SHE SAYS with Chee-Yun, violin April 10, 2021 | 7:30 PM Welcome to OMP's Virtual Concert Hall! Dear friends of OMP, In the past 13 months since I was last asked to write a letter for an Oregon Mozart Players program book, OMP has been fortunate to continue making music during the pandemic. From chamber music recitals to our intimate holiday and Candlelight concerts and expanded string orchestra concerts with outstanding guest soloists, we have steadily maintained our mission to bring chamber orchestra music to the greater Eugene-Springfield community via streamed high-definition videos made available through Pay-What-You-Can donations. In doing so, I'm happy to relay that we have so far reached over 2,000 households with our performances; 50% of which had no previous association with OMP! In April, on the heels of Women’s History month, we present a program centered on the musical contributions of women past and present. Jessie Montgomery, whose fresh and exciting “Starburst” opens our concert, represents the new generation of self-empowered composers who have made it their imperative to use their voices as artists to amplify important social messages through their work. The music of composer Emilie Mayer has only recently made a comeback after a century of lying dormant, despite Mayer having been the most prolific female German composer of the Romantic period, and I’m thrilled that my own arrangement of her G Minor quartet for string orchestra will receive its premiere on this program. In between, our effervescent and dynamic guest soloist Chee-Yun spins a charming account of Haydn’s C Major Violin Concerto. I look forward to hearing your feedback about the important music in this concert! Musically yours, Kelly Kuo THANK YOU TO THESE GENEROUS GRANTING ORGANIZATIONS: HAVE YOU HEARD?? Donors who have given $250+ to Oregon Mozart Players receive access to recital content as a donor benefit! This season, patrons in our "Artist's Circle" contributor level and above have enjoyed FREE access to the following recitals: A VIRTUAL RECITAL with John Fawcett, violin & Kelly Kuo, piano 2015 Young Soloist Competition Winner and BRAVO, BE ETHOVEN! with Eric Alterman, cello & Kelly Kuo, piano Join our "Artist's Circle" contributor level to receive access to our final 2020-21 Season recital event: ALL-OUT AMADEUS! ALREADY DONATED, BUT NOT YET REACHED THE $250+ DONOR LEVEL?? Make a donation to join our "Artist's Circle ($250-$499)" contributor level and receive access to "All-Out Amadeus!" as a donor benefit in thanks for your support of the Oregon Mozart Players! Call 541-345-6648 to learn more, or visit oregonmozartplayers.org/donate to make a donation TODAY! THANK YOU for supporting OMP! Upcoming Events ALL-OUT AMADEUS VIRTUAL PREMIERE: May 1, 2021 | 7:30 PM PDT Available ON-DEMAND until May 31, 2021! oregonmozartplayers.org/all-out-amadeus COURAGE with 2020 Young Soloist Competition Winners VIRTUAL PREMIERE: May 15, 2021 | 7:30 PM Available ON-DEMAND until June 14, 2021! oregonmozartplayers.org/courage 3 9 T H A N N U A L A U C T I O N Silent Auction Preview: May 29-31, 2021 Silent Auction Bidding: June 1-5, 2021 More information coming soon! oregonmozartplayers.org/auction Kelly Kuo Artistic Director & Conductor Praised by the Cincinnati Enquirer as “a leader of exceptional musical gifts, who has a clear technique on the podium and an impressive rapport with audiences,” Maestro Kelly Kuo brings a dynamic versatility and nuance to a diverse repertoire, which includes over 90 operas and an expansive symphonic repertoire as well. Recent operatic engagements include Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Kentucky Opera, Anchorage Opera, and the Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center. In 2008, Maestro Kuo became the first conductor of Asian descent to lead a performance at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, making his company debut with Porgy and Bess. He has since returned to lead the Chicago premiere of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird and performances featuring artists of the Ryan Opera Center. Upcoming engagements include company debuts with Carmen for Opera Orlando, Don Giovanni for Opera Columbus, and concerts with the Reno Chamber Orchestra and Sunriver Music Festival. Regarding Maestro Kuo’s conducting of Charlie Parker’s Yardbird for the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Seattle Opera, the Chicago Sun Times stated, “Conductor Kelly Kuo and his small but superb orchestra are a seamless match for the singers,” and Bachtrack wrote, “Debuting conductor Kelly Kuo skillfully handled the well- selected 24-piece ensemble in the enormously complex score.” Of his production of Macbeth at Anchorage Opera, the Anchorage Daily news noted, “Top honors should probably go to conductor Kelly Kuo. The sound… was full and taut as Kuo brought out the drama and lyricism. The orchestra played with robust enthusiasm and accuracy.” And of his La traviata for Kentucky Opera, critics stated, “Conductor Kelly Kuo led the Louisville Orchestra Friday with considerable verve, and no shortage of idiomatic delicacy…the sound was balanced and quite full.” Maestro Kuo also led critically praised new productions of