LOCAL YOUTH MUSICIANS TO PERFORM WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY (SLC: May 24)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2011

LOCAL YOUTH MUSICIANS TO PERFORM WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY

SALT LAKE CITY – Members of the Utah Symphony, performing side-by-side with some of the state’s most elite youth musicians, will present an evening of classical masterworks as David Cho conducts his last Family Series performance as Associate Conductor of the Utah Symphony in its regular season.

This “All-Star Evening” performance will be held Tuesday, May 24 at 7 p.m. in Abravanel Hall, and will feature a program of works by Wagner and Bach, with young pianist Weiyi Le soloing on Cesar Franck’s “Symphonic Variations” with the orchestra.

Tickets for the performance range from $8 to $20 and can be purchased by calling (801) 355-ARTS (2787), in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office (123 W. South Temple) or by visiting www.usuo.org. Season ticket holders and those desiring group discounts should call (801) 533-NOTE (6683). Ticket prices will increase $2 when purchased the day of the performance.

Press photos available by logging in at http://www.utahsymphony.org/about/press-and-reviews/itemlist/category/35-media-kit. (Username: usuoimages, Password: media).

About Weiyi Le

Weiyi, a 4.0 junior at Davis High School and a piano student of Professor Gary Amano, has been awarded 1st place in 16 piano solo competitions since 2005, including the 2008 MTNA Utah State Junior Competition. He was also awarded 1st place in the 2006 WPPI International Piano Teams Competition and 2nd place in the 2009 and 2010 MTNA Utah State Senior Competitions and the 2010 UMTA Senior Concerto Competition. He also had the honor of being the only Utah junior selected to perform at the 2008 Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition and the first Utah young pianist selected to perform at From the Top, the hit NPR program featuring America’s young classical musicians. In 2010, at the invitation of Gina Bachauer Foundation, he provided two hour-long solo concerts for the Bachauer concert series.

Currently vice president of Davis High School’s Key Club, Weiyi was awarded four 1st places and three 2nd places during the 2008, 2009, and 2010 State Science Olympiad Competitions.

About Utah Symphony | Utah Opera

Utah Symphony | Utah Opera is dedicated to providing Utah residents and visitors with great performances which engage, educate and enrich lives. The Utah Symphony, which performs at Abravanel Hall, and Utah Opera, which performs at the Capitol Theatre, reach 450,000 citizens in Utah and the Intermountain region, with educational outreach programs serving more than 200,000 students annually. The organization employs 60 staff and 83 full-time musicians, presenting four full operas and more than 70 symphony performances in each regular season as well as a summer season at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. For more information please visit www.usuo.org.

Program

Richard Wagner Overture to Rienzi

César Franck Symphonic Variations, M.46
Weiyi Le, Piano

INTERMISSION

Richard Wagner Tristan und Isolde
Prelude
Liebestod

Johann Sebastian Bach Toccata and Fugue in D Minor (Stokowski), BWV 565


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Hilarie Ashton
Public Relations Manager
801.869.9027 office
801.335.9387 cell