1 University | Aliso Viejo Saturday Evening at 7:00 pm
Bacchanale from Samson & Delilah Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Concerto for 2 Pianos BWV 1062 Johann Sebastian Bach
I. Allegro (1685-1750)
II. Andante
III.Allegro assai
Concerto for 2 Pianos & Orchestra Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart III. Rondo (1756-1791)
Vieness Piano Duo
I N T E R M I S S I O N Refreshments are available in the Lobby
The McBeth Foundation Scholarship Winners
Piano Concerto in G Minor Op.22 Camille Saint-Saëns
III. Rondo (1835-1921)
Chloe Qian, piano
Variations on a Rococo Theme Op. 33 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Moderato quasi Andante (1840-1893)
Thema, Moderato semplice
Var. I: Tempo della Thema
Var. II: Tempo della Thema-Allegro vivo
Var. III: Andante sostenuto
Var.IV: Andante grazioso
Var. V: Allegro moderato & cadenza
Var. VI: Andante
Var. VII: Allegro vivo & Coda
Noah Choi, cello
Violin Concerto in D Major Op. 35 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
I. Allegro moderato (1840-1893)
Seaena Kim, violin
FIRST VIOLIN
Macie Sweeney-Slick, concertmaster
Michael Lipps-Amoranto, principal
Pat Hosokawa
Rachel Verbeek
Kristina Yoon
Namiah Miller
Madison Clark
Cheryl Lu
James Lee
Celeste Deppmeier
SECOND VIOLIN
Michael Voronel, principal
Rachelle Schouten
Toni Niedringhaus
Diane Bjornestad
Britanny Winckler
Michael Chan
Zoe Folwell
Angela Ro
Lauretta Rustad
Gail Foor
VIOLA
Diana Lobel, principal
Leonie Kramer
Bob Love
John Kendrick
Angie Whyle
Cynthia Greer
CELLO
Steve Velez, principal
Marty Jaques
Ashley Ng-Conner
Melissa Hasin
Miguel Martinez
Michael Duron
Michael Schwarz
BASS
Wanda Ortiz, principal
Matt Hare
Steven Bodenhoefer
FLUTE & PICCOLO
Ben Barth, principal
Kathleen Dyer, second
OBOE & ENGLISH HORN
Marilyn Schram, principal
Ann Ludwig, second
CLARINET
Lea Steffens, principal
Marianne Wightman, second
BASSOON
Bill Hunker, principal
Elizabeth Atwater, second
HORN
Linda Duffin, principal
Kristin Morrison, second
Mark Ghiassi, third
Kris Almgren, fourth
TRUMPET
Richard Chasin, principal
Al Lang, second
TROMBONE
Ben Olariu, principal
Jeff Stupin, second
TIMPANI
Damion Frigilliana, principal
PERCUSSION
Matt Ordaz, principal
Caleb Conner
BARRY SILVERMAN
Music Director & Conductor
BARRY SILVERMAN received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from USC, with an emphasis in conducting, performance and music education. After USC, he began performing throughout Southern California and at the movie studios in Hollywood. His performance credits cover a wide range of media including chamber music, opera, ballet, jazz, pop, and a large number of orchestras including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Israel Philharmonic, where he spent four years in Tel-Aviv, Israel.
Maestro Silverman is the founder and music director of the South Coast Symphony. For more than a decade, he served as Music Director of the Saddleback College Symphony Orchestra. While at Chapman University, he conducted the Opera Orchestra and was director of the Wind and Jazz Studies program. At the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) in Santa Ana, he was on the faculty of the Instrumental Music Conservatory for more than a decade and served as the Director of the Conservatory for four years. Mr. Silverman was the cofounder and music director of Foothill Youth Summer Theatre in La Cañada & Broadway Superstar Camp at Saddleback College. Performance emphasis has been on the presentation of contemporary music with performances at the famed Monday Evening Concerts in Los Angeles and at the Contemporary Music Series in Israel. Mr. Silverman has participated as conductor, performer and creator for hundreds of Concerts for Youth for Young Audiences of LA, Performing Tree, and the Orange County Philharmonic Society, and has lectured at several universities here and abroad. He is married with four children and three grandchildren and likes to spend his free time with his family, and his two Saint Bernard’s. Unfortunately, Wakawaka (pictured above), has moved to Oregon to be with our youngest son.
