Glendale Youth Orchestra Presents Sibilius & Grieg

GLENDALE YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Brad Keimach, Conductor

COPLAND – Hoe-Down from ‘Rodeo’

SIBELIUS – Violin Concerto
III. Allegro, ma non tanto
Anna Gong, violin

GRIEG – Piano Concerto
I. Allegro molto moderato
Andrew Gong, piano

MOZART – Symphony No. 41 ‘Jupiter’
I. Allegro vivace
II. Andante cantabile
III. Menuetto: Allegro; Trio
IV. Molto allegro

The Glendale Youth Orchestra (GYO) is one of Los Angeles County’s leading youth orchestras. The GYO has played twice in recent years at the Walt Disney Concert Hall to great ovation. In 2011, the GYO auditioned and was selected as a PRIMIER LA Phil Youth Orchestra. Our mission is based on the belief that our young people have a better chance of succeeding in their world if they appreciate and participate in its rich artistic and cultural traditions. GYO provides young musicians in grades 6-12 from all over L.A. County a unique opportunity to play classical music under the direction of Juilliard trained conductor Brad Keimach. The GYO has been a Resident Company of the Alex Theatre for 20 years.

Andrew Gong attends Harvard-Westlake School as a ninth grader. He began playing the piano at age five and currently studies with renowned piano pedagogue Jenny Shin. Under her tutelage, he has won many awards in state-wide and international competitions. These include the Southern California  Junior Bach Festival, the MTAC State Solo Competition, the MTAC LA Branch Scholarship Competition, and the LA International Liszt Competition. Andrew also enjoys giving back to the community through music, having performed free recitals for the homeless in Skid Row. Andrew is in his second season as the GYO’s principal percussionist.

Anna Gong, of Pasadena, is a Senior at Harvard-Westlake School. She began learning the violin under her grandmother, Lubin Yu, and later on with her mother, Bing Wang (Associate Concertmaster of the LA Philharmonic). Since joining the Glendale Youth Orchestra at the age of twelve, this concert marks her fifth appearance as a soloist with the orchestra. At school she established the Cadence for a Cause, a club that performs alongside Street Symphony (founded by LA Phil violinist Vijay Gupta) for homeless and underprivileged communities. Anna has won numerous top prizes in competitions hosted by the Music Teacher’s Association of California, and she has also received second place in the state finals of the VOCE competition.