January 2, 2025

[Vancouver, WA. January 2, 2025] – The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra USA’s 2024-2025 season continues with the exceptional gold medal winners of the 2024 Young Artist Competition. This highly anticipated annual performance will take place on January 25 at 7 pm and January 26 at 3 pm at Skyview Concert Hall. In October of 2024, the three brilliant young musicians competed in three categories: piano, winds/brass, and strings, each winning a $5,000 cash prize and the privilege to perform under the baton of Salvador Brotons alongside the critically acclaimed Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Pianist, Alexander Liu, will play the expansive opening movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Then, oboist Hannah Cho will perform one of the most virtuosic oboe pieces from the mid-19th century, Oboe Concertino by Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda. Finally, violinist Mio Imai is featured in the fiery Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso of Camille Saint-Saëns.

In the second half of the program, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will perform Albert Roussel’s colorful, impressionistic music for his ballet Bacchus et Ariane. The performances will close with the sensuous, and sometimes rowdy music from Manuel de Falla’s Spanish-themed ballet The Three-Cornered Hat.

The 2024-2025 Symphonic Series season is presented by United Grain Corporation.

What: Young Artist Showcase
When: Saturday, January 25 at 7:00 pm, Sunday, January 26 at 3:00 pm
Where: Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th St, Vancouver, WA 98685
Tickets: Individual tickets available at vancouversymphony.org

3-pack symphonic subscriptions are on sale at vancouversymphony.org or by calling (360)735-7278. Virtual-only tickets are also 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. The celebrated VSO pre-concert show, hosted by a VSO musician or Maestro Salvador Brotons, will be available for concertgoers to attend before the program from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm. The virtual live stream programming begins at 6:30 pm on Saturday to air Da Capo, a pre-recorded educational discussion of the composers and pieces being performed. The Sunday performance will begin at 3:00 pm, with the pre-concert show available to attend in-person from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm. The virtual live stream programming begins at 2:30 pm on Sunday.

All ticket holders will receive a secure email link 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 Alexander Liu
Alexander Liu is a 13-year-old student at Juilliard Pre-College under the tutelage of Ms. Orli Shaham. A Young Scholar of the Lang Lang International Music Foundation, Alexander’s journey in music commenced at five and a half years old. He is the New York State Winner of MTNA 2024, grand and first prize winner at the National Young Virtuosi Recital Competition (2023), the Philadelphia International Piano Competition (2023), and the XIII Chopin International Piano Competition at Hartford (2022).

He performed with the Sound Symphony Orchestra, Brooklyn Conservatory Community Orchestra and Midwest Young Artists Orchestra for Mozart’s Concerto No. 23 and Mozart’s Concerto No. 21.

About Hannah Cho
Hannah Cho is a full scholarship student at Colburn Music Academy. She has been recognized as a National YoungArts 2023 finalist and placed first in the U.S. Navy Band Young Artist Solo Competition. She participated in the NYO2 2022, 2024 Orchestra and the 2022 NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra as a principal. She also performed Marcello’s Oboe Concerto with the U.S. Navy Band as a featured soloist and was a guest performer on the national radio broadcast, "From the Top." She is the founder and president of Empowering Arts, a nonprofit organization that provides music concerts and classes at children’s learning centers and nursing homes. She currently studies with Eugene Izotov at Colburn Music Academy.

About Mio Imai
Mio Imai, age 14, studies violin with Kimberly Fisher. Mio made her first appearance as a soloist at age of 9. She has performed as a soloist and in recitals in the United States, Italy, and Japan. She won the 1st prize in 2024 Arthur Grumiaux International Violin Competition (Belgium), 2024 Stulberg International String Competition (US), 2024 MTNA National Competition (US) and 2023 Piccolo Violino Magico International Competition (Italy). Mio plays Vincenzo Sannino's 1913 violin and Francois Nicolas’ bow, loaned by the Takeuchi Collection, through the Nippon Violin Society. She plays chamber and orchestral music in CGYM, Temple University.

About Salvador Brotons
Maestro Salvador Brotons returns for his 34th season as Music 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 from 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 46th season, has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington's arts community, providing symphonic music of the highest caliber in live performances and through music education in schools, concert halls, and throughout the community. For more information, please visit vancouversymphony.org.

About our Sponsors
The VSO is generously supported by individual donors, The M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Realvest Foundation, Oregon Public Broadcasting, AC Hotel by Marriott, United Grain Corporation, Columbia Credit Union, All Classical Radio, Gravitate, Dick Hannah Dealerships, The Columbian, Michelle’s Piano Co., Pacific Office Automation, Steinway & Sons Portland, and The VIC.

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THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PO BOX 525 VANCOUVER, WA 98666 PHONE 360-735-7278 FAX 360-906-0355
www.vancouversymphony.org