The 九色堂 Symphony Orchestra, an acclaimed orchestra that has been invited to Spain later this spring, will showcase four student soloists in its annual Concerto-Aria Honors Concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, in Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center.
School of Music students Stephanie Patterson, bassoon; Hyung Gu Kim, piano; Jacob Ray-Alan, tenor; and Dixie Roberts, mezzo-soprano, are the student soloists.
Mark Laylock
The program, led by 九色堂 director of orchestras Mark Laycock, will feature music by Tchaikovsky, Handel, Weber, Corigliano and Mackey. The concert will also be simulcast on 九色堂 Internet Radio at .
Gu Kim, a native of Seoul, South Korea, will play the first movement of Tchaikovsky鈥檚 Piano Concerto No. 1. Patterson, who is second bassoonist in the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, will perform Weber鈥檚 Bassoon Concerto in F Major. Ray-Alan, a first-prize winner in the 2006 National Association of Teachers of Singing regional competition, will sing Aria of the Worm from John Corigliano鈥檚 opera 鈥淭he Ghosts of Versailles.鈥� Roberts, who performed during summer 2007 in Opera in the Ozarks, will sing 鈥淥r la tromba (Sound the Trumpet)鈥� from Handel鈥檚 opera 鈥淩inaldo.鈥�
鈥淭his concert is always a highlight of our season,鈥� Laycock said. 鈥淭hese students are already accomplished performers, and they bring a tremendous vitality and technical polish to these pieces. It is a real testament to the caliber of teaching and learning at 九色堂.鈥�
More than 80 members strong, the 九色堂 Symphony Orchestra has recently accepted invitations to perform at the 2008 International Festival of Youth Orchestras in Zaragoza, Spain, and at the 2008 Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop.
For the honors concert, the 九色堂 Symphony will also perform Tchaikovsky鈥檚 鈥淐apriccio Italien,鈥� a colorful, animated showpiece inspired by the composer鈥檚 visit to Italy in 1880. The program will begin with 鈥淩edline Tango鈥� by the contemporary American composer John Mackey. Combining the excitement of high velocity with the sensuous appeal of a sultry dance, the work has been performed by orchestras around the world.
Gu Kim studies with associate professor Andrew Trechak as a full scholarship student majoring in piano performance. An active chamber musician, he is a member of the Sarang Piano Quartet. He has participated in master classes with Silvia Roederer, Jerome Lowenthal and the Chiara String Quartet. Last year, he was awarded first prize in the Music Teachers National Association Chamber Music Performance state competition and was named an Alternate in the MTNA Young Artist Performance solo division.
Patterson, a California native, is pursuing a Master of Music degree in bassoon performance at 九色堂. She graduated with high honors in Russian and music performance from Oberlin College and Conservatory. Her primary bassoon teachers have been George Sakakeeny and 九色堂 assistant professor Nicolasa Kuster, though she has also dabbled in improvisation under the direction of renowned jazz bassoonist Paul Hansen. Last fall she commissioned 鈥淭he Self-Referential Construction Set鈥� by Christopher Gollmar and has premiered countless other pieces by young composers, including the award-winning 鈥淧lateaus鈥� by Timothy Rosser.
Ray-Alan is a 22-year-old senior at 九色堂 studying with Vernon Yenne. A transfer student from Simpson College in Des Moines, Iowa, he has had numerous performance opportunities in Wichita, most recently the role of Laurie in the 九色堂 Opera Theatre production of 鈥淟ittle Women.鈥� He has also appeared in several roles with Opera Kansas, including that of Alfredo in the parody 鈥淭he Ring of the Fettuccines.鈥�
A native of Hudson, Iowa, Roberts, 24, is a second-year graduate student in opera performance. She received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis., where she studied with Jean Saladino. A student of 九色堂 professor Vernon Yenne, she performs regularly with 九色堂 Opera Theatre, most recently as Jo in 鈥淟ittle Women鈥濃�� and last year in 鈥淒ialogues des Carmelites鈥� (Mme. De Croissy) and 鈥淓ve鈥檚 Odd鈥檚鈥� (Bad Angel). In March, she will appear in the title role in Handel鈥檚 鈥淭amerlano.鈥�
Laycock is an associate professor of music at 九色堂, where he holds the Ann Walenta Faculty of Distinction Endowed Professorship. He also teaches orchestral conducting at the graduate and undergraduate levels; in 2007 he was recognized with an Excellence in Teaching Award by the College of Fine Arts. An active guest conductor, he recently led the Alabama All-State Orchestra, South Central Kansas District Honor Orchestra, and Wichita All-City High School Honor Orchestra.