2026 FALL CONCERT
SUNDAY | NOVEMBER 15, 2026 Soka Performing Arts Center
WELCOME FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR Dear Friends & Supporters of the Orange County Youth Symphony, Thank you for joining us at Soka Performing Arts Center for our fall concert. It is good to begin a new season with you in the hall. Today’s program has two works I have wanted to do with OCYS for a while. We open with Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, which many of you will recognize, from the quiet sunrise of “Morning Mood” to the runaway finish of “In the Hall of the Mountain King.” We then play Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World.” Learning an entire symphony of this size is a real achievement for a youth orchestra. Four movements demand stamina, patience, and a great deal of listening to one another, and these students have met that challenge. Each fall we welcome new members and say goodbye to those who have headed off to college, so the orchestra is never quite the same twice. Watching a room of young players turn into one ensemble is still my favorite part of this job. Thank you for your support of these young musicians. Musically yours, JOHANNES M. STOSCH Music Director & OCYS Conductor | Orange County Youth Symphony
FROM THE VP OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT On behalf of the Philharmonic Society and Orange County Youth Symphony and String Ensemble (OCYS/E), we extend our heartfelt thanks to our parents, families, and supporters for your continued dedication to these talented young musicians. We are excited for another inspiring season filled with outstanding performances, musical growth, and community engagement. Throughout the 2026-27 season, our students will again perform for thousands of elementary school students through our annual Concerts for Fifth Grade program, connect with world-class artists presented by the Philharmonic Society, and share their music with the community through presentations at Pretend City Children’s Museum, Rady Children’s Health, and at several other community events. These experiences remind us that OCYS/E is about more than musical excellence. It is about building connections, serving others, and discovering the lasting impact music can have beyond the concert hall. Thank you for being part of the OCYS/E family. We look forward to sharing another memorable season of music and meaningful experiences with you! Warmest regards, KATHERINE YANG Vice President of Education and Community Engagement | Philharmonic Society of Orange County
Thank you to our community partner
for their continuous support. 2
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Sunday, November 15, 2026, 3pm Soka Performing Arts Center
ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE Lucy Lu, conductor
Two Brazilian Tangos
NAZARETH (1863 - 1934)
(arr. Carrie Lane Gruselle)
Holberg Suite, Op. 40
GRIEG (1843 - 1907)
MEYER (b. 1952)
I. Praeludium II. Sarabande III. Gavotte V. Rigaudon
Incantations
ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY Johannes Müller Stosch, music director/conductor
Peer Gynt Suite No. 1
GRIEG (1843 - 1907)
Symphony No. 9 in E minor, “From the New World”
DVOŘÁK (1841 - 1904)
I. Morning Mood II. The Death of Åse III. Anitra’s Dance IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King
I. Adagio II. Largo III. Scherzo IV. Finale
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ABOUT THE PROGRAM ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE PROGRAM NOTES NAZARETH (ARR. CARRIE LANE GRUSELLE): TWO BRAZILIAN TANGOS Intrigue, excitement, and intensity radiate from Two Brazilian Tangos, arranged by Carrie Lane Gruselle. Featuring the music of Brazilian composer Ernesto Nazareth, the work begins with the relaxed “Carioca,” which projects a tender mood. “Floraux” then portrays a dramatic tableau with spirited rhythms and a multitude of colors. A wonderful exploration of the passionate music of Brazil! EDVARD GRIEG: HOLBERG SUITE, OP. 40 The Holberg Suite, Op. 40, more properly From Holberg’s Time, subtitled “Suite in olden style” is a suite of five movements based on eighteenth-century dance forms, written by Edvard Grieg in 1884 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Dano-Norwegian humanist playwright Ludvig Holberg (1684–1754). It exemplifies nineteenth-century music which makes use of musical styles and forms from the preceding century. Although not as famous as Grieg’s incidental music from Peer Gynt, which is itself usually performed as arranged