Philip Glass’ Galileo Galilei for both Madison Opera and Cincinnati Opera and has served as Music Director and Conductor of the Butler Opera Center at The University of Texas at Austin and on the conducting staff of Santa Fe Opera. World premieres conducted by Maestro Kuo include chamber orchestrations for Jake Heggie’s At the Statue of Venus and Daniel Catán’s La hija de Rappaccini, in addition to the premiere of Daron Hagen’s A Woman in Morocco. As Artistic Director of Oregon Mozart Players, Maestro Kuo recently extended his contract through 2024, having “transformed this chamber group into...a band of professional, enthusiastic, and superior musicians, playing confidently as one unit” (The Register Guard). Recent symphonic engagements have included concerts with Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and Ballet Fantastique. Maestro Kuo also curated and conducted the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra’s inaugural Summermusik festival as Interim Music Director. Maestro Kuo has collaborated with such soloists as Cho-Liang Lin, Mark Kosower, David Shifrin, Mary Dunleavy, Bion Tsang, Anton Nel, Bella Hristova, Inbal Segev, and Elizabeth Rowe. An Oregon native and recipient of a Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistant Award for young conductors, Kuo continues to concertize as a keyboardist as the only pianist to have studied with two pupils of the Russian virtuoso Vladimir Horowitz. He is the resident pianist for the Zenith Chamber Music Festival and regularly performs recitals with the Kasarah Trio. Maestro Kuo holds a master’s degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music and is an alumnus of the Houston Grand Opera Studio. Orchestra Kelly Kuo, Artistic Director & Conductor VIOLIN Alice Blankenship, concertmaster Sponsored by Theodore W. & Laramie Palmer Yvonne Hsueh, principal 2nd violin Stephen Chong Jenny Estrin Julia Frantz Sponsored by James & Paula Salerno Nathan Lowman Sharon Schuman Sophie Therrell Sponsored by W. Mark & Anne Dean Alwyn Wright* VIOLA Arnaud Ghillebaert principal viola Lauren Elledge Dana Rokosny CELLO Ann Grabe principal cello Eric Alterman Dale Bradley Sponsored by Larissa Ennis & Lindsay Braun BASS Nicholas Burton, principal bass Thank you to our additional musician sponsors: HARPSICHORD/PIANO Nancy & Brian Davies (Della Davies, violin) John Jantzi, Peter & Josephine von Hippel (Jill Pauls, principal flute) principal keyboard Charles & Leslie Wright (Alexis Evers, flute) Sponsored by Linda Korth Sandy Whitaker (Cheryl Wefler, principal oboe & Kris Klavik, oboe) *Substitute musician Emma & John Hartman (Joseph Hartman, bassoon) BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADMINISTRATION Larissa Ennis, President Kelly Kuo, Artistic Director & Conductor Clarissa Parker, Vice President & Secretary Daren Fuster, Executive Director Craig Starr, Treasurer Darlene Mueller, Office & Marketing Manager Sarah Brown, Orchestra Representative Daniel Cho, Assistant Conductor Milton Fernández Nathan Lowman, Librarian David Guy Julia Frantz, Personnel Manager Dhruti Patel Rubi Yan, OMP Intern Hatsue Sato Paul Shang Interested in board service? Email [email protected] for more information. Oregon Mozart Players | 317 Goodpasture Island Rd, Ste A, Eugene, OR 97401 | 541-345-6648 | oregonmozartplayers.org T H I S E V E N T is sponsored by CONCERT SPONSORS CRAIG STARR & SANDY SCHEETZ SOLOIST SPONSORS EUGENE & JUDY KUO ! THANK YOU S H E S A Y S with Chee-Yun, violin Saturday, April 10, 2021 7:30 PM | Central Presbyterian Church Kelly Kuo, conductor Chee-Yun, violin Starburst Jessie Montgomery (b. 1981) Violin Concerto in C Major Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) I. Allegro moderato II. Adagio III. Finale. Presto Chee-Yun, violin String Quartet No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 14 Emilie Mayer (1812-1883) arr. by Kelly Kuo I. Allegro appassionato II. Scherzo: Allegro assai III. Adagio con molta espressione IV. Finale: Allegro molto Soloist Biography Chee-Yun, violin Violinist Chee-Yun’s flawless technique, dazzling tone, and compelling artistry have enraptured audiences on five continents. Charming, charismatic, and deeply passionate about her art, Chee-Yun continues to carve a unique place for herself in the ever-evolving world of classical music. A winner of the Young Concert Artists International Auditions and a recipient of the Avery Fisher Career Grant, Chee-Yun has performed with many of the world’s foremost orchestras and conductors. Orchestral highlights include her tours of the United States with the San Francisco Symphony under Michael Tilson Thomas and Japan with the NHK Symphony, a concert with the Seoul Philharmonic conducted by Myung-Whun Chung that was broadcast on national television, and a benefit for UNESCO with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Avery Fisher Hall. Chee-Yun has performed with such distinguished conductors as Michael Tilson Thomas, Jaap van Zweden, Manfred Honeck, Krzysztof Penderecki, Hans Graf, James DePriest, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Neeme Järvi, Pinchas Zukerman, Giancarlo Guerrero, José Luis Gomez, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and Carlos Kalmar.