The Southern Utah University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Xun Sun, delivered a captivating performance on Friday, March 21, as part of the highly anticipated 2024-2025 Music Masterworks Series. The concert featured guest artist Lin Yang, founder of Yi Shui Kong (Contemporary Tai Chi), and guest conductor Ling Yu.
Held at the Heritage Theater, the performance was a unique and engaging experience, having solo performances, martial arts and orchestral arrangements.
The concert began with Hummel’s “Trumpet Concerto,” conducted by Sun. This piece featured guest soloist Seth Seegmiller, whose talented trumpet performance demonstrated technical skill and great artistry.
The performance continued with “Floating Clouds and Flowing Water,” a traditional Chinese composition where guest conductors Yu and Yang offered a unique interpretation of the piece. They incorporated Tai-Chi inspired movements alongside the musical expression.
The grand finale of the evening was Tchaikovsky’s “Symphony No. 5,” presented in three parts. The orchestra brought the music to life, moving from its dark, broad opening to a bold finale filled with powerful brass. There was string plucking, solos, and dynamic shifts that kept the entire audience on the edge of their seats. This performance became a crowd favorite and ended the night with a standing ovation.
“It was really nice to hear such strong work from all sections of the orchestra,” said Douglas Ipson, the concert speaker. “I was very pleased. I love Tchaikovsky—it’s one of my very favorite pieces.”
“The Tchaikovsky is a great piece because it’s a grand composition that every symphony plays. So it’s really awesome to be able to perform it,” said violinist Melody Stevens, who has been playing for over 11 years.
SUU’s Symphony Orchestra performs regularly. Upcoming concerts can be found on their official calendar. For those who missed this entertaining performance, a live stream recording is available at this link.
Author: Katelyn Bonnett
Photographer: Katelyn Bonnett
Editor: Tessa Cheshire
Copy Editor: Kayd Johanson
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