Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Young Artists Competition Finals
PIANO
Presented by the League of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and the Negaunee Music Institute at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 2:00
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Jerry Hou CONDUCTOR
FINALISTS
Joseph Gallwas PIANO
Tong-Bai Deng PIANO
Evangeline Wang PIANO
Jeremy Liu PIANO
WELCOME
Ansuk Jeong Chair of the Young Artists Competition Committee
PERFORMANCE
PROKOFIEV
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26
Andante—Allegro
JOSEPH GALLWAS
PROKOFIEV
Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16
Finale: Allegro tempestoso
TONG-BAI DENG
CHOPIN
GRIEG
Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21
Maestoso
EVANGELINE WANG
Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 16
Allegro molto moderato
JEREMY LIU
INTERVIEW WITH FINALISTS
Robbie Ellis WFMT Producer and Presenter
PRESENTATION OF AWARDS
Elizabeth Stein League Member
Joseph Gallwas PIANO
Seventeen-year-old concert pianist Joseph Gallwas first performed at Carnegie Hall at the age of nine. At age twelve, he performed Chopin’s Piano Concerto no. 1 in E minor with the Chicago Arts Orchestra, Rachmaninov’s Concerto no. 3 (at age fifteen) with the SEEN Orchestra under Conner Gray Covington, and Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto no. 2 with the Todi Music Masters Ensemble in Italy. He is the third-place winner of the 2024 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) National Champion in Senior Piano Duet with Kenneth, his twin brother. Featured on WFMT’s Introductions twice, he recently won the Open Senior Overall at the O’Malley Foundation Concerto Competition, placed fourth in the International Young Artist Concerto Competition, and was the grand prize winner in the DuPage Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Audition.
He studies piano with Jeffrey Panko, Mary Sauer, and Sean Bennett at the New Music School in Chicago and has attended master classes with luminaries such as Antonio Pompa-Baldi, Steven Osborne, Dang Thai Son, and Stanislav Ioudenitch. A junior at York Community High School in Elmhurst, he also plays violin in the school orchestra and ice hockey for the York Varsity White Team.
Tong-Bai Deng PIANO
An eleventh-grade student at Hinsdale Central High School, Tong-Bai Deng, age sixteen, has studied under Ludmilla Derka and Sung Hoon Mo and currently studies with pianists Svetlana Smolina and Winston Choi. Since fall 2023, he has been a student at the Chicago New Music School and has taken additional studies with pianists Sean Bennett and Jeff Panko.
Deng has been recognized in many competitions and has won, most recently first prize in the 2024 Charleston Winter Music Competition, gold medal in the Professional Young Group at the eleventh GOCAA Competition, first prize in the Professional Young Artist II category at the 2024 Chicago International Music Competition, and gold medal in the Professional Young Group at the twelfth Qingdao International Mendelssohn Piano Competition held in China. Recently, he also earned first place in the piano division of the fifty-sixth annual Stanger Competition.
Beyond competitions, he has also participated in many summer camps, such as the Chicago International Music Competition and Festival, and successfully gave his first solo concert in August 2023.
Evangeline Wang PIANO
An eighth grader at Skinner West Elementary School in Chicago, Evangeline Wang, age fourteen, started her piano journey at the age of two with her mom. At five, she began to study under Brenda Huang. Wang has received many awards, including first place at Carmel Klavier International Piano Competition, first place at the sixth Krystian Tkaczewski International Piano Competition in Poland and second place at the International Youth Euregio Piano Competition in Germany. She also placed at the Future Stars International Piano Competition and Steinway National Piano Competition. Other competition victories were DePaul Concerto Competition, Sejong Korean Piano, Illinois State Music Teachers Association, North Shore Music Teachers Association, first place at all four levels of the Chicago Area Music Teachers Association Roberta Savler Competition and the Illinois Music Association Memorial Contest. Along with competing, she occasionally performs in local residential senior homes.
In addition to piano, she also plays violin with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Concert Orchestra. In her spare time, she enjoys playing volleyball, hanging out with friends, and reading.
Jeremy Liu PIANO
An eighth grader at Gregory Middle School in Naperville, Jeremy Liu, age thirteen, has been under the tutelage of Sueanne Metz since the age of six. He is the recent piano winner of the O’Malley Foundation National Concerto Competition. He made his Carnegie Hall debut at age seven. Since then, he has participated in many competitions. He is a four-time winner of the Illinois State Music Teachers Association Competition and the winner of the Music Teachers National Association (Junior Division of Illinois) in both 2022 and 2023. He is also a three-time winner of the Sejong Music Competition. Additionally, he has earned first prizes in prestigious events such as the Walgreens National Concerto Competition, Chicago International Music Competition, Aloha International Music Competition, Pacific International Music Competition, Quebec Music Competition, and De Bach au Jazz International Competition. In 2022, he won first place in both solo and concerto categories at the Carmel Klavier International Competition. In summer 2023, he had the honor of performing with an orchestra in Perugia, Italy.
