OSU Conductor and Music Director Xun Sun conducts the Orchestra and young soloists for this special event, which features two sisters, a mother-to-be, and a young man who taught himself to read music. The concert also includes performances by the Orchestra conducted by OSU Assistant Conductor Gerald Rheault and guest conductor Zheng Guo.
Returning Young Artist Hillary performs the Sibelius Violin Concerto finale - she was featured as a Young Artist during the 2010 Halversen concert. Hillary also performed as a soloist with the Southwest Symphony in the Salute to Youth Concert 2009. She has been concertmaster and member of several youth orchestras including All-State, BYU Summerfest, Zion Youth Symphony, Red Cliffs Chamber and St. George Youth Orchestras, and has received top honors in many competitions and festivals.
Hillary’s 14-year old sister Rylee sings La Boheme aria “Quando Me’n Vo” by Puccini. Singing has always been a major part of Rylee's life and she recently discovered her true passion—opera. Rylee has been awarded superior ratings in competition and a scholarship from the Southern Utah Performing Arts Festival. She has performed at many venues including Tuacahn Summer Arts Institute, Utah Festival Opera and Musical Theater, Recitals and Care Centers.
Kristen plays Summer by Vivaldi. Kristen began her musical undertaking with the violin when she was 6 years old. At age 8 she added the piano, and at age 14 she added the viola to her musical repertoire. Kristen attended the Intermountain Suzuki Strings, learning from world renowned music artists and teachers. She joined OSU in high school and has continued with the Orchestra through her recent graduation from SUU. Kristen is happily married to her husband Wade and looking forward to the birth of her first child.
Michael performs Elgar’s Cello Concerto, first movement. Michael started teaching himself to read music at age seven, and soon thereafter began taking piano lessons. Later, he learned to play the violin, and in 2001, he began studying the cello. He is a senior at SUU, majoring in Music Performance. He has been a member of OSU since 2008, and has also performed onstage with the Utah Symphony, David Archuleta, and Kurt Bestor. He has been married to his beautiful wife, Violet, since 2011.
Gerald Rheault directs the Orchestra in The Moldau (from Má Vlast) by Bedřich Smetana. Smetana composed his popular Tone Poem Má Vlast (“My Fatherland”) in honor of his homeland Czechoslovakia. The second segment, The Moldau, depicts an imaginary voyage down the river Moldau.
OSU also performs Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody #2, Liszt’s most famous rhapsody of his 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies set, with guest conductor Zheng Guo of China directing.
Major sponsors for this concert are the Dixie and Anne Leavitt Foundation through the Rotary Club and the Sterling and Shelli Gardner Foundation. “Financial support from these foundations make it possible for us to keep ticket prices lower as well as perform in our beautiful Heritage Center. We appreciate their support,” said Sara Penny, OSU Manager.
The Halversen Young Artist Concert is held Thursday, April 18 at 7:30 pm. Doors open at 6:45 with lobby music by pianist Mikael Thatcher. Tickets may be purchased for $10 for adults, $5 for students (ages six and up), $30 for groups of six. Tickets are available at the Cedar City Heritage Center Box Office by calling 435-865-2882 or online at http://www.heritagectr.org/. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended. Children over the age of six are welcome at all the concerts with adult supervision. OSU requests that babies and children less than six years old not attend as evening concerts are recorded.
For more information, please visit www.orchestraofsouthernutah.org or call Sara Penny at (435) 586-2286.
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| Poster Design by Rollan Fell, The Print Shoppe |
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