Thursday
February 20, 2025
7:00 PM
Kopleff Recital Hall
Red Stool Party (2021)
MING-HSUI YEN | B. 1980
In Taiwanese culture, whenever a plastic red stool appears, it is a high-density emotional meeting point for Taiwanese people. Jufan wedding banquets, temple fairs, village. During local activities, or even political speeches, once red stools have been set out, something big is going to happen. The choice of bright red more or less reflects the lively character of the island's people. The excitement of everyone, unfamiliar with each other, sitting in a row, waiting for the event to start, has never changed. - program notes by the composer
Ming-Hsiu Yen is an internationally-acclaimed composer and pianist. Born in Taiwan, her compositions are frequently performed in American, Asia and Europe. Born in Taiwan, she has collaborated with conductors, such as Osmo Vänskä, Alexander Drčar, Kenneth Kiesler, Adrian Schneider, Shao-Chia Lü, etc... and with such orchestras as the Minnesota Orchestra, Taiwan Philharmonic (NSO), National Chinese Orchestra Taiwan (NCO), Taipei Chinese Orchestra (TCO), YinQi Symphony Orchestra and Choir (Taiwan), Dunshan Symphonic Wind Orchestra (China), University of Michigan Symphony Orchestra, etc...
Autumn Triptych (2023)
VIET CUONG | B. 1990
I. Thu Ẩm
II. Thu Vịnh
III. Thu Điếu
Bích-Vân Nguyễn, soprano
Autumn Triptych is a musical setting of three iconic lyric poems by Nguyễn Khuyến (1834-1909), a Vietnamese scholar, teacher, and poet. “Thu Ẩm” (Drinking in Autumn), “Thu Vịnh” (Writing on Autumn), and “Thu Điếu” (Fishing in Autumn) form a melancholy collection of verses written in response to the colonization of Vietnam in the late 19th century.
The music of American composer Viet Cuong (born in Atlanta) has been performed on six continents and his works for wind ensemble have amassed several hundreds of performances worldwide. Passionate about bringing these different facets of the contemporary music community together, his recent projects include a concerto for Eighth Blackbird with the United States Navy Band. Cuong also enjoys exploring the unexpected and whimsical, and he is often drawn to projects where he can make peculiar combinations and sounds feel enchanting or oddly satisfying. His works thus include a snare drum solo, percussion quartet concerto, and double oboe concerto. He is currently the Pacific Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence and serves as Assistant Professor of Music Composition at The University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Cuong holds degrees from Princeton University (MFA/PhD), the Curtis Institute of Music (AD), and Peabody Conservatory (BM/MM).
KING BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ | 1927-2016
The Royal Guards March (1948)
"Royal Guards March" (Thai: มาร์ชราชว��ลลภ) is the march of the King's Guard of Thailand. The music was originally composed by King Bhumibol Adulyadej in 1948 called "Ratchawanlop". The lyrics were later composed by Major General Sipho Thasanut (ศรีโพธิ์ ทศนุต) and were edited by Phra Chenduriyang. Bhumibol gave the lyricised song the name "March Ratchawanlop" in 1952.
Symphonic Poem “Rattanakosin” (2021)
VISKAMOL CHAIWANICHSIRI | B. 1995
United States Premiere
Viskamol Chaiwanichsiri is a Thai composer, conductor, and music educator recognized internationally for blending traditional Thai soundscapes with versatile contemporary styles.
Symphonic Poem “Rattanakosin” (originally "Rattanakosin Overture" ) was inspired by reading the historical novel “Rattanakosin” by V. Winichaikul, which tells the story of the lives and livelihoods of Thai people during the early Rattanakosin period—Rattanakosin is the proper term used by Thai historiography to cover the historical period of the first seven Chakri rulers, between the founding of Bangkok as the capital city of Thailand in 1782 and the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932. This song does not tell the story in the novel, but rather describes the atmosphere during the early Rattanakosin period through various verses in the song as follows:
- Rattanakosin Kingdom
- Riverside House
- Children Playing by the River
- In the Temple
- War
- Longing — Embrace
PERSONNEL
Bích-Vân Nguyễn
soprano
Vocalist BÃch-Vân Nguyen was trained at the National Music Conservatory in Vietnam and at Bob Cole Conservatory of Music, Cal State Long Beach. She recently graduated with a Masters in Musical Theater at New York University. One of the most sought-after Vietnamese vocalists in her genre, she has performed as a soloist with Asia Entertainment, the Vietnamese–American Philharmonic, the Ngan Khoi Chorus and more. She has also performed
Singer-actress-songwriter, producer, TV host Bích-Vân Nguyễn is one of the most versatile and sought-after Vietnamese-American artists. She performs in Opera, Musical Theater and stage productions, headlining concerts around the world at prestigious venues such as Kennedy Center, Rainbow Room (Rockefeller Center), Segerstrom Center for the Arts, Musco Center for the Arts, Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Quan Ngua Stadium (Vietnam), South Korea, Canada and Australia… For the last few years, she has also been performing the Vietnamese art song cycle "Autumn Triptych", composed by the brilliant composer Viet Cuong at prestigious venues and universities around the US.
Notable roles: “Muse” (lead) in the Off-Broadway musical “A World Without Harmony”, Mai (lead) in the World-Premiere opera “What The Horse Eats”, Lead in the World-Premiere monodrama “Count To Ten”, Mẹ Mõ and Sùng Bà in the opera “Tale of Lady Thi Kinh”, Cleopatra in “Giulio Cesare”, Tuptim in “The King and I”, Marian in “The Music Man”, Cathy in “The Last Five Years”… and more.
Bích-Vân produces/hosts her TV musical show “Gác Nhỏ THE NOOK Acoustic” while appearing in countless TV/radio interviews/talk shows, including being a guest coach/celebrity judge on SBTN VOICE.
Besides her 14 albums, Bích-Vân can be seen and heard in numerous productions. Previously trained at National Music Conservatory (Vietnam) and Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (CA), Bích-Vân holds a Master’s Degree in Musical Theater and an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from New York University.
Besides actively performing, she co-owns and teaches at VS Music Studios, coaches and music directs for over 20 years, including 2 years in the Faculty of New York University.
Meeka Sivilay
Graduate Teaching Assistant & Wind Band Conducting Student
Meeka Sivilay is currently pursuing the Master of Music in Wind Band Conducting degree at Georgia State University under the guidance of Robert J. Ambrose. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the University Bands, she conducts and coaches a variety of ensembles, assists with undergraduate conducting instruction, and supports the operations of a large, comprehensive band program.
Prior to her move to Georgia, Ms. Sivilay served as a band director in the Mountain Home (AR) School District, where she conducted the junior high band, taught beginning woodwind classes and assisted with all aspects of the high school band program. Along with her official duties, she assisted with the guard programs and trained marching band student conductors.
Meeka graduated Cum Laude from Arkansas Tech University with the Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education. Her primary teachers were Dan Belongia and Karen Futterer. During her tenure at Arkansas Tech, Meeka served as a student conductor for various ensembles, was as an Undergraduate Teaching Assistant, and served on local and district-wide executive boards of the Tau Beta Sigma music fraternity.