This Evening’s Artists
The Vieness Piano Duo is among the most electrifying and in - demand piano duos on the world stage toda y ! Comprised of pianists Eva Schaumkell and Vijay Venkatesh, the duo is celebrated for their intuitive musical communication, technical brilliance, and powerful stage presence. Together, they create performances that are sonically seamless and emotionally tr anscendent.
Their deep artistic connection and seamless musical dialogue have made them in high demand at concert halls and festivals around the world. Recent and upcoming engagements include the Summer Stars Series, DaCamera Society, Trinity Concert Series, Music Gui ld, Le Salon de Musiques, Camerata Musica, Highlands - Cashiers Festival, Grand Piano Series, Lancaster Performing Arts Center, L'ermitage Foundation, Sarasota Artists Series, Second City Chamber Series, Tassel Performing Arts Center, Healdsburg222, Ridgecre st Chamber Music Society, Vicente Chamber Orchestra, as well as a 3 - week tour of the Midwest and Germany. Highlights of past seasons include eight performances of Carmina Burana and Carnival of the Animals with the New West Symphony under the baton of Michael Christie .
In addition to their performing activities, the husbandand - wife team regularly teach masterclasses at Pacific Lutheran University, State College of Florida, Bozeman University, Irvine Valley College, and Riverside City College. Vieness is a featured artis t on Tonebase .
The McBeth Foundation
Scholarship Winners
Noah Choi, cello
Noah Choi, a 17 year-old cellist and junior at the California School of the Arts, began his musical journey at the age of seven. He is currently studying with Sarah Koo and has previously trained under Michael Kaufman and Bongshin Ko.
Noah's path took a significant leap forward with his debut performance of Haydn’s C major concerto with orchestra, an opportunity he earned by winning 1st prize at the 2022 Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF) Young Cellist award. In addition to this achievement, Noah won multiple first prizes at SYMF, the Satori Summer Music Festival String Contest, and was awarded first prize at the International Arts Competition for Young Performers "COLIBRI." He also secured first place in California’s Association of String Teacher’s Bowed String Competition, first place in the JCM and CAMPT Young Musicians Concerto Competition, is a scholarship recipient from both Classical Music Encounters of Orange County (CMEOC) and the Hennings-Fischer Foundation and is also a finalist at the 25th Osaka International Music Competition. In 2025, he was also selected as a From the Top finalist and YoungArts Winner. Furthermore, he has recently collaborated with the Chamber Orchestra of South Bay (COSB), the Orchestra Collective of
Orange County (OCofOC), and the Anderson Conducting Academy (ACA). Recently, Noah recorded Shostakovich's Cello Sonata in D minor with his father, Rufus Choi, under Santa Monica UMC.
He has received mentorship from distinguished artists such as Dmitry Yablonsky, Robert DeMaine, Eugene Drucker, Moni Simeonov, Jonathan Roozeman, John Walz, Daniel Rothmuller, and Ko Iwasaki, and has had the privilege of collaborating with world-renowned musicians including Midori Goto and Oxana Yablonskaya. As an active chamber musician, his trio won first prize at the JCM Chamber Music Competition in 2023 and 2024, as well as first prize in MTAC’s VOCE Chamber Music Competition. His trio has also appeared on From The Top’s Daily Joy program. His chamber group, the Doxa Quartet, participated in Colburn’s Honours Chamber Music Institute (CHMI) and has gone on to win the Gold Medal and Grand Prize at the Coltman National Chamber Music Competition, as well as the Silver Medal at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition.
Noah also strives to give back to his community through music. As part of the Endpin Project, he has performed at the border in Tijuana and supported initiatives like the Salvation Army, sharing the transformative power of music. In addition, the Endpin Project has raised over fifteen thousand dollars towards breast cancer research at UCI. During the summer, Noah runs a bi-weekly practice marathon to help young students enjoy practising while making it more efficient and effective.
Apart from music, Noah enjoys playing basketball and spending time with friends and family. He loves exploring new places and trying different foods whenever he gets the chance.