in a pair of suites, many critics regard the works as of equal merit. The Holberg Suite was originally composed for the piano, but a year later was adapted by Grieg himself for string orchestra. The suite consists of an introduction and a set of dances. It is an early essay in neoclassicism, an attempt to echo as much as was known in Grieg’s time of the music of Holberg’s era. RICHARD MEYER: INCANTATIONS “Energetic” and “hard-driving” best describe this tour de force for an orchestra. Two solo violins and a solo viola introduce this piece through a haunting, lyrical theme. The theme is subsequently taken up by the entire orchestra and expanded, gradually morphing into a fast and frenetic second theme that is aggressive and virtuosic in nature. This second theme is developed in an equally vigorous pizzicato section. The two themes are then heard at the same time, each vying for attention. The pace slackens momentarily before a wildly frantic coda closes the piece. Full of color and intriguing tonalities, this highly original work gives every section of the mature string orchestra a chance to shine. ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY PROGRAM NOTES EDVARD GRIEG: PEER GYNT SUITE NO. 1 Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg wrote his incidental music for Henrik Ibsen’s play, Peer Gynt, in 1876. He formed two concert suites from the music, the first of which will be performed this evening. The first movement, “Morning Mood,” is the prelude to the fourth act of Ibsen’s play while the second movement depicts Peer Gynt’s grief over the death of his mother, Åse, in Act Three. This lament scored for muted strings is one of the most compelling evocations of grief in the entire orchestral literature. A touch of exoticism appears with the dance of an Arabian girl, Anitra, in the third movement. The suite concludes with the well–known music from the play’s final act which depicts Peer Gynt’s fanciful adventures with menacing characters from Norwegian folklore. —Elisa Koehler 4
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK: SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN E MINOR, “FROM THE NEW WORLD” Czech composer Antonín Dvořák sought his inspiration in all quarters. In a famous essay, “Music in America,” he wrote: “Nothing must be too low or too insignificant for the musician. When he walks, he should listen to every whistling boy, every street singer or blind organ player. It is a sign of barrenness, indeed, when such characteristic bits of music are not heeded by the learned musicians of the age.” In 1892, already a “learned musician,” Dvořák was invited to become Artistic Director and Professor of Composition at the National Conservatory of Music of America, based in New York City. The conservatory management wanted the “old world” master to help establish an American sound in the concert hall, so upon his arrival at the conservatory, Dvořák sought out music that was distinctly American. He wrote: “In the Negro melodies of America I have discovered all that is needed for the creation of a great and noble school of music. These beautiful and varied themes are the product of the soil, they are the folk songs of America.” There is no doubt that the Czech composer was under the spell of both African American spirituals and Native American music, but his output reflects mostly the European concert tradition. Indeed, the subtitle, “From the New World,” was only an afterthought added by the composer just as he was about to send the score off to the publisher. The symphony is conventional in form, a four-movement work that follows the established pattern. The opening is more reminiscent of Beethoven than of folk music, particularly the forceful timpani swats that seem to echo similar moments in Beethoven’s Ninth. Low strings, then horns, introduce a bold theme that will be heard throughout the entire work. The Largo second movement has been the focus of much speculation. An African American spiritual—or at least the five-note, pentatonic scale that is often prominent in those songs—seems to have inspired the plaintive melody that begins this movement. It is moving and melancholy music with a tangible feeling of nostalgia (Dvořák was quite homesick during his time in America). In the scherzo, Dvořák carefully balances the Beethovenian bluster with a waltz that could easily have come from a Czech village dance. The finale begins with another brassy melody that has the energy of a folk dance. Then comes a new, wistful second theme in the clarinets; a wacky, three-note “Three Blind Mice” transition; another reference or two to Beethoven; and continual reiterations of themes from the beginning of the first movement and the finale’s opening. In the long run, it really doesn’t make any difference where Dvořák found his inspiration. We continue to value the “New World” Symphony precisely because it has come to mean many things to many people. —Dave Kopplin
