Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Youth Orchestras partner for concert

Chattanooga Symphony & Opera and the CSO Youth Orchestras will partner for a side-by-side concert on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 25, at the Tivoli Theatre.

"The fun thing about this concert is that the Youth Symphony will play their own pieces, the CSO will play a couple of pieces that feature a guest cellist and guest violinist from the Youth Symphony, then the CSO and Youth Orchestra will play two pieces together," says Andre Charitat, CSO marketing and communications manager.

"It's so unique because we will have a tremendous amount of musicians onstage and the sound is absolutely incredible. It's a truly breathtaking moment to see the orchestras play side by side," he adds.

The student-professional format allows CSOYO musicians the opportunity to learn more about their instruments by working alongside the CSO instrumentalists.

The two featured soloists, Christy Song and Ewan Manalo, are the winners of the 2017 CSOYO Concerto Competition.

The CSOYO Philharmonic will open the program with Larry Clark's "Transcending," followed by the CSOYO Symphony playing Dana Wilson's "Hold Fast to Dreams."

Ewan Manalo

Christy Song

The two soloists will be backed by the CSO on Dvorak's Allegro from the Concerto in B Minor for cello and orchestra, and Tchaikovsky's finale from the Concerto in D Major for violin and orchestra.

All the musicians will perform Smetana's "Dance of the Comedians" from "The Bartered Bride" and Saint-Saens' "Danse Macabre."

A special ticket price of $15 adults, $7 children and students is offered for this concert. Tickets can be bought online at www.chattanoogasymphony.org, by calling 423-267-8583, or at the Tivoli box office beginning at 2 p.m.

ABOUT THE SOLOISTS

Ewan Manalo

At age 4, Ewan Manalo hopped onto a stool, barely straddling a borrowed 1/8th cello to begin learning to play an instrument that was nearly taller than he was. At 6, he joined the Eastern Preparatory Youth Orchestra in Greenville, N.C. At 7, he had his first of two ensemble concerts at the Carolina Chamber Music festival and was also a soloist at the Chicago Suzuki Institute.

He became the youngest participant at the inaugural Four Seasons Summer Chamber Music Institute and was subsequently invited with his quartet to perform Dvorak's American Quartet for the Four Seasons Chamber Music Festival Next Generation Series.

At 9, he won second place in the Down East Talent Search, performing a fiddling number, "Julie-O" by Mark Summer.

As part of 2x2 Quartet, a quartet comprised of a pair of siblings, he performs frequently for church, community events and fundraisers. During the holidays, his sibling trio tours various facilities to spread Christmas cheer.

Now 12, Ewan has studied cello under Annie Camp since moving to Chattanooga in 2016.

Christy Song

Christy Song was born in Seoul, South Korea, where she was introduced to music by her mom and began learning to play violin at age 3. At 5, she won first place in the youth division of the A-Classic National Competition; at 6, she won the Korean-American National Competition. She was concertmaster of the Korean Youth Orchestra.

Shortly after learning to play violin, she started learning piano under Ji-Sun Park, before adding flute after moving to the United States.

Christy has been in the CSOYO since sixth grade, soloing Paganini as a freshman in high school and Tchaikovsky as a junior with the youth symphony by participating in the concerto competition. She is the concertmaster of the Chattanooga Youth Symphony.

Christy is a junior at Heritage High School, where she has been drum major of the Legions of Generals marching band for two years. She also has earned chairs in district and Georgia All-State bands.