The 92nd Street Y, New York announces Midsummer MusicFest 2024

The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY), one of New York’s leading cultural venues, presents the Curtis Institute of Music in 92NY’s Midsummer MusicFest from Tuesday, July 23 to Friday, July 26, 2024 at 7:30 pm at Buttenwieser Hall at The Arnhold Center. Tickets start at $35 and are available at 92NY.org/midsummer. Online streaming is also available for 72 hours following each performance.

This summer, some of classical music’s most exciting young artists from the world-renowned Curtis Institute of Music are coming to the 92NY stage. Curtis’ famed alumni include Anthony McGill, Yefim Bronfman, Lang Lang and many others. Hear the next generation of classical music’s great artists in three concerts at 92NY's Midsummer MusicFest!

Curtis at 92NY: Sophia Hunt, soprano; Sara Han, clarinet; Roberto Díaz, viola; Ying Li, piano

Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 7:30 pm

Soloists associated with the Curtis Institute of Music – soprano Sophia Hunt, clarinetist Sara Han, Curtis president and viola master Roberto Díaz, and pianist Ying Li – join us to kick off this summer’s Midsummer MusicFest with a lyrical program.

Composers who are among the school’s most notable alumni – Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber, and Ned Rorem – are at the heart of the program, which includes Bernstein’s first published composition, his Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. This early work, performed here by Han and Li, shows glimpses of the influences to be heard in Bernstein’s later masterworks – jazzy Latin flavors, modern European, lyrical Americana. The song set includes selections from West Side Story, along with others by Barber and Rorem.

Schubert, Impromptu No. 3 in G-flat Major, D. 899

Liszt, Concert paraphrase on Verdi’s Rigoletto, S. 434

Bernstein, Sonata for Clarinet and Piano

Bernstein, “I Hate Music!”

Bernstein, “Dream with Me” from Peter Pan

Bernstein, “Somewhere” from West Side Story

Barber, “Thy love”

Barber, “Of that so sweet imprisonment”

Barber, “Nocturne”

Rorem, “Alleluia”

Bruch, Selections from Eight Pieces for Clarinet, Viola and Piano, Op. 83

This program is part of Curtis on Tour.

Curtis at 92NY: Sophia Hunt, soprano; Sara Han, clarinet; Ying Li, piano

Wednesday, July 24, 7:30 PM

This second Midsummer MusicFest concert from soprano Sophia Hunt, clarinetist Sara Han, and pianist Ying Li features repertoire ranging from Classical – including a Mozart aria and Schubert’s beloved “The Shepherd on the Rock” – to Villa-Lobos, in the aria from Bachinanas Brasileiras No. 5 sung by Brazilian-American soprano Sophia Hunt, and more. Gershwin’s jazzy Three Preludes sets up the concert’s finale, Ravel’s La Valse.

Mozart, “L’amerò, sarò costante” from Il re pastore

Schubert, “The Shepherd on the Rock,” D. 965

Villa-Lobos, “Cantilena” from Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5

Villa-Lobos, “Melodia sentimental”                                                    

Ernani Braga, “Cinco Canções Nordestinas do Folclore Brasileiro”       

Gershwin, Three Preludes (arr. James Cohn)

Ravel, La Valse

This program is part of Curtis on Tour.

Curtis at 92NY: Timothy Chooi, violin; Ji Su Jung, marimba

Friday, July 26, 7:30 PM

The final program of this season’s Midsummer MusicFest pairs internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi with Ji Su Jung, the first percussionist ever to be awarded the Avery Fisher Career Grant. The artists present a program ranging from Piazzolla to Romantic works by Schumann and Kreisler to modern perspectives including a work by Keith Jarrett, blending violin and keyboard-leaning marimba. The program culminates in Mexican composer Gabriela Ortiz’ Atlas Pumas, written for violin and marimba, and inspired by a soccer match – a playful end to the festival.

Piazzolla, Histoire du Tango 

R. Schumann, Three Romances, Op. 94        

Kreisler, Recitativo and Scherzo Caprice, Op. 6   

Keith Jarrett, Selections from The Köln Concert 

Gabriela Ortiz, Atlas Pumas 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Brazilian-American soprano Sophia Hunt's performances have been praised as “trenchant” and “vocally skilled” (Opera News), “exceptionally strong both vocally and dramatically” (Parterre Box), and “vibrant and musically intelligent” (Broad Street Review). Hunt is a current member of the Dutch National Opera Studio. She is from Brooklyn, NY, and received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Curtis Institute of Music, where she most recently held the Rubenstein Fellowship and worked with Carol Vaness. Hunt was the top prize winner in the 2023 Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition and the 2023 Orpheus Vocal Competition, and a national semifinalist in the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition.

