[music]

Lee Koonce: Hello, everyone. I'm Lee Koonce, and today I have the pleasure of showcasing talented musicians from the renowned Oberlin Conservatory of Music on this edition of the McGraw Family's Young Artists Showcase.

[music]

Lee Koonce: Since 1978, the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation has generously supported the Young Artists Showcase. In this episode, we'll feature students of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. Founded in 1865, the Oberlin Conservatory of Music is the oldest continually operating conservatory in the United States. The school consistently ranks among the top five music schools in the country, and well-known alumni include conductor Robert Spano, the pianist Jeremy Denk, the members of Eighth Blackbird, singer Rhiannon Giddens, mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, and violinist Jennifer Koh, to name just a few.

This is the first in a series of shows featuring students and alumni from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, my alma mater. I'm so excited to showcase their individual artistry in a wide range of styles, periods, and instrumentation. We'll begin our show with Cäcilie, the second of four songs by Richard Strauss, with words from a love poem by Heinrich Hart. This performance is by soprano Isabel Merat. She's a recent graduate of Oberlin. This performance comes from the Danenberg Honors Recital in Warner Concert Hall on February 9th, 2024. Isabel is joined by Javier Gonzalez on piano. This is Cäcilie, Opus 27, No. 2, by Richard Strauss.

[MUSIC - Strauss: Cäcilie, Op. 27, No. 2]

[applause]

Lee Koonce: That was Cäcilie, Opus 27, No. 2, by Richard Strauss. Heinrich Hart was the librettist, and it was performed by Isabel Merat, she's a soprano, along with Javier Gonzalez on piano. I'm excited for you to hear our next performance, featuring the complete Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Opus 11, by Frédéric Chopin. Performed by Jiongli Wong on piano, and the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra conducted by Raphael Jiménez. Jiongli is a native of Wenzhou, China, and he is a student of Alvin Chow at Oberlin. Because of this work's length, we'll hear the first two movements, take a short break, and return for the finale movement to conclude today's show.

[MUSIC - Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11]

Lee Koonce: Those were the first and second movements of Frédéric Chopin's Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Opus 11, performed by Jiongli Wong on piano, and the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raphael Jiménez. If you're waiting for that finale, don't worry. It's coming up next after a quick break here on the Young Artists Showcase. Thank you for rejoining us. I'm Lee Koonce, on the Young Artists Showcase. Now we'll hear that finale rondo movement of Chopin's First Piano Concerto performed by Jiongli Wong and the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raphael Jiménez.

[MUSIC - Chopin: Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, Op. 11]

[applause]

Lee Koonce: The final rondo movement of Chopin's First Piano Concerto performed by Jiongli Wong and the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Raphael Jiménez. Thank you for joining us on this edition of the Young Artists Showcase, which is generously underwritten on WQXR by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. Here are a few words from Terry McGraw.

Terry McGraw: I know it sounds a little cliché to say that music is international, but it really, truly is for the Young Artists Showcase. We have helped develop young musicians that literally participate all around the world. No wonder we all are so proud of Young Artists Showcase and so pleased that you can enjoy these superb programs with all of us every week on WQXR.

Lee Koonce: Thank you, Terry. Next week, we'll be back with more performances from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, including some Mozart, Rachmaninoff, and a violin sonata by Eugène Ysaÿe. Many thanks to WQXR program producer, Laura Boyman. Our generous program underwriter is the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation. I'm Lee Koonce. Until next time. Good night.

[music]

 

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