He also enjoys playing the cello in his school orchestra and is a keyboardist in the school’s jazz band.
PROFILES
Jerry Hou CONDUCTOR
Taiwanese American conductor
Jerry Hou is building community and revitalizing the music field via collaboration with some of today’s most important musical voices.
Born in Taiwan and raised in a small town in Arkansas, Hou had a late start in music. Beginning on trombone in middle school band, he went on to work professionally in American and European orchestras before his playing career was ended by injury. Turning to conducting studies with Jorma Panula in Finland, he is now recognized for his dynamic presence, insightful interpretations, musical versatility, and commanding technique on the podium.
In March, the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra announced Hou’s appointment as its next music director, beginning in the 2025–26 season. Hou recently concluded his celebrated tenure as resident conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the first person to hold that position in the orchestra’s history, and music Director of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. Hou also served as resident conductor of the Grand Teton Music Festival for seven summers. Hou began an association with the New York Philharmonic and music director Jaap van Zweden in 2021. Hou made his successful debut with
the orchestra in the spring of 2023 and returned to conduct seven concerts this past season to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Young People’s Concerts.
Hou is on the faculty of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, where he is artist teacher of orchestras and ensembles. He lives in Houston with his wife Jenny and son Remy and has competed on the game show Jeopardy!
Robbie Ellis
WFMT PRODUCER AND PRESENTER
Robbie Ellis is a broadcaster, composer, music director, and comedy song maker. He works at WFMT as host on Sunday afternoons and as producer and presenter of Introductions, a weekly show that profiles local precollege musicians. He started in classical radio at RNZ Concert in Wellington, New Zealand. In addition, Ellis has worked as an event host for the International Music Foundation, Cedille Records, and the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra, and has been a teaching artist with Chicago Opera Theater, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Second City, with which he has also toured on land and sea as a music director.
robbieellis.net
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Since 1919, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago has been one of the nation’s premier orchestral training programs for emerging professionals. Benefiting from a unique alliance with the world-renowned Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Civic members refine their skills under the guidance of musicians of the CSO and Principal Conductor
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Ken-David Masur Principal Conductor
Ken-David Masur, as well as numerous guest artists who visit Symphony Center each season.
The Civic Orchestra is a signature program of the Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO. The Negaunee Music Institute shares the extraordinary musical resources of the CSO, creating connections to music for individuals and communities in Chicago and across the world.
The Robert Kohl and Clark Pellett Principal Conductor Chair
VIOLINS
Marian Antonette Mayuga*
Herdis Gudmundsdottir
Polina Borisova
Darren Carter
Rose Haselhorst
Jonah Kartman
Elise Maas
Naomi Powers
Hobart Shi
Alec Tonno
Hannah Zhao
Tricia Park
Yebeen Seo
Isabelle Chin
Adam Davis
Sean Hsi
Hojung Christina Lee
Annie Pham
Keshav Srinivasan
Justine Jing Xin Teo
Yulia Watanabe-Price
VIOLAS
Yat Chun Justin Pou
Sanford Whatley
Jason Butler
August DuBeau
Judy Yu-Ting Huang
Xiaoxuan Liang
Mason Spencer*
Sava Velkoff*
* Civic Orchestra Fellow
CELLOS
J Holzen*
David Caplan
Sam Day
Buianto Lkhasaranov
Nick Reeves
Brandon Xu
Jocelyn Yeh
BASSES
Broner McCoy
Alexander Wallack
Walker Dean
Tiffany Kung
J.T. O’Toole*
FLUTES
Daniel Fletcher
Cierra Hall
PICCOLO
Cierra Hall
OBOES
Jonathan Kronheimer
Will Stevens
Kyungyeon Hong
CLARINETS
Tyler Baillie
Hae Sol (Amy) Hur*
Elizabeth Kapitaniuk
BASSOONS
Peter Ecklund
William George
Ian Schneiderman
HORNS
Emmett Conway
Loren Ho
Mark Morris
Dena Levy
TRUMPETS
Hamed Barbarji
Abner Wong
Sean-David Whitworth
TROMBONES
Arlo Hollander
Dustin Nguyen
BASS TROMBONE
Joe Maiocco
TUBA
Ben Poirot
TIMPANI
Tomas Leivestad
PERCUSSION
Cameron Marquez*
Charley Gillette
LIBRARIAN
Benjimen Neal
JUDGES
