The VSO presents Victoria-born violin prodigy Timothy Chooi playing Bruch Featuring the debut of young American conductor, James Feddeck

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1 VSO MEDIA ROOM Photos Bios Info Media Contact: Caroline Márkos x266 For Immediate Release February 26, 2015 MEDIA RELEASE The VSO presents Victoria-born violin prodigy Timothy Chooi playing Bruch Featuring the debut of young American conductor, James Feddeck Vancouver BC In just over a week the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will welcome Victoria-born violin prodigy Timothy Chooi to its stage performing one of Bruch s greatest works, his wildly popular Violin Concerto No. 1. SATURDAY, MARCH 7, 8:00PM and SUNDAY MARCH 8, 2:00PM; Orpheum Theatre. MONDAY, MARCH 9, 8:00PM; Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver At the age of 16, Timothy Chooi captured the 2010 Grand Prix of the 71st l'orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Standard Life Competition, and of his performance La Presse Newspaper of Montréal described Chooi's debut as ''le miracle (the miracle).'' He has since played with l'orchestre Symphonique de Montréal again under the baton of Maestro Kent Nagano, and has additionally made debuts with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony, Highland Park Symphony in Chicago, Santa Barbara Symphony, Victoria Symphony Orchestra and with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Pinchas Zukerman. James Feddeck, the young American conductor and winner of the prestigious Sir George Solti Conducting Competition in 2013, leads the concerts and bookends Chooi s performance of Bruch s rousing Violin Concerto No. 1 with Wagner s Prelude to Act III of his definitive opera, Lohengrin; Prokofiev s lively, Lt. Kije Suite, and Schumann s sweeping and lyrical, Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Rhenish a tribute to the beautiful German city of sse dorf along the Rhine River.

2 CONCERT INFORMATION MARDON GROUP INSURANCE Musically Speaking SATURDAY, MARCH 7 8pm, Orpheum Theatre MARDON GROUP INSURANCE Series Sponsor TELUS Video Screen sponsor NEWS 1130 ALL NEWS RADIO Radio Sponsor Tickets: $22-$60 (senior, student, and subscriber discounts available) ROGERS GROUP FINANCIAL Symphony Sundays SUNDAY, MARCH 8 2pm, Orpheum Theatre ROGERS GROUP FINANCIAL Series Sponsor CASSELS BROCK LAWYERS March 8 Concert Sponsor Tickets: $22-$60 (senior, student, and subscriber discounts available) 2

3 NORTH SHORE CLASSICS MONDAY, MARCH 9 8pm, Centennial Theatre, North Vancouver Tickets: $40 (senior, student, and subscriber discounts available) BIOGRAPHIES James Feddeck, conductor Winner of the prestigious Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award in 2013, James Feddeck s career in North America has developed strongly following his last season as Assistant Conductor in Cleveland. His 2013/14 season sees returns to the Indianapolis and Atlanta symphonies and includes engagements with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, Florida Orchestra and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Further ahead sees engagements with orchestras including the NAC Orchestra, Ottawa and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Previous engagements include the Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, the Saint Louis and San Diego symphonies, the Orchestre symphonique de Québec, and performances with the Kennedy Center Opera Orchestra (Ballet Across America Festival). During his time with The Cleveland Orchestra, James conducted subscription concerts at Severance Hall, Blossom, and stepped in for Franz Welser-Möst in C eve and s fu y-staged production of Don Giovanni and subscription performances of Carmina Burana, both to critical acclaim. From , he studied with David Zinman at the Aspen Music Festival and School and in 2009 served as Assistant Conductor. He received the Aspen Conducting Prize in 2008, and was awarded the Robert J. Harth Conductor Prize in He was the unanimous winner of the Sixth Vakhtang Jordania International Conducting Competition and, at twenty-two, its youngest participant. In addition to the main award, James was previously a recipient of a Career Assistance Award from the Solti Foundation U.S. 3

4 An accomplished organist, he has performed recitals throughout Europe and North America, has won competitions sponsored by the American Guild of Organists, as well as being featured on the nationally syndicated radio program Pipedreams. James Feddeck studied oboe, piano, organ, and conducting at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. While at Oberlin, he was the Music Director and Conductor of a production of Così fan tutte. In 2010, Feddeck was recognised by Oberlin as the first recipient of the Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Timothy Chooi, violin Canadian born violinist Timothy Chooi, is currently enrolled at the Curtis Institute of Music studying with Ida Kavafian. At the age of 16, Chooi captured the 2010 Grand Prix of the 71st l'orchestre Symphonique de Montréal Standard Life Competition, bringing him numerous concert engagements. Chooi debuted his performance with the l'orchestre Symphonique de Montréal under the command of Maestro Jean- François Rivest. The La Presse Newspaper of Montréal described Chooi's debut as ''le miracle (the miracle).'' He has since played with l'orchestre Symphonique de Montréal again under the baton of Maestro Kent Nagano. Winner of the 2013 Vadim Repin International Scholarship Audition, Chooi performed at the Weil Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, New York City in 2013 to a rousing reception. Other top awards include the winner of the 2012 Canada Council Instrument Bank Competition, recipient of the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation, the Morningside MusicBridge International Competition in Calgary, Vancouver's Musical Society Club Competition, the recipient of the Roberto and Mary Wood Scholarship and winner of the ''Special Violin Prize'' at the 2010 Yehudi Menuhin International Violin Competition in Oslo, Norway. In 2011, Chooi made his debut recital at the ''Next'' Series at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa for upcoming musicians along with recitals at the Orford Arts Centre, Montréal Chamber Music Festival, Banff Centre of the Arts and the Vancouver Winter Chamber Music Festival. He was invited to perform at the 30th Anniversary Celebration concert for the Vancouver Recital Series in 2010 at the Orpheum Theatre in Vancouver, Canada. Chooi maintains a close relationship with CBC Radio-Canada and his performances have been regularly recorded and broadcasted across the country. In 2012, Chooi debuted with the Toronto Phillharmonia, Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra, Edmonton Symphony, Highland Park Symphony in Chicago, La Virée Classique Series in Montréal, and the Northern Arts Centre in Northern Canada. That summer Chooi was featured as a solo artist along with violinist Sarah Chang and pianist Louis Lortie in Chile with the Orchestra of Americas under the baton of Maestro Benjamin Zander and Maestro Carlos Miguel Prieto. Chooi has performed at the Music in the Morning Series in Vancouver and summer/winter music festivals in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa. In the seasons, Chooi will be made his debut with the Santa Barbara Symphony, Orchestra London Canada, Malaysia Philharmonic Orchestra, Fundacion Beethoven of Chile, Victoria Symphony Orchestra and with the National Arts Centre Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Pinchas Zukerman. 4

5 As winner of the Canada Council Musical Instrument Bank Competition 2012, Timothy is currently using the 1729 Guarneri del Gesu. For media inquires or questions p ease contact the VSO s PR Associate, Caroline Márkos at x266 or at caroline@vancouversymphony.ca -VSO- 5