ProMusica Features Young Phenom Sixteen-Year-Old Violinist Fiona Khuong-Huu for January Concerts

NAKED CLASSICS returns in January with host Paul Rissmann exploring Haydn and Prokofiev

(Columbus, OH) – Rising star violinist Fiona Khuong-Huu will make her debut with ProMusica for the orchestra’s January concert program at the Southern Theatre. Virtuosic Violin will be presented on Jan. 27-28 at 7 p.m., and NAKED CLASSICS, with presenter and host Paul Rissmann, will return to the Southern Theatre stage on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

Fiona, age 16, made her debut with the New York Philharmonic in November of this year, under the baton of Maestro Thomas Wilkins. She started studying violin with the Suzuki method at age three and has attended the Juilliard Pre-College Division since age ten, studying with Lin Li and Itzhak Perlman. Fiona is a recent recipient of the North Shore Chamber Music Festival’s 2022 Arkady Fomin Scholarship Fund, and has collaborated with ProMusica’s Creative Partner and Principal Guest Artist, Vadim Gluzman, at the festival. For January’s program, Fiona will perform a duo of dazzling works for violin, Saint-Saëns’ highly virtuosic showpiece Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso and Ravel’s rhapsodic and colorful Tzigane, both showcasing her significant talents as a soloist.

In a delightful pairing of classical era scoring and spirit, audiences will experience Prokofiev’s effervescent first symphony “Classical,” and Haydn’s dramatic last symphony “London” for the second half of the concert with Music Director David Danzmayr leading the orchestra. Danzmayr last conducted the “London” Symphony ten years ago, as part of his audition for the ProMusica Music Director position. The inclusion of this work is in part a celebration of his decade of serving as Music Director with the orchestra.

Kicking off the weekend of concerts, on Friday, host Paul Rissmann and ProMusica will bring another installment of the beloved NAKED CLASSICS series, with NAKED CLASSICS: Haydn & Prokofiev. Rissmann, Danzmayr, and the orchestra will explore the similarities and connections between two works composed over a 122-year time span.

Through images, sound bites, and interviews with musicians, Rissmann will guide the audience through a presentation that not only explores the historical background and context of the music, but also investigates its construction in a way that is easy for concertgoers to digest. In the second half of the program, Danzmayr and the orchestra will connect the two pieces together, giving audiences new insight into the pieces.

Hailing from Scotland, Rissmann is a composer, presenter, and music educator. His works have been commissioned and performed by orchestras across the world including the New York Philharmonic, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and London Philharmonic. He currently holds the positions of Children’s Composer in Residence for Music in the Round, Creative Partner of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, and Animateur for the London Symphony Orchestra.

“We are delighted to kick off 2024 with incredible music making by the rising star violinist Fiona Khuong-Hou,” said Janet Chen, CEO. “While we are known to invite legendary talents such as last month’s Garrick Ohlsson, we also are committed to helping promote the next generation of musicians and soloists, such as Fiona. And it is always a highlight to work with our friend Paul Rissmann for fun and accessible NAKED CLASSICS — the perfect combination for our patrons, new and longtime.”

Additional information about Virtuosic Violin and NAKED CLASSICS: Haydn & Prokofiev is available at promusicacolumbus.org.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Virtuosic Violin range from $18-$64. Tickets for NAKED CLASSICS are $28 for general admission. Tickets for both are on sale now and are available through the ProMusica Box Office at 614.464.0066 ext. 101 and online at promusicacolumbus.org via Ticketmaster. “Try Three” subscription packages are also still available for the 2023-24 season.

ABOUT PROMUSICA
ProMusica Chamber Orchestra delivers a world-class and unique classical music experience—through innovative chamber orchestra programming, education outreach, audience intimacy, and artistic excellence. Recognized for its commitment to performing new and contemporary repertoire, ProMusica has commissioned 68 new works and has presented more than 110 premieres.

Bringing worldwide talent to Columbus since 1978, ProMusica offers an adventurous musical experience through intimate performances on the stages of the Southern Theatre and The Fives. The orchestra, comprised of 37 musicians, showcases homegrown talents, rising stars, and guest artists of international acclaim. Beyond the concert hall, the orchestra is equally at home throughout the community, serving thousands of individuals through key education and outreach programs. Known for its dual traditions of artistic integrity and fiscal responsibility, ProMusica is now in its 45th season.

ProMusica’s 2023-2024 season is supported by the Greater Columbus Arts Council, The Columbus Foundation, the Ohio Arts Council, Nationwide, the Reinberger Foundation, and the ProMusica Sustaining Board. Media support is provided by WOSU Classical 101 FM.

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