El Camino Youth Symphony - Soloists

Soloists

From the annual Concerto Competition, student soloists are selected to play with the various ECYS ensembles. There is also a piano solo competition which is open to members and non-members.

ECYS is far from typical in that more than 20 soloists are selected each season to perform with several of the orchestras and ensembles. This practice develops young musicians as artists and trains leaders for the orchestras and ensembles.

Soloists of international stature are invited to perform as guest soloists with the Senior Symphony. In the 2010-2011 season, David Kim returned to the El Camino Youth Symphony to perform the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. In 2010, pianist Claire Huangci performed Saint-Saens' Piano Concerto No. 2. In 2009, the Assistant Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, Michelle Kim, and her colleague from the cello section, Sumire Kudo, performed the Brahms Double Concerto at Flint Center with the Symphony, as well as conducted a master class. In 2008 Martin Chalifour, the Principal Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto. The featured artist for March 2006 was Robert Chen, concertmaster of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. David Kim, concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra, performed the Bruch Scottish Fantasy with the Symphony in the October 2006 Benefit Concerts, to standing ovations. Both Robert Chen and David Kim have conducted a Masterclass for ECYS, along with their performances. In 2005 pianist Rueibin Chen performed. In 2002-2003 ECYS presented violinist Alexander Barantschik, concertmaster of the San Francisco Symphony, and pianist Jon Nakamatsu. In recent years the Symphony has performed with pianists Barbara Nissman and Vladimir Viardo, cellist Michail Gelfandbein, and violinists Philip Quint and Bin Huang.