is the Organist and Choir Accompanist at First Presbyterian Church of Santa
Rosa, where he also plays in the Chancel Handbell Choir. Mr. Duranceau began his musical studies at the age of
six in the Santa Rosa Symphony Summer Music Academy violin class and the Move Over Mozart piano program.
He continued studying piano at Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College. Mr. Duranceau currently
studies violin with Sarn Oliver, a first violinist with the San Francisco Symphony. Along with his musical interests,
Mr. Duranceau also enjoys playing tennis.
Aimee Gruen, viola
Aimée Gruen is 15 years old and has been playing viola since she was eleven and piano
since she was six. This is Ms. Gruen’s second year as a member of the Young People’s
Chamber Orchestra and as principal violist in the Youth Orchestra. Ms. Gruen participated
in the 2013 Bay of Hope Festival, in which five Bay Area youth orchestras came together
and raised money for charity. She has also played with the Santa Rosa Symphony in its
“side-by-side” program. Ms. Gruen currently studies viola with Meg Eldridge, previously
studying with Richard Loheyde and Elizabeth Erickson. She also studies piano with Ann
Boatright. Recently, Ms. Gruen participated in Sonoma State University’s Student
Repertory Chamber Music Recital under Marilyn Thompson. Ms. Gruen is a sophomore at Credo High School,
and her ambition is to play and perform chamber music professionally. Her other interests include creative
writing, reading, cosmology, philosophy and snorkeling. She lives in Sebastopol with her parents, her dog and
her two cats.
Zachary Jörin, violin
Zachary Jörin was born in Hanoi, Vietnam in 1999. He has lived in Sonoma County
since he was four months old and is currently a freshman at Maria Carrillo High
School. Mr. Jörin has been playing violin for 7½ years. He began his violin studies at
age 6½ with Jennifer Sills for two years, then studied with Dr. Richard Loheyde for
five years, and now studies with Dawn Dover. Mr. Jörin is in his sixth year with the
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Ensembles, having previously been a member of the
Preparatory Orchestra and concertmaster of the Repertory Orchestra. He joined the
Young People’s Chamber Orchestra in 2011 and served as Concert Master in the fall
of 2013. Mr. Jörin is in his second year in the Youth Orchestra, serving as Assistant
Concert Master. He attended the Suzuki Summer Music Institutes for several years
and has attended the Sequoia Chamber Music Workshop for two years. Mr. Jörin is an excellent student and, in
addition to playing violin, his hobbies include jazz dance, tennis and international travel with his family.
CALENDAR LISTING
What: Classical Concert
Who:
Guest soloist Midori, violin
Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra, Richard Loheyde, conductor
Young People’s Chamber Orchestra, Aaron Westman, director
Program:
TAYLOR: Variations on a Theme by Björk, WORLD PREMIERE
MENDELSSOHN: Sinfonia No. 10 in B minor
BRAHMS: Adagio from Viola Quintet in B minor, Op. 115
Aimee Gruen, viola soloist
BACH: Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043
Midori, violin soloist side-by-side with YPCO soloists:
Emily Chu, First Movement
Zachary Jorin, Second Movement
Peter Duranceau, Third Movement
-INTERMISSIONVERDI: Overture to Nabucco
TCHAIKOVSKY: Finale from Symphony No. 4 in F minor
MENDELSSOHN: Concerto for Violin in E minor, Op. 64
Midori, violin soloist
Date and Time:
Sunday, March 2, 2014, 3 p.m.
Venue: Weill Hall, Green Music Center at Sonoma State University (Petaluma Hill Road and Rohnert
Park Expressway)
Cost: Single tickets $25, $35, $45
Tickets: Online santarosasymphony.com, by phone 54-MUSIC (707-546-8742) or in person at the SRS
Patron Services Office, 50 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday.
__________________
MEDIA CONTACT: Sara Mitchell
Director of Marketing and Public Relations
707-546-7097 ext.218
sara@santarosasymphony.com
or
Benjamin Taylor
Director of Education
707-546-7097 ext. 220
btaylor@santarosasymphony.com