Schubertiology at Seoul Arts Center, Concert Hall

The Wanderings of Schubert, Ensemble DITTO’s Season 9
They have changed the classical music topography of Korea. In 2015, Ensemble DITTO celebrates their 9th season. Since the launching in 2007 with aggressive marketing, Ensemble DITTO has sold out their concerts at Seoul Arts Center for 8 consecutive years while playing chamber music, especially hardcore classical music field. Their theme for this year is the wanderer Schubert. Season 9 will be a journey of finding Schubert’s music, and also about DITTO’s wandering to keep moving forward at the same time. This is how this concert has named ‘Schubertiology’.



Violinist Johnny Lee Returns!
Especially for this season, violinist Johnny Lee (current member of the LA Phil), an original member from the beginning of DITTO will be joining the ensemble after a long time. He is looking forward to performing once again with Ensemble DITTO and this is good news also to the fans. Johnny Lee will also be touring with the LA Phil to Korea at the end of March.



The new super rookies, Steven Lin & Jay Campbell
The new members are also to be noted. For the Season 9, we welcome new pianist Steven Lin to where Dong-Hyek Lim and Ji-Yong formerly took place. Steven Lin is a pianist highly recommended by the ensemble’s leader Richard Yongjae O’Neill and he has left a strong impression by making a surprise appearance at last year’s DITTO encore concert. . Steven Lin has won the 2013 Concert Artist Guild and since the 2014 Rubinstein Competition has been emerging as a pianist. He has attended the Julliard Pre-College Division and at age 13 debuted in Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic. His debut in Korea will be through the piano duo concert with pianist Dong-Hyek Lim (June 17, Concert Hall at Seoul Arts Center) and the Ensemble DITTO Season 9 Recital. In particular, the Schubert piano trio that he will be playing is well known as the theme song of the Korean film .



Cellist Jay Campbell is also a rising star in the U.S. Last year, he participated in Richard Yongjae O’Neill’s 10th anniversary Korea debut concert tour. At the time, Richard Yongjae O’Neill had formed an ensemble for his concert by gathering talented musicians with hopes of giving younger musicians a chance as he himself had found an opportunity with the Sejong Soloists ten years ago. Jay Campbell was one of the cellists that of course stood out. He is currently studying at Julliard and since the concert last year Richard Yongjae O’Neill had kept him in mind for the Schubert string quintet that requires two cellists. Jay Campbell will also be performing with Ensemble DITTO at the Different DITTO concert (June 20, LG Art Center).



Repertoire selected by Richard Yongjae O’Neill, Stefan Jackiw, and other star musicians
The members that have stayed with Ensemble DITTO are still here. Along with the ensemble leader Richard Yongjae O’Neill, Stefan Jackiw (violin), and Michael Nicolas(cello) set aside their personal activities in June every year to return here to present strong ensemble music. This year they will start off with Schubert’s string quartet Quartettsatz and continue with piano trio no. 2 and Schubert’s last chamber music which is the string quintet. The string quintet is in original form with requirements for two cellists and it was completed two months before Schubert’s death. The work seems as if trying to express the final greatness achieved by Schubert. Stefan Pi Jackiw, Johnny Lee, Richard Yongjae O’Neill, Michael Nicolas, Jay Campbell will be joining this musical journey.
Ages: 7 years and over