Seaena Kim, violin
Seventeen-year-old Seaena Kim, born and raised in Newport Beach, expressed interest in violin at the early age of three. She has won numerous awards including the grand prize at Satori Summer Strings Contest; grand prize at the International Liana Cohen Music Competition; first prizes in Southwestern Youth Music Festival, Southwestern Bach Festival, American Protégé Competition, Great Composers Concerto Competition, International Clara Schumann Music Competition and Golden Classical International Music Competition. Seaena studies under the tutelage of David Lisker and has participated in Colburn’s Sounding Point Academy in the studios of Robert Lipsett, Danielle Belen, Fabiola Kim, and Ray Ushikubo, Aspen Music Festival in the studio of Masao Kawasaki and masterclasses by William Fitzpatrick, Soovin Kim, and Amit Peled. Seaena has been actively involved in chamber music and orchestra at the Colburn Chamber Music Institute, Junior Chamber Music, and Aspen Music Festivals. She serves as concertmaster at the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra She is currently a junior at University High School, where she is Concertmaster. She is the recipient of the annual Uni High Trojan Excellence Awards in Performing Arts, and the Science and Magna Cum Laude in 2025. She also served as concertmaster of the 2025 California All-State High School Symphony Orchestra as a sophomore..
Seaena regularly performs charity concerts with her musician peers for her community in Segerstrom Concert Hall, Southcoast Plaza, Westin Southcoast Plaza for Pacific Symphony, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, and City of Hope Orange County, UCI Medical Center, Sherman Gardens and Library, Irvine Public School Foundation annual Gala, and many others. Seaena volunteers as Director of Global Operation, Irvine Region Founder and Regional Director for the Back
to Bach Project, an international nonprofit organization with a mission to inspire children to love classical music and is a founding member and vice president of Autonomous Car Racing Club and Secretary of Girls Who Code Club at her school. Outside of music, Seaena enjoys diving into the world of math, physics, and computer science. She aspires to double-major in STEM and music in college to bring her two favorite worlds together.
Chloe Qian, piano
Chloe Qian is currently a sophomore at OCSA in the Pianist Program, studying under Dr. Sarkis Baltaian. Since taking lessons at the age of five. Chloe has debuted her music journey through learning piano. Her continuous passion and diligent efforts made her winners of multiple competitions, such as 2018 MACOC Piano Solo Competition, 2023 Orbetello International Piano Competition, 2024 AEGIO International Piano Competition Global Round, 2025 Junior Chamber Music Honors Concerto Competition, and 2025 OCSA Concerto Competition. In addition, Chloe has performed a concerto with the San Diego Orchestra, Orchestra Collective of Orange County, South Coast Symphony, and will be performing a concerto with her own school’s symphony orchestra in the fall of 2026. Chloe has been exposed to many music festivals and masterclasses, including Oberlin International Music Festival 2023, and Amici International Music Festival 2025. She has also had the chance to learn with world-famous pianists, such as Dang Thai Son, Ning An, and Stanislav Loudenitch. In addition to piano, Chloe loves playing tennis. She was an U14 tennis team member of Yorba Linda Country Club, and competed in many USTA tournaments. She is also an active member of her school’s Science Olympiad team, and has attended multiple competitions. During her free time, Chloe enjoys sleeping, making jewelry, and playing video games.
Mike Niedringhaus, Video Production & Archival Recordings
Orchestra Contractor
Steve Velez
Voice of the Symphony
John Dowdell, Announcer
Symphony Librarians
Rachel Verbeek, Head Librarian
Pat Hosokawa | Diana Lobel | Cheryl Lu
The SOUTH COAST SYMPHONY is a member of
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ronald Jagner, President of the Board
Ben Barth, CFO
Kristen Bold, Soiree Musicales
Gail Foor, Audience & Board Development
Steve Getman, Social Media
Cathy Kadison, Alliance President