PRELIMINARY ROUND: SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2025
Daniel Schlosberg Professor of Piano, University of Notre Dame
Peter Takács Former Professor of Piano, Oberlin College and Conservatory
Dr. Lisa Yui Assistant Dean, Manhattan School of Music
FINAL ROUND: SATURDAY, MARCH 22, 2025
Christopher Harding Chair of Piano and Professor of Music, University of Michigan
Dr. Caroline Hong Professor of Piano, Ohio State University School of Music
Michael Mizrahi Piano Professor, Lawrence University
FORMER WINNERS OF THE YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION
2010 Marcelina Suchocka MARIMBA
2011 Johannes Gray CELLO
2012 Kyle Jannak-Huang PIANO
2013 Torin Bakke CLARINET
2014 Gallia Kastner VIOLIN
2015 Kimberly Han PIANO
2016 Gregory Phifer MARIMBA
CRAIN-MALING FOUNDATION CSO YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION COMMITTEE
Sharon Mitchell President of the League of the CSOA
Ansuk Jeong Competition Chair
Lizbeth Branch Camp Scholarship Co-Chair
Nancy Friedman Camp Scholarship Co-Chair
Kathy Nordmeyer League Vice President of Education
2017 Maya Anjali Buchanan VIOLIN
2018 Yerin Yang PIANO
2019 Rosie Wang FLUTE
2020 Isabella Brown VIOLIN
2022 Noah Kim PIANO
2023 Esme Arias-Kim VIOLIN
2024 Jaden Teague-Núñez STEELPAN
NEGAUNEE MUSIC INSTITUTE AT THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
Jonathan McCormick Managing Director
Katy Clusen Associate Director, CSO for Kids
Katherine Eaton Coordinator, School Partnerships
Carol Kelleher Assistant, CSO for Kids
Anna Perkins Orchestra Manager, Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Zhiqian Wu Operations Coordinator, Civic Orchestra of Chicago
Rachael Cohen Program Manager
Charles Jones Program Assistant
LEAGUE OF THE CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA ASSOCIATION
The mission of the League is to promote appreciation of symphonic music, to encourage a commitment to music education, and to raise funds for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The Negaunee Music Institute at the CSO offers special thanks to all League volunteers, without whom this competition would not be possible.
SPECIAL THANKS
We are grateful to the Crain-Maling Foundation as our title sponsor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. Special thanks goes to Dr. Michael S. Maling, Chair & CEO, for his enduring support and continued generosity. Founded in 2007, the Crain-Maling Foundation supports innovation in education and
spiritual development, sponsorship of cultural events and advances in medical research.
Dr. Michael Maling Chair and CEO
Mrs. Marissa Iancu Co-President and Secretary
Mrs. Elise Williams Co-President and Treasurer
Special thanks:
HISTORY OF THE CRAIN-MALING FOUNDATION CHICAGO SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION
Beginning in 1920, young performers were selected by Frederick Stock, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s second music director and founder of the Civic Orchestra, to appear as soloists with the Orchestra. Violinist Anita Malkin was the first youth soloist.
In 1967, the Louis Sudler Foundation established annual awards to be given at a competition sponsored by The Women’s Association of the CSOA. The young performers competed for prizes and the opportunity to perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
In 1975, the competition was divided into two categories: a senior division and a junior division (for ages fifteen years and younger). The name was changed in 1985 to the Illinois Young Performers Competition. These competitions were televised and sponsored by WTTW public television and Illinois Bell. The first televised competition was held May 8, 1985. After the 1993–94 season, the competition was discontinued.
Competitions were re-established during the 1998–99 season and renamed the Youth Auditions, and have been supported by Beatrice G. Crain and Dr. Michael S. Maling since that time. They were presented by The Women’s Association of the CSOA, which has since been reorganized as the League of the CSOA. The first auditions were held for string players between the ages of twelve and fourteen. The next year, the auditions were offered for woodwinds, brass, and percussion, which opened the competition to young musicians representing every instrument in the orchestra.
During the 2016–17 season, the CSO Youth Auditions were re-named the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition. The Competition continues to be offered annually on a three-year instrumentation cycle, featuring strings, woodwinds/brass/ percussion, and piano.