Fairfax Symphony Orchestra Presents INSPIRING THE NEW GENERATION Starring In Mo Yang and Premiere of 2018 All-Stars Youth Orchestra

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra (FSO) salutes the next generation of classical musicians with a special performance by string virtuoso, In Mo Yang and the premiere of the 2018 Fairfax County All-Stars Youth Orchestra, featuring outstanding student musicians from across Fairfax County.

Hailed as "one of the new generation's most talented young string virtuosi", Korean violinist In Mo Yang, age 22, is the First Prize Winner of the 2014 Concert Artists Guild Competition. Most recently, he earned First Prize at the 54th International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini" - the only First Prize awarded by the competition's jury in nearly a decade. In Mo Yang will perform Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto, playing the unique "Joachim-Ma" Stradivari of 1714, the violin used by Joseph Joachim for the premiere performance of the Brahms Concerto through the generosity of the New England Conservatory.

The program begins with the premiere of the 2018 Fairfax County All-Stars Youth Orchestra in a rare opportunity to perform side-by-side with the FSO. Launched in 2017, this new FSO education initiative brings together the brightest young musicians from across Fairfax County to form the All-Stars Youth Orchestra. These seventeen, talented musicians selected through a competitive audition process receive personalized mentoring and coaching from FSO musicians leading up to the collaborative concert and are Fairfax County's dynamic music ambassadors. The All-Stars Youth Orchestra will perform excerpts from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet,with narration and scene introductions by local actors for each piece.

"I can't wait to hear these talented, student musicians from across Fairfax County in this rare opportunity to perform with the Fairfax Symphony," said Sharon Bulova, Chairman of Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.

"We are thrilled to build on the success of last year's pilot program and showcase the 2018 All-Stars," said Jonathan Kerr, Executive Director of the Fairfax Symphony. "The FSO is unique in the orchestra field by programming such a significant education initiative on our main series. Inspiring the next generation of classical musicians is vital to the FSO's mission, and this program is invaluable to maintain the artistic excellence of the next generation of orchestral musicians."

The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its 60th anniversary season. Under the inspired direction of Maestro Christopher Zimmerman, the FSO holds a broad reputation as one of America's finest regional symphony orchestras. The launch of the All-Stars Youth Orchestra education initiative reflects Fairfax County's diverse, artistic achievements, significant growth and cultural leadership, and is an indication of its vibrant future.

FEBRUARY 3 - INSPIRING THE NEXT GENERATION

Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto
In Mo Yang, violin

Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy Overture

Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet Excerpts
featuring the 2018 Fairfax County All-Stars Youth Orchestra

Also featuring: James Whalen, Sara Barker, Elizabeth Pierotti, Jacob Yeh

with Stevie Zimmerman, Director/Narrator

Additional highlights of the FSO's upcoming ambitious 2018 spring season of events include: the regional premiere of an original work by Philip Glass written for, and performed by, internationally renowned pianist, Simone Dinnerstein; contemporary violin master, Ilya Kaler performing Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 2 on a program that features the Fairfax Choral Society and the Music & Arts Chorus; and the FSO 60th Anniversary, operatic celebration featuring soprano, Danielle Talamantes and tenor, Carl Tanner.

For more information on, or to purchase tickets to, all Fairfax Symphony Orchestra 2018 spring performances, visit www.fairfaxsymphony.org

ABOUT IN MO YANG

Korean violinist In Mo Yang, First Prize Winner of the 2014 Concert Artists Guild Competition, has been hailed by the Boston Globe for his "...seamless technique and a tender warmth of tone," combined with "...an ability to project an engaging sense of inner sincerity through his playing." In March 2015, he won the 54th International Violin Competition "Premio Paganini" in Genoa, Italy, marking the first time since 2006 that the Paganini Competition jury has awarded the First Prize. He also garnered the following special prizes: Youngest finalist; Best performance of the contemporary original piece; and Performance most appreciated by the audience, confirming The Violin Channel's praise of In Mo as "one of the new generation's most talented young string virtuosi. These impressive First Prize honors have resulted in numerous performance prizes for In Mo with prestigious orchestras and at renowned recital venues worldwide, including his recent Carnegie Hall recital debut at Weill Recital Hall, a concerto engagement with the Danish National Symphony conducted by Fabio Luisi, and a special recital in Genoa using Paganini's own Guarneri Del Gesu violin, among many others.

Born in Indonesia to a Korean family in 1995, In Mo Yang gave his debut recital at age 11 on the Ewon Prodigy Series in Seoul, followed by his concerto debut at age 15 with the KBS Symphony Orchestra. He graduated from the Korean National Institute for the Gifted in Arts in February 2011 and was then admitted into the Korean National University of Arts as a prodigy in music. He currently attends the New England Conservatory of Music, where he is the only violinist in its selective Artist Diploma program, while concurrently pursuing his Bachelor of Music degree, studying with Miriam Fried.

For more information, news, and video clips: http://www.concertartists.org/artist/in-mo-yang

ABOUT THE 2018 ALL-STARS YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Launched in 2017, this new FSO education initiative brings together the brightest young musicians from across Fairfax County to form the All-Stars Youth Orchestra. These talented musicians receive personalized mentoring and coaching from FSO musicians leading up to a rare opportunity to perform an ambitious program side-by-side with the professional FSO members. The following students were selected from a competitive audition process for the 2018 All-Stars Youth Orchestra and serve as Fairfax County's dynamic music ambassadors:

Benjamin Ascoli - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Soni Bae - Oakton High School, Oakton, VA

Vincent Carter - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Huay Din - South Lakes High School, Reston, VA

Angel Estrada - Annandale High School, Annandale, VA

Andrew Gantzer - Westfield High School, Chantilly, VA

Colin Hill - George C. Marshall High School, Falls Church, VA

Liam Johansson - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Michael Lee - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Stephanie Manning - McLean High School, McLean, VA

Anna Paek - W.T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

Irene Paek - W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA

George Pekarsky - Chantilly High School, Chantilly, VA

Daniel Shen - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Katherine Yang - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Alan Zhen - Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Alexandria, VA

Yilun Zhou - Oakton High School, Vienna, VA

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