ARTISTS AND PERSONNEL ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY & STRING ENSEMBLE Founded in 1970, the Orange County Youth Symphony (OCYS) and String Ensemble (OCYSE) is one of Southern California’s finest youth symphony programs. The diverse roster represents student musicians from nearly 60 middle school, high school, and college programs from San Clemente to Fullerton and beyond. In its 50+ year history, OCYS has traveled the world representing Orange County’s best young adult musicians presenting performances in Austria, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United Nations, and New York. It has appeared and participated in many prestigious performances and projects, including U.S. and West Coast premieres by composers such as Mark-Anthony Turnage and Kurt Schwetsik and a season-long project with Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 culminating in a documentary entitled Beethoven’s Ninth: Journey to Joy that was selected by PBS SoCal for multiple broadcasts. Most recently, the orchestra was presented in a side-by-side concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, performing for a nearly sold-out audience. Additional highlights of past seasons include masterclasses with Ray Chen, Midori, Hilary Hahn, and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, as well as a mini residency by the Kronos Quartet. An annual tradition, OCYS serves as the featured orchestra for the Philharmonic Society’s acclaimed Concerts for Fifth Grade at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. This concert series has provided music education for nearly a million students for more than thirty years. Additionally, OCYS and OCYSE appear in their own performances in prestigious venues across Orange County. JOHANNES MÜLLER STOSCH, MUSIC DIRECTOR/OCYS CONDUCTOR Johannes Müller Stosch is a passionate educator, mentor, and conductor, dedicated to shaping the next generation of orchestral musicians. As Music Director and Conductor of the Orange County Youth Symphony (OCYS), he leads one of California’s premier youth orchestras, inspiring young musicians through exceptional training and transformative performance experiences. Since his appointment in 2019, he has expanded OCYS’s artistic vision, fostering excellence in symphonic repertoire, collaboration, and community engagement. In 2024, OCYS embarked on a landmark international tour, performing in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, showcasing the orchestra’s talent on the global stage. Beyond his work with OCYS, Maestro Stosch serves as Director of Orchestral Activities at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music (California State University, Long Beach), where he has built one of Southern California’s most distinguished university orchestral programs. His leadership has enabled the Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony to tour internationally, performing in sold-out venues across Germany, the Czech Republic, and South Korea. Committed to music education at all levels, he cultivates an environment where young musicians thrive—whether they are preparing for professional careers or developing a lifelong appreciation for orchestral music.
Stosch also brings his expertise to the professional realm as Music Director and Conductor of the Holland Symphony Orchestra (Michigan), where he has led the ensemble to record growth in audience engagement, artistic excellence, and education initiatives over nearly two decades. His conducting extends across professional, university, and youth orchestras, shaping musicians at every stage of their development. A sought-after guest conductor and clinician, Stosch regularly appears with orchestras worldwide, bringing his educational approach to masterclasses, workshops, and festival performances. His recent engagements include appearances at Mahidol University (Thailand), Kunming Philharmonic (China), Long Beach Symphony, Peninsula Symphony, Eastman School of Music, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, UBC Symphony (Canada), and the University of Oregon. He has also worked