Newtown Student Named Concertmaster—

Concert Pianist Frederic Chiu To Perform With NYS

NORWALK — On Sunday, February 11, the award-winning, world-renowned concert pianist Frederic Chiu will be performing during Norwalk Youth Symphony’s winter concert. Mr Chiu will be playing the first movement from Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21 by Frederic Chopin with the NYS Principal Orchestra. The concert will begin at 3 pm at Norwalk Concert Hall, located at 125 East Avenue.

This special event is part of the celebration of the orchestra’s 50th anniversary season.

The concert will also feature the other NYS ensembles — Prelude, Philharmonia, Concert and Principal Orchestras — and will include a tribute to NYS conductor Jim Andrews, who recently left the organization to pursue other musical endeavors after a 15 year-long tenure. A reception and auction featuring exciting items such as trips, great event tickets, and special wines will begin immediately following the concert.

Frederic Chiu has established himself as a highly sought after artist with over 20 CD releases including a Record of the Year distinction from Stereo Review. A graduate of Indiana University and Juilliard School of Music, he is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards and has performed throughout the world as a soloist and chamber musician.

Mr Chiu’s activities as teacher and pedagogue are in high demand. In spite of his demanding schedule Mr Chiu, who is eager to bring serious music to larger audiences, commits time and energy to making special presentations for school children.

Norwalk Youth Symphony is comprised of approximately 250 students from 21 towns throughout Fairfield, New Haven, Litchfield and Westchester counties. Prelude Orchestra is a string orchestra for those who are often getting their first orchestral experience. Philharmonia, the newest full orchestra, serves as preparation for entry into the more advanced symphony orchestras.

Concert is a full orchestra playing on an intermediate level, and Principal Orchestra (is the most advanced orchestra, playing a demanding repertoire.

The February 11 concert will open with Todd Doan conducting the Prelude Orchestra through Folk Tune and Fiddle Dance by Percy Fletcher, Saison de Cordes (Season of Strings) by Francis L. Feese, and an arrangement of the traditional Dona Nobis Pacem.

Mr Doan will next lead the Philharmonia Orchestra in an arrangement of the Allegro movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 1, Op. 21. A Bach transcription of Choral Prelude: “Wachet auf, Ruft uns die Simme” and Bacchanale from Samson and Delilah by Saint-Saens will follow.

Richard Brooks will then lead the Concert Orchestra in three selections, Finlandia, Op. 26, No. 7 by Sibelius, New England Holiday by Robert Washburn, and the popular “Waltz of the Flowers” from Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky. Maestro Tara Simoncic next takes the podium with the Principal Orchestra.  In addition to Mr. Chiu’s performance, the orchestra will play Prelude to Die Meistersinger by Wagner, Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 by Brahms and the rollicking Dance of the Tumblers from The Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakoff.

Tickets are priced at $15 for adults and $8 for seniors and students and are available at the door before the concert. Potential members and their families, music teachers, and children age 5 and under are admitted free. For further information, contact the Norwalk Youth Symphony Office at 203-866-4100.

Concertmaster Named

For February 11

Austin Hubbert (photo) of Newtown has been selected as concertmaster for NYS Philharmonia Orchestra’s performance next weekend.

“As Concertmaster for the February concert of the newly established Philharmonia Orchestra, Austin has demonstrated musical ability and commitment to his peers, his conductor and to the Norwalk Youth Symphony,” said Valerie Szeto, chairman of Norwalk Youth Symphony. “This is a serious young violinist of whom we expect great things.”

Austin started playing the violin at age four. Today he plays first violin for Danbury Preparatory Orchestra, The Norwalk Youth Symphony Orchestra, Reed School Advanced Ensemble, and Reed School Orchestra in addition to NYS’s Philharmonia, and electric violin for the Reed School Jazz Band. Austin was recently invited to perform the first violin part of the Bach Double Concerto for Reed’s spring concert.

In November 2006 Austin auditioned for and was accepted into the prestigious Chamber Music Institute for Young Musicians in Darien. There he studies with the director, the acclaimed Asya Meshber, a Russian born graduate of the Odessa Conservatory, Ukraine, and Juilliard School. The distinguished Ms Meshberg has performed and recorded with the New York Philharmonic for the past 15 years.

When Austin is not playing or practicing he enjoys fulfilling his responsibilities as Student Council President of Reed Intermediate School. He is enrolled in Reed’s GATES (gifted and talented education services) program where he loves to participate in the development of intricate technical projects, including most recently the design of a web magazine. He is a straight A student.

Austin plays in the tennis program at Beaver Brook Tennis Club. In the summer he enjoys tennis and golf and hanging out with his buddies shooting hoops or at the pool.