Hunt is passionate about concert and recital work and has recently sung with Opera Philadelphia, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, the City Choir of Washington, Curtis on Tour in Greece, the Main Line Symphony Orchestra, and the Art Song Preservation Society of New York. She was a recipient of grants from the Winston Classical Voice Scholarship and the Pittsburgh Foundation, and a prize winner in the Opera Birmingham Vocal Competition, the Dorothy Lincoln Smith Competition in Classical Voice, and the International Collegiate Singing Championship, among others. Hunt was a fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and has participated in the Joyce DiDonato master classes at Carnegie Hall, Houston Grand Opera’s YAVA, and SongFest.

From Seoul, South Korea, Sara Han is an active clarinetist and performer across stages around the world. Han is currently a DaCamera Young Artist based in Houston, TX, where she performs chamber music and engages with communities across the city. Additionally, she is an active orchestral performer, having recently performed with The Florida Orchestra, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra, and the Houston Ballet Orchestra.

Han recently completed her master’s degree at the Rice University Shepherd School of Music. She completed her undergraduate studies at the Curtis Institute of Music, during which she served as acting principal clarinetist of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of Symphony in C. Han attended the Music Academy of the West in the summer of 2019 and was named winner of the Keston MAX Audition. She also attended the New York String Orchestra Seminar, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and the National Youth Orchestra of the USA. Han was a winner of the 2018 Yamaha Young Performing Artists Competition, has been featured on the NPR radio show From the Top, and has appeared as soloist with the Interlochen Arts Academy Orchestra and the Seoul Romance Orchestra. Han has also previously attended The Juilliard School and the Interlochen Arts Academy, and is thankful for the guidance of Richie Hawley, Anthony McGill, and Emil Khudyev.

A violist of international reputation, Roberto Díaz is president and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music, following in the footsteps of renowned soloist/directors such as Efrem Zimbalist and Rudolf Serkin.

As a soloist, Díaz collaborates with leading conductors on stages throughout the world. He has worked directly with important 20th- and 21st-century composers, including Krzysztof Penderecki—whose viola concerto he has performed numerous times with the composer on the podium and whose double concerto he premiered in the United States—as well as Edison Denisov, Jennifer Higdon, Ricardo Lorenz, and Roberto Sierra.

Díaz enjoys collaborating with young musicians, bringing a fresh approach to the repertoire and providing invaluable opportunities to artists starting their careers. In addition to performing with major string quartets and pianists, he is a member of the Díaz Trio. His recordings include a Grammy-winning performance of the Jennifer Higdon Viola Concerto, a Grammy-nominated disc of viola transcriptions by William Primrose for Naxos, and releases on the Artek, Bridge Records, Dorian, Nimbus, and New World labels.

In addition to his decade-long tenure as principal viola of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Díaz was also principal viola of the National Symphony under Mstislav Rostropovich and a member of the Boston Symphony and the Minnesota Orchestra. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, where he continues to serve on the faculty, holding the James and Betty Matarese Chair in Viola Studies and the Nina von Maltzahn President's Chair. Díaz plays the ex-Primrose Amati viola.

Chinese pianist Ying Li is the First Prize winner of the 2021 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, as well as a recipient of the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival Prize and the Tri-I Noon Recitals Prize. She has received top awards in the inaugural Antonio Mormone International Prize, Sarasota Artist Series Piano Competition, and Brevard Music Festival, and was a finalist at Concours musical international de Montréal.

Li has performed with The Philadelphia Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony, Brevard Music Festival Orchestra, L’Accademia Orchestra del La Scala, NWD-Philharmoniker, and the Stuttgart Philharmonic. She made her New York City recital debut at Carnegie Hall and her Washington, DC debut at the Kennedy Center.

An avid chamber musician and recitalist, Li has appeared at venues and festivals around the world, including the Hammerklavier International Piano Festival (Barcelona), Konzerthaus Berlin, Verbier Festival Academy, Ravinia’s Steans Institute, La Jolla Music Society, and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival.

