The Eastman Philharmonia, an ensemble composed of undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music, will perform at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, in Strong Auditorium on the University’s River Campus.
The Eastman Philharmonia is one of two symphony orchestras at the Eastman School. It is directed by Neil Varon, professor of conducting and ensembles at the Eastman School. The orchestra presents several concerts each semester in the Eastman Theatre and also accompanies performances of operas and large choral works.
The ensemble will perform the “Russian Sailor’s Dance” by Reinhold Gliere and Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 4 in F. Minor, Opus 36.” In addition, Eastman freshman Ying-Ju Ruby Chen will be the featured soloist for Prokofiev’s “Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Opus 19.” Chen was first runner-up in the National Taiwan Music Competition in 1997 and in the Canadian Music Competition for two consecutive years. Since 2001, Chen has played part-time with the Toronto Philharmonia and has been concertmaster for the Taiwanese Chamber Orchestra.
Before joining the Eastman faculty in 2002, Varon held the principal conductor position at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Duesseldorf and was music director of the Musiktheatre in Revier and the Southwestfalen Philharmonic. He has been a frequent guest conductor throughout Europe and Asia.
The Eastman Philharmonia concert on River Campus is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Music at (585) 275-2828.