Dr. Gene Moon, conductor
The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave), Op. 26
Program
Felix Mendelssohn
b. Feb 3, 1809, Hamburg, Germany
d. Nov. 4, 1847, Leipzig, Germany
Celine Ong, graduate conductor
Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 63 in G minor
I. Allegro moderato
II. Andante assai
III. Allegro, ben marcato
blue cathedral
Sergei Prokofiev
b. April 23, 1891, Sontsivka, Ukraine
d. March 5, 1953, Moscow, Russia
Chloe Trevor, violin
CBU Artist-in-Resident
Intermission
The Composer is Dead (text by Lemony Snicket)
Dr. Joshua Golden, narrator
Jennifer Higdon
b. 1962, Brooklyn, New York, NY
Nathaniel Stookey
b. 1970, San Francisco, CA
The Collinsworth School of Performing Arts is grateful to Dr. Tony Chute, Professor Steven Dahlgren and the community of Northpoint Church for allowing us to present our music in their beautiful church and sanctuary.
Quickly becoming one of the most talked about and sought after musical ambassadors to Generation Z, violinist Chloé Trevor has combined her technical brilliance, spirit for classical music and her passion for mentoring the youth of today to connect with audiences in exciting and innovative ways. Silver medalist of the Ima Hogg Competition, critics have acclaimed Chloé for her “dazzling technique”, “excellent musicianship”, “huge tone”, “poise and professional grace”, and “bold personality unafraid to exult in music and ability”. She has appeared as a soloist with orchestras worldwide, including the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Latvian Chamber Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic, Plano Symphony, and the Knoxville Symphony. She made her New York concerto debut in 2013 and Avery Fisher Hall debut in 2014.
Chloé has appeared as a soloist with the Lutoslawski Filharmonie (Poland), the Teplice Philharmonic (Czech Republic), the Latvian Chamber Orchestra, and Slovak State Philharmonic. She was also invited as a soloist in the Young Prague Spring Festival to give recitals and perform the Mendelssohn Concerto in and around Prague.
She went on to perform Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto with the Dallas Symphony and Houston Symphony, opened the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra’s 2010-11 season with the Barber Violin Concerto and the Missouri Symphony’s “Hot Summer Nights” 2011 Opening Gala with the Brahms Concerto. The Dallas Morning News has described Chloé as an artist “supplying tonal refinement, technical facility and natural musicality.” Chloe’s September 2017 performance of Glass’ Violin Concerto No. 2 was hailed as “thrilling and seamless” by Arts+Culture Magazine, “[bringing] out the nuanced drama inherent in Glass’ music.”
Dedicated to music education and outreach, Chloé regularly connects with students and teachers through interactive performances, masterclasses, and lectures, both in person and online. With an extensive and ever-growing following via social media, Chloé enjoys spreading her message of positivity and encouragement to hundreds of thousands of people on a daily basis in order to influence present and future generations of classical musicians. Summer 2018 marked the inaugural year of the Chloé Trevor Music Academy, an intensive two-week program for string players and pianists offering one-on-one instruction, chamber music coaching, masterclasses, orchestral training, and career guidance by the world's premier soloists, teachers, and conductors.
Chloé was introduced to the violin at age 2 by her mother, Heidi Trevor Itashiki, Dallas Symphony violinist. She later studied with Arkady Fomin, Dallas Symphony violinist and Artistic Director of the New Conservatory of Dallas. Chloé has made numerous appearances on the concert stage with her father, internationally recognized conductor and teacher, Kirk Trevor. She completed her undergraduate degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music studying with David and Linda Cerone, and her graduate degree as a
scholarship student at Rice University studying with Kenneth Goldsmith. Chloé plays on a Carlo Landolfi violin made in Italy in 1771 and bows by Etienne Pajeot and Émile-Auguste Ouchard.
Recognized on four continents, maestro Gene Moon has earned international acclaim as a conductor whose artistry bridges cultures and inspires audiences worldwide. His career has taken him to podiums in the United States, Asia, and South America, leading distinguished ensembles including the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional in the Dominican Republic, the Saigon Philharmonic in Vietnam, the Orquesta Filarmónica de Medellín in Colombia, the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra in Korea, and orchestras across Macau, Hong Kong, China, Korea, and Vietnam. His global presence has solidified his reputation as a versatile maestro sought after for both symphonic and operatic performances.
Dr. Moon serves as Director of Orchestral Studies for the Collinsworth School of Performing Arts at California Baptist University, where he leads the artistic and educational vision of the orchestral program. Under his direction, the CBU Symphony Orchestra presents performances spanning symphonic masterworks, opera, and musical theatre, providing students with professional-level experiences that integrate artistry, pedagogy, and outreach. Additionally, he serves as conductor of the Riverside City College Symphony Orchestra, the premier community college orchestra program in Southern California.
A passionate advocate for music education, Dr. Moon is in constant demand as a guest conductor and clinician, having led All-State orchestras in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and beyond, as well as national events including the ASTA National Orchestra Festival. His summer posts have included Resident Conductor at the Sewanee Summer Music Festival and the Chloé Trevor Music Academy. Deeply committed to developing young musicians, he has established enduring pathways for youth orchestras throughout the United States.
Previously, Dr. Moon held leadership roles as Director of Orchestral Activities at Stephen F. Austin State University, Artistic Director of the East Texas Youth Orchestras, and Music Director of the Longview Symphony Orchestra. His earlier teaching appointments include the University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma, and the Mid-Del School District, along with his tenure as Music Director of the Oklahoma Youth Symphonies.
As the newly appointed Music Director of Love in Music, Dr. Moon continues to champion music’s power to unite communities and cultivate artistic excellence. Through his work as conductor, educator, and mentor, he exemplifies a career that seamlessly unites
performance, education, and international collaboration continuing to inspire audiences and musicians across generations.
Celine Ong is a versatile conductor, violinist, and pianist whose artistry is shaped by a passion for collaboration and musical expression. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting at California Baptist University under the mentorship of Dr. Gene Moon, after earning her Bachelor of Music (Honors) in Violin Performance with a concentration in Piano Pedagogy in 2024. Her conducting journey began at the age of fifteen under Professor Lim Soon Lay of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, an early experience that inspired her lifelong dedication to leadership on the podium. In 2024, she expanded her training through a workshop in Hong Kong under the guidance of world-class conductor Wilson Ng. This summer, she had the privilege of conducting two new music ensembles at the Brevard Music Festival in North Carolina, where she premiered works by emerging composers. At CBU, she has conducted the Symphony Orchestra, the musical theatre's production of Little Women, and the Summer Strings Camp. She is the founder and conductor of the Laure Sinfonietta in 2024, an ensemble devoted to innovation and artistic connection.
