The final performance of the Ukiah Symphony’s 2024-25 season is going to be a showstopper, according to Symphony Music Director Phillip Lenberg. There will be two performances: May 17 at 7:30 p.m. and May 18 at 2 p.m.
“We are honored to present two winners of our Youth Concerto Competition, who will be performing with us during the first half of the show,” he explains.
In January, a judging team consisting of Symphony board members, musicians and Lenberg selected the two winners, who were among a group of youth musicians who submitted video recordings of their performances. “We had a number of very strong submissions, but these two individuals really made it to the front of the line.”
There were no limitations on what type of instrument could be played in order to qualify for the competition. “We received submissions from pianists, vocalists and other types of instrumentalists. The only qualification was that applicants had to be undergraduates or younger,” Lenberg continues.
Sungdu Bae, flutist will be performing the first movement of the Flute Concerto, Allegro by French composer Jacques Ibert.(Contributed)Winner Sungdu Bae is a flutist currently pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance at Sonoma State University. Sungdu served as a principal flautist in the Band of the Korean Military Academy and is the principal flautist in several major ensembles at Sonoma State University.
Violinist Serena She, 14, is a freshman Conservatory Honors Fellow at Valley Christian High School and is the Concerto Competition’s second winner. She has been coached by artists from renowned orchestras and conservatories and is an avid chamber musician and soloist. In addition to winning several national and international prizes, Serena has participated in many noteworthy events including the California All State Junior High String Orchestra as concertmaster and High School Symphony Orchestra as principal violinist. She is also participated in in Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute String Quartet Workshop. She plans to return to this summer for their Violin Solo Workshop.
Violinist Serena She, 14 will be performing the Introduction and Capriccioso by Camile Saint-Saëns’ in A minor, Opus 28. (Contributed)Honorable mention winners are clarinetist Diego Borges and pianist Callia Wang.
The first half of the concert will feature a heartbreakingly beautiful piece, “Adagio for Strings” by American composer Adolphus Hailstork. “This is an incredible, breathtaking way to open up our final performance of the season,” says Lenberg. Hailstork received his doctorate in composition from Michigan State University and has written numerous works for orchestra, opera, band, chamber ensembles, chorus, solo voice, piano and organ as well as numerous commissioned works. He is currently the Professor of Music and Eminent Scholar at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Following the performance of Hailstork’s piece, Sungdu Bae will be featured, playing the first movement of the Flute Concerto, Allegro by French composer Jacques Ibert. Serena She will follow with the Symphony, performing the Introduction and Capriccioso by Camile Saint-Saëns in A minor, Opus 28. Lenberg emphasizes that both of these pieces are incredibly challenging and will demonstrate the range of talent and musical prowess of both Concerto Competition winners. Both winners also received cash prizes.
The Symphony will close the season with Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony Number 8, opus 88 in G major. “I’m thrilled to be conducting this particular symphony, which may actually be my favorite,” Lenberg notes. “This is why we are calling this last performance, “Dvořák the Epic,” he smiles.
There will be an informal pre-concert presentation about the music by Lenberg one hour before the concert begins, and Lenberg will announce the musical selections for the 2025-26 Season at this performance.
The concerts take place at the Mendocino College Center Theatre. Tickets will be available at the door and may be also purchased online for a reduced rate at ukiahsymphony.org. Children under 12 are always free when accompanied by a paying adult.
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