July 8, 2025

July 8, 2025
 
Each year the Chautauqua Institution’s School of Music hosts its SAI Concerto Competition in which students at CHQ can audition for the opportunity to appear with the Music School Festival Orchestra along with winning a cash prize. Winners play in the season following their competition.
 
The competition rotates each year between piano, voice and orchestral instruments. Last year was piano’s turn, and the outstanding young pianist Sean Yang emerged as winner.
 
Given the very high level of talent CHQ attracts, it comes as no surprise that these competition winners are truly special artists. Mr. Yang was true to that form, delivering a very memorable performance of Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Sean is a thoughtful musician and one who is true to his own vision of this work. It was a pleasure to share the stage with him.
 
Our conducting fellow this summer, Hannah Schendel led an insightful performance of Samuel Barber’s Second Essay to open the second half. This is a real gem of 20th Century American music—one that deserves to be heard more often.
 
We closed with Debussy’s La Mer, a difficult and potentially elusive work for any orchestra. The nuances, shape, and flow of the work challenge the most experienced musicians, but the young players of the MSFO were well up to the task.
 
July 28, 2025
 
Music School Festival Orchestra and Opera Conservatory
Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater
8:15 p.m.
 
FALLA  La Vide Breve

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