John Kendrick, Past President
Carlton Morse, Grants & Sponsorships
Mike Niedringhaus, Archival Recordings
Wanda Ortiz, Secretary
Dr. Millard Roth, Fundraising
Barry Silverman, CEO
SYMPHONY STAFF
Box Office Mira Wysong
Concert Ticket Sales Randi Kraemer
Will Call Marie Fries
Head Usher Michael Petrucci
Grants
Carlton Morse
Social Media Shelby Wong
Web Master James Lee
South Coast Symphony Alliance
Cathy Kadison, president
Marie Fries, Yvette Fibel, Ann Ludwig, Sandi Campbell-McClain, Yvette Tankersley, Carol Vuveta
Gayleen Warren
Junior Alliance
Adelina Bolgar, president (St. Margaret’s school)
Caroline Keckler, vice president (San Clemente HS)
THANKS to our AMAZING ANGELS
CONDUCTOR’S CIRCLE ($100,000+)
McBeth Foundation
DIAMOND CIRCLE ($10,000+)
Music Performance Trust Fund
Barry Silverman & Melody Mosley
GOLD CIRCLE ($5,000+)
Hennings-Fischer Foundation
Ron Jagner
Diana & Perry Lobel
Doreen D. Marshall Fund
Administered through the Orange County Community Fund
PLATINUM CIRCLE ($3,000-$4,999)
John & Nancy Kendrick
Ann D. Moskowitz
BRONZE CIRCLE ($2,000-$2,999)
Boeing Employees Community Fund
Sheri Bacigalupo Barbara Berkowitz
Casey Carver Les & Lee Munson
DIAMOND DONORS ($1,000-$1,999)
Ben Barth Michael Chan
Donna & John Feeney Marie Fries
Howard Jelinek Elizabeth Jones
Eric & Cathy Kadison Jeff & Cathy Kissel
Susie Gardner
Jay & Leonie Kramer
Robert Love Ann Niedringhaus
Millard & Ana Roth
PATRONS ($500-$999)
Brad & Karen Baker
City of Aliso Viejo
John & Donna Feeney Gail Foor
Stacey Hosokawa Pat Hosokawa
PATRONS ($500-$999) continued
Dave & Peggy Kelleher
Gay Maroney
Carlton Morse
Mike & Toni Niedringhaus
Kristina Sachs
Royce Slick
Brittany Winckler
SUPPORTERS
Alice Antoniou
Sam & Cheryl Lu
Rockney McGill
David & Muriel Morse
Janice Ramsay
Dimitri Shlyakhtneko
Michael Voronel
($200-$499)
Maribeth Clausen
Caverly Day Julie Doyle
Dr. David Dyer
Zemula Fleming
Kim Greiner
Mark Horner
Fred & Roberta Klein
Laurie Lovegreen
Kiyoe Macdonald
John & Liz May
Don & Pat Mueller
John & Beth Perak
Martin & Roslyn Rhodes
Arnold & Elissa Schwartz
Gary & Marjie Toops
Hanan Yaqub
Kathleen DeKarver
Bruce & Wendy Gary
Joan Hartl
Linda Howard
James Lee
Sam & Cheryl Lu
Sue Mahoney
Karen Motske
Del Nickell
Pamela Platz
Mike & Julie Schwarz
David Talcott
Marianne Wightman
FRIENDS ($100-$199)
Kingsley & Carol C. Adjababi Alice Antoniou
Ann Barron
Phyllis Berenbeim
Lety Castillo
Yoojung Chung
Sandra Dildine
Susan Elliott
Eileen Garbutt
Francis Johnston
Lance LaBelle
Nancy Livingston
Ann Ludwig
John Mills
Wayne & Faye Baglin
Barbara Brient
Gina Chironis
Anne Cronin
Barry & Linda Duffin
Aviva Forster
Marianne Giordano
Rich & Riva Knapp
Burt & Judy Lindfors
Carole Loden
Linda Sue Marks
James Moore
THANKS to our AMAZING ANGELS
FRIENDS
($100-$199) continued
Tim & Gail Munzing
Laura Niedringhaus
Suzan Shaver
Karen Smith
Barbara Taylor
William & Kathleen Tilley
Catherine Mulley
Anita Ota
Dan Sherman
Hugh Stevenson
Cathy Threadgill
Marti Unger
Carol Vuceta Gail Walker
Maria Wallace
Melissa Weiler
Hiroko Wiancko
Don & Mary Witter
Cheryl Weinfeld `
Sandra White
Daneen Wilder
Tony & Diane Wong
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP
($25-$99)
Lauren Bradford Donna Bunce Rose Casey
Sharon Gild Jenny Golden Melissa Hasin
Harriet Kelly Jan Kirsch Beth Kruegger
Bryan Lake Dick & Karol Lee Penelope Levers
Robin Lipton Judith Merrill Wanda Ortiz
John Palazzolo Pamela Platz Susan Scott
Scott Theodorson Nancy White Rosemary Zettler
Grala & Lou Warren
Autographs
You can make a Difference Today!
Your generosity helps us inspire the next generation of musicians and music lovers. 100% of your donation goes directly to supporting the Symphony’s Educational Outreach Programs, including Koncerts for Kids and Young STARS of the Future. These programs provide invaluable experiences for children and young artists.
Your contribution also strengthens our general fund, ensuring we can continue to bring you the high-quality concerts you have come to expect year after year. With your support, the Symphony can keep enriching our community with unforgettable performances.
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The use of any recording devise, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited during the concert.