with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Brockport Symphony (NY), and has held leadership roles at the Opera Theatre Festival in Lucca, Italy, and the Museumsinsel-Operafestival in Berlin, Germany. A dedicated mentor to young musicians, Stosch’s approach blends technical mastery, expressive artistry, and a deep understanding of orchestral collaboration. Under his guidance, students and young artists develop the skills and confidence to succeed in conservatory, collegiate, and professional settings. His experience as an opera conductor, including productions at Cincinnati’s renowned College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), further enhances his ability to shape versatile, expressive musicians. Stosch holds a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Orchestral Conducting from the Eastman School of Music (studying with Neil Varon), two Master of Music degrees from CCM (Conducting with Mark Gibson, Organ with Roberta Gary), and a Bachelor’s degree from the Schwob School of Music. His performances and commercial recordings have been featured on national public radio, reinforcing his impact as a conductor, educator, and advocate for young musicians. LUCY LU, CONDUCTOR ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE Lucy Lu is an active teacher, soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Ms. Lu’s performances have taken her to numerous cities across the United States, China, and Europe, where she has played in some of the most prestigious concert halls. She served as Concertmaster of the Bellflower Symphony, Orchestra Collective of Orange Country and is currently the 1st violinist of Plaża String Quartet. Ms. Lu has performed with the Nie’Er Symphony Orchestra in China, Four Seasons Youth Orchestra, LA Chamber Choir, and Celestial Opera Company as a violin soloist and has performed at places such as the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Cerritos Performing Art Center, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Musco Center of the Arts, and Carpenter Performing Arts Center in the Los Angeles area. Ms. Lu also performs with the Dana Point Symphony Orchestra, Millennium Choir and Orchestra, Corona Symphony, La Mirada Symphony and Rio Honda Symphony Orchestra. 5
ARTISTS AND PERSONNEL Ms. Lu founded Violinbaby Music Studio where she trains young violinists, many of whom are accepted into renowned music organizations such as The Colburn School, Seattle Youth Symphony, Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestra and Claremont Youth Symphony Orchestra. Her students have placed at many international violin competitions, such as the MAP International Music Competition where she was awarded the Honorable Instructor of the MAP-IMC 2022. Ms. Lu also coaches youth orchestras such as Orange County Youth Symphony, CSUN Youth Philharmonic, Arcadia High School Symphony Orchestra, Four Seasons Youth Orchestra and South Coast Youth Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Lu received her Master’s degree in violin performance from the Bob Cole Conservatory at California State University, Long Beach where she studied with Professor Linda Rose, Katia Popov and Moni Simeonov.
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ORCHESTRA ROSTER ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY | Johannes Müller Stosch, conductor First Violin Wesley Tsai, concertmaster Yue (Dora) Li Jason Wen Landon Han Yuna Jin Hayley Shin Audrey Lau Yu Tung (Melo) Hung Katie Hwang Andrew Hsia Daigo Kihara Annie Chih Peter Chen Nathan Lee Second Violin Cadence Park, principal Lullaby Anderson Abigail Blaga Lauren Park Derek Guan Claire Claypool Jenna Hang Aurelian Shen Marisa Ronquest Caiden Lee Leah Vu Katelyn Besmonte Tristen Lee Isaiah Hernandez Harin Lee
Viola Yuchen (Lucas) Hu, principal Rebecca Park Sara Ning Megan Song Kiyone Tsuchida Thada (Ben) Sriprapundh Kylie Kim Joshua Lee Rei Ishii Alice Yu Joel Lee Cello Joey Zhou, principal Emily Shen Suah Jin Annabelle Chantana Kexin Cai Samuel Bae Clarissa Lin Ethan Choi Louis Shen Jacob Moya Capella Zhang Hannah Yoon London Chou Madeline Chang
French Horn Double Bass Tristan Plascencia, co-principal Peter Lee, principal Samuel Yamarik, co-principal Philip Huh Karina Pancholy Zoey Chiang Julien Zysman Elena Abdollahi Flute Pearleen Chu, principal Jeffrey Li Kimberly Tsou Piccolo Jeffrey Li Kimberly Tsou Oboe Aidan Lee, principal Cydel Gali Ryan Khahan English Horn Ryan Khahan Bassoon Madilyn Molinari, principal Benjamin Haselhuhn
