Classical Concert January 21-22, 2023


National Young Artist Gold Medalists To Perform With VSO

Selected from over 100 submissions nationwide, these incredible young musicians will make their VSO debut!


The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA’s 2022/23 season continues with the 2022 National Young Artist Competition gold medal winners on January 21-22 at Skyview Concert Hall. This annual program is regularly among best-attended of the VSO’s symphonic season and is now drawing viewers from across the nation via live stream. Violinist Jinan Laurentia Woo of New Jersey will perform Jean Sibelius’s Concerto in D minor for Violin and Orchestra, 1st Mov., bassoonist Preston Atkins of Iowa will perform Carl Maria von Weber’s Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra in F Major, and pianist Anwen Deng of Pennsylvania will perform Concerto in A Minor for Piano and Orchestra, 1st Mov. by Robert Schumann.

In the second half of the program, Maestro Salvador Brotons will lead the VSO in a long-awaited performance of Brahms’s timeless 4th Symphony. Composed in 1884-85, it is considered by many to be Brahms’s finest symphonic work. Musically rich and contemplative, and yet succinct, the symphony grows from a single haunting theme that is echoed throughout. It premiered to great renown in October 1885, and has been a mainstay of orchestras since.

The three gold medalists competed live last October in a group of nine finalists aged 18 and under, and were selected by a panel of prestigious judges: David Shifrin – Former Artistic Director of Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and Chamber Music Northwest and Clarinet Professor at the Yale School of Music; Sarah Ioannides – Music Director and Conductor of Symphony Tacoma, Artistic Director of Cascade Conducting and Composing; Zuill Bailey – GRAMMY award-winning cellist, Artistic Director of Sitka Summer Music Festival and Cello Professor at UT El Paso; Dr. Igal Kesselman – Artistic Director of Kaufman Music Center International Piano Competition; and Dr. Stephen Shepherd – VSO and Portland Columbia Symphony Associate Concertmaster.

Tickets are on sale now by clicking here or by calling (360) 735-7278.

  • Following the continued popularity of the live stream for all symphonic concerts, the VSO will continue to offer the option of viewing the program live from home. Virtual-only tickets are available, and all in person ticket holders will have the option of viewing virtually.
  • The Saturday performance at Skyview Concert Hall will begin at 7:00 pm, with the celebrated VSO pre-concert show Da Capo, hosted by VSO Podcast host Ashley Johnson and VSO trombonist Greg Scholl, airing only on the live stream at 6:30 pm. During intermission, the live-stream will feature special video programming. The Sunday performance will begin at 3:00 pm, with the virtual live stream programming beginning at 2:30 pm.
  • All ticket holders will receive a secure email link in order to access the live-stream performances.
  • Our tech support team will be on standby to assist you if you have any issues logging in during the performances.

About Salvador Brotons

Maestro Salvador Brotons returns for his 32nd season as Artistic Director and Conductor of the VSO. In addition to the VSO, he has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de les Illes Balears “Ciutat de Palma” (1997-2001, 2009-2013) and the Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés (1997-2002). He is presently the Conductor of the Barcelona Symphonic Band. In 2005, he received the “Arts Council” award by the Clark County and The City of Vancouver as well as the Kiwanis Rose Award. He has guest conducted orchestras in countries such as the U.S., Israel, France, Germany, China, Poland, South Korea, Mexico, Uruguay, and Colombia.


About The VSO

The VSO, now in its 44th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington's arts community, providing symphony music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community.


About Our Sponsors

The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, All Classical Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The Community Foundation of Southwest Washington, CUSO at Columbia Credit Union, The Columbian, Dick Hannah Dealerships, PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, Koelsch Senior Communities, Opsahl Dawson CPAs, Clark Public Utilities, the Vancouver Innovation Center, Realvest Corporation, AC Hotel by Marriott, Riverview Bank, and Michelle’s Piano Co.

VSO Pre-Show

The 2022-2023 Concert Season welcomes back the critically acclaimed video series from the VSO! Hosted by Greg Scholl and Ashley Hall, this exciting pre-show will broadcast on the VSO concert live stream 30 minutes before the concert performance. Full of fascinating information about the repertoire and plenty of laughs, you won’t want to miss it!

Ashley Hall

Ashley Hall has been with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra since October of 2019. Since December of 2019 she has been the host and producer of The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Podcast, interviewing prominent VSO figures and guests as well as sharing past VSO performances in the special series VSO Encore. Ashley graduated from Western Washington University in 2013 with a degree in English Literature, and has been active in the Vancouver arts community for over 15 years. She was formerly the music director for the Young Slocum House Players in 2011, and has been on the Board of Pacific Stageworks Theater Company since August of 2019.

Outside of saying flowery things about recordings of classical music Ashley produces two other podcasts, acts and sings in community theater productions, and plays nerdy tabletop games with her husband Will Johnson (the superhero who keeps Skyview Concert Hall running). It’s also rumored that she’s the girl who answers the phone when you call the VSO office, but none can say for certain.


Greg Scholl

Greg Scholl has played trombone in the VSO since 1993 - he became principal trombone in 1995. He is also principal trombone in the Portland Columbia Symphony and the Newport Symphony. Greg also plays locally in the Portland Brass Quintet and the Portland Festival Symphony. He has performed with the Oregon Ballet Theater, the Oregon Symphony, the Portland Opera, the Salem Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Chamber Orchestra, the Portland Symphonic Choir, the Willamette Master Chorus, and the Portland Gay Men's Chorus. He has performed with the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Portland Symphonic Choir. Greg was formerly second trombone in the Austin Lyric Opera.
Greg is the trombone and low brass instructor at Pacific University. He obtained a trombone performance degree at the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied with Donald Knaub. Prior to that he studied with Peter Kline and David Brown in San Antonio, TX. Greg plays in the Portland modern jazz duo Dos Hermanos de Hale Bopp. He also plays guitar and trombone in a variety of styles with local bands and performers such as the Rhythm Dogs, Goombahttsi, and Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Justin Shandor.
After rejecting the millions of dollars people offered him to play the trombone, Greg obtained a law degree in 1995 from Lewis & Clark Northwestern School of Law. During most business days he can be found practicing law as the director of the capital case team at the Metropolitan Public Defender. He enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, reading, camping and hiking, collecting things like Conan the Barbarian comic books, LP records, and concert recordings of the Grateful Dead, and being married to incredible principal bassoonist Margaret McShea. Their son Ben is now in college - he was practically raised at VSO rehearsals back in the day.