Li began piano lessons at age five and studied at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, before moving to Philadelphia at age fourteen to study at the Curtis Institute of Music with Jonathan Biss and Seymour Lipkin. After completing her bachelor’s degree there, she received her master’s degree at The Juilliard School with Robert McDonald and continues her studies in the Artist Diploma Program.

Internationally acclaimed violinist Timothy Chooi has mesmerized global audiences with his virtuosity and emotional depth. He’s celebrated for his extensive repertoire, connecting with millions worldwide. Chooi’s accolades include first prize at the Joseph Joachim International Violin Competition and the Yves Paternot Prize at the Verbier Festival. He’s graced renowned orchestras and prestigious venues, earning glowing reviews.

In the upcoming year, Chooi embarks on a thrilling tour, collaborating with London's Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and returning to the Toronto Symphony. He also debuts with the European Union Youth Orchestra, Brucknerhaus Orchester, and at the Wimbledon Music Festival in London.

Chooi’s music resonates globally, with notable recordings and broadcasts. Born in Canada, raised in the U.S. to Chinese-Indonesian parents, he rose to prominence at sixteen, performing with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Currently, he’s a professor of violin at the University of Ottawa, playing two exceptional violins: the Titan Guarneri Del Gesu violin from 1741, on loan from CANIMEX INC. in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, and the Engleman Stradivarius violin from 1709, on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation in Japan.

The first percussionist to ever receive the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, Ji Su Jung has a distinctive musical voice that is instantly recognizable for its depth and lyricism. She has performed concertos with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with Marin Alsop, the Houston Symphony with Daniel Hege, the Aspen Festival Orchestra with Michael Stern, the Colorado Symphony and the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra with Peter Oundjian, and the Colorado Springs Philharmonic with JoAnn Falletta. Highlights of Jung’s 2023–24 season include concerto appearances with the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, the Sarasota Orchestra, and the Wyoming Symphony.

Jung’s recording of the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts’ Marimba Concerto, performed with the Baltimore Symphony and Marin Alsop, was released on the Naxos label in February 2023. Jung has performed solo recitals at the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. She frequently performs with The Percussion Collective, an all-star collection of young percussionists, of which she is a core member.

Recognized internationally as a pedagogue, Jung serves on the faculties of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University. Jung holds a bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Institute and a master’s degree and an artist diploma from the Yale School of Music. Jung is a musical ambassador for Adams Percussion, Pearl/Adams, and Vic Firth percussion companies.

At the Curtis Institute of Music, the world’s most talented young musicians develop into exceptional artists, creators, and innovators. With a tuition-free foundation, Curtis is a unique environment for teaching and learning. A small school by design, students realize their artistic potential through intensive, individualized study with the most renowned, sought-after faculty. Animated by a learn-by-doing philosophy, Curtis students share their music with audiences through more than 100 performances each year, including solo and chamber recitals, orchestral concerts, and opera—all free or at an affordable cost—offering audiences unique opportunities to participate in pivotal moments in these young musicians’ careers. Curtis students experience a close connection to the greatest artists and organizations in classical music, as well as innovative initiatives that integrate new technologies and encourage entrepreneurship—all within a historic campus in the heart of culturally rich Philadelphia. In this diverse, collaborative community, Curtis’s extraordinary artists challenge, support, and inspire one another—continuing an unparalleled 100-year legacy of musicians who have led, and will lead, classical music into a thriving, equitable, and multidimensional future. Learn more at Curtis.edu.

Curtis on Tour

Curtis on Tour is the Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music. Embracing the school's learn-by-doing philosophy, ensembles are infused with the energy and passion of extraordinary emerging artists performing alongside celebrated alumni and faculty. In addition to performances, musicians engage with local communities through educational and community engagement activities. For 15 years, Curtis on Tour has maintained a presence at top international concert halls, performing more than 450 concerts in over 120 cities, from New York to Berlin and Hong Kong to Santiago.

About The 92nd Street Y, New York: The 92nd Street Y, New York (92NY) is a world-class center for the arts and innovation, a convener of ideas, and an incubator for creativity. 92NY offers extensive classes, courses and events online including live concerts, talks and master classes; fitness classes for all ages; 250+ art classes, and parenting workshops for new moms and dads. The 92nd Street Y, New York is transforming the way people share ideas and translate them into action all over the world. All of 92NY's programming is built on a foundation of Jewish values, including the capacity of civil dialogue to change minds; the potential of education and the arts to change lives; and a commitment to welcoming and serving people of all ages, races, religions, and ethnicities. For more information, visit http://www.92NY.org.