SEK Symphony features stars of tomorrow
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 2:00 AM
News
Pittsburg, KS
The Southeast Kansas Symphony will feature “Future Stars” from the Pittsburg State University campus when it performs at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24, in Pittsburg’s Memorial Auditorium.
The concert will include performances by PSU Concerto and Aria winners Ernesto Estigarribia, viola; Shu Zhang, piano; and Jee Yeum Kim, soprano.
“This is an event we all look forward to because the students take the roles of professionals preparing and performing as soloists,” said Raúl Munguía, conductor and artistic director for the symphony.
Graduate student Shu Zhang will perform “Piano Concerto No. 3 in E Major” by Béla Bartók. Born in China, Zhang began studying piano at the age of 5. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Shandong, China, and came to PSU in 2012 to pursue a master’s degree. Zhang has performed in the PSU Chamber Music Festival and at the 4th Texas International Piano Festival. Recently, she won third place in the KMTA Collegiate State Piano Competition (Graduate Division).
Ernesto Estigarribia will perform William Walton’s Concerto for Viola. Estigarribia is a native of Asuncion, Paraguay. He received his bachelor’s degree in music from PSU and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in music in viola performance at PSU.
Estigarribia was a member of the Paraguay National Symphony Orchestra, Universidad del Norte Symphony, the Lara Bareiro Chamber Orchestra, Camerata Miranda, Orquesta de la Provincia de Chaco (Argentina), the Arkansas Philharmonic Orchestra, Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and Suprima Chamber Orchestra, which performed in St. Petersburg, Russia, last year.
Currently, Estigarribia is a member of the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas and the Southeast Kansas Symphony Orchestra.
Soprano Jee Yeun Kim will sing “Qal fiamma avea nell guardo,” from Ruggero Leoncavallo’s “Paglacci.”
Kim is a graduate student in voice at PSU. She began her vocal studies at age 9 as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Junior Chorus in her native Korea. Kim sang with them for 10 years before continuing her studies at the College of Vocal Music at Yeonsei University in Korea. During that time she also pursued voice study in the summer master class program of the Hoschule Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. Following her graduation, Kim began teaching in high school, while also working as a church choir director. In 2012 she was a first-place winner in the West Central Region of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and a first-place winner in the Barry Alexander International Vocal Competition. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in the winner's recital for the Barry Alexander International Vocal competition in January.
The symphony will conclude the day’s program with a performance of Georges Bizet’s “Carmen, Suite No. 1.”
Tickets for the performance are $7 for adults and $5 for students ages 13-18 and for persons 65 and older. Children under 4 are free and children 5-12 are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. PSU Students are admitted free with ID. Tickets are available at the door the afternoon of the concert or at the PSU Ticket Office in the Weede PE Building, 620-235-4796, www.pittstate.edu/tickets.