Trumpet Jay Hoang, principal Julianne Heiden Trombone Hannah Brown, principal Moses Kim Alejandro Martinez Tuba Ronan Killian Harp Leenah Yoon Percussion Izzy Korzonek, principal Neil Sunny
Clarinet Doyoon Lee, principal Hailey Shin
ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH STRING ENSEMBLE | Lucy Lu, conductor First Violin Jane Park, concertmaster Naomi Chiang Lucia Fan Jooha Lee Cate Kwon Lauren Kim Salma Ismail Brenden Barraca Claire Shin Leah Hang Amina Yakupova Ran Ou
Second Violin Trinity Le, principal Maxwell Rama Tonia Yuan Elena Lee Trina Zhang Katie Yoon Sean Choi Sarah Clerkin Kaeta Arai Leah Park David Qin Stella Hu
Viola & Third Violin Ian Shih, principal Dora Wang Emily Gao Zoey Ni Sophia Lee Alex Lin Noa Vierra Emily Chao Tanzer Chiang Sophie Lee Angela Liu Cello Sofie Tirta, principal Eunice Zeng Sunny Wei
Isabella Hwang Aivy Frazier Lawrence Qi Ansel Warkentin Julia Wu Elinor Ma Shirley Yang Andrew Kariuki Inara Yang Olivia Park Daniel Kim Double Bass Diya Balaji, principal Scarlett Keller
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PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
OFFICERS Elaine Neuss, Chair/CEO * Donna L. Kendall, Deputy Chair * Margaret Gates, Vice Chair * Mirella Reznic, Treasurer *
PRESIDENT AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Tommy Phillips
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Stephen Amendt Kathy Barrett, Past President, The Committees Phyllis Berenbeim, President-Elect, The Committees Kathy Cobb-Woll, President, The Committees Hung Fan, Laguna Beach Music Festival Chair Jean Felder Benny Ishii, Orange County Youth Symphony Chair Kari Kerr Marlene Nielsen June Shillman Douglas Smith, Member at Large * IN MEMORIAM Sabra Bordas Douglas T. Burch, Jr. Jane Grier PRESIDENT & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Tommy Phillips *Executive Committee
MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS Jean Hsu, Chief Operating Officer / Vice President of Communications Marie Songco-Torres, Senior Marketing & Public Relations Manager David Nguyen, Marketing & Public Relations Intern DEVELOPMENT Halim Kim, Senior Director of Development Kari Venaas, Development Operations Manager Zach Edwards, Board Liason & Development Coordinator ARTISTIC OPERATIONS Hana Kurihara, Concert Production Coordinator EDUCATION Katherine Yang, Vice President of Education & Community Engagement Courtney McKinnon, Associate Director of Volunteer & Education Services Jennifer Niedringhaus-Lopez, Senior Manager of Education & Community Engagement Chloe Hopper, Education Associate & OCYS Coordinator Penny Arroyo, Huntington Harbour Office Manager & Finance Coordinator Grace Hsia, Education & Community Engagement Intern FINANCE Fay Hu, Finance and HR Associate PATRON SERVICES Jonathan Mariott, Director of Patron Services Angelica Nicolas, Marketing and Patron Services Manager Randy Polevoi, Musical Concierge ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH SYMPHONY & STRINGS ENSEMBLE Johannes Müller Stosch, Music Director & OCYS Conductor Lucy Lu, OCYSE Conductor & OCYS Strings Coach Danielle Culhane, Operations & Personnel Manager
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PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY OF ORANGE COUNTY | THE 73RD SEASON
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SEASON NOVEMBER 21
Ruckus: Strawberry Fields
DECEMBER 6 8 15
George Li, piano The Holidays with Canadian Brass Voctave: We Need a Little Christmas
JANUARY 15 21 22
Bang on a Can All-Stars Itzhak Perlman, violin National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine with Volodymyr Sirenko, conductor and Dmytro Udovychenko, violin
JUST ANNOUNCED! MARCH 5
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12 30
Vienna Philharmonic with Yuja Wang, piano: Prokofiev and Mahler's Fourth Vienna Philharmonic with Pacific Chorale: Mahler's “Resurrection” Conrad Tao, piano and Academy of St Martin in the Fields Yeol Eum Son, piano
APRIL 11 16
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Louis Lortie, piano San Francisco Symphony with Donald Runnicles, conductor and Francesco Piemontesi, piano Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
MAY 9 29
Simon Trpčeski, piano Los Angeles Philharmonic with Anna Handler, conductor
FEBRUARY 2-7
17 26
25th Anniversary Laguna Beach Music Festival All-Stars Midori, violin and Festival Strings Lucerne Danish String Quartet
SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE NOW (949) 553-2422 | philharmonicsociety.org
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