Christmas Concert 2023 Program
WELCOME MESSAGE
Welcome to the Christmas Concert 2023.
This is the last concert of the year to conclude our Symphonic Training Program 2023.
During the year, our young musicians have learned 4 symphonies. At this concert will demonstrate their fantastic achievements. I am sure they will achieve even more from next year’s training.
I would like to thank the Hills Shire Council for the great support.
Sincere thanks to our management team without whom nothing could have been done.
Dr Brian Chatpo Koo
Artistic Director
Sydney Contemporary Orchestra
YOUTH SYMPHONY
PROGRAM
Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Overture of Mirage of Figaro
Sydney Hills Youth Orchestra
Franz Schubert
Symphony No.8 in B minor
“Unfinished”
- I Allegro moderato
- II Andante con moto
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in C Major Op.36
- I Adagio molto, Allegro con brio
- II Andante cantabile con moto
- III Menuetto and Trio Allegro molto vivace
- IV Adagio, Allegro molto e vivace
Conductor
Dr Brian Chatpo Koo
Concertmaster
Rachael Gock
Franz Schubert
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759
“Unfinished”
Franz Schubert was an Austrian composer of the early 19th century.
His talent as a composer of classical and romantic compositions was mostly ignored while he was alive but became significant only in the 19th century. Though his life was very short, he was a prolific composer who used to create many compositions in one single day. His works were greatly influenced by the writings of Goethe and were based mainly on the piano. His sonatas on the piano used melodies that had long lines instead of the traditional short themes and the romantic songs or ‘Lieder’ in the German language written by him put greater importance on the piano than on any other instrument as an accompaniment. He was not that well known in his early years as he was neither a literary person like many of the other composers during that period nor was a great performer or a famous conductor. But during the short time he was alive, he wrote more than six hundred songs, nine symphonies, a large number of compositions for the piano, and five masses. His masterpieces which brought enjoyment to many music lovers all over the world came to light only after he had passed away.
Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D. 759
Commonly known as the Unfinished Symphony, it is a musical composition that Schubert composed in 1822.
It consists of only two movements which are performed continuously.
- I. Allegro moderato
- II. Andante
Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony No.1 in D Major Op.36
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and the predominant musical figure in the period between the Classical and Romantic eras.
As a German pianist and composer, he is widely considered the greatest of all time, whose innovative compositions combined vocals and instruments, widening the scope of sonata, symphony, concerto, and quartet. He is the crucial transitional figure connecting the Classical and Romantic ages of Western music. Beethoven’s personal life was marked by a struggle against deafness, and some of his most important works were composed during the last 10 years of his life when he was quite unable to hear.
He died at the age of 56.
Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21
It was written in 1795 when he was 30 years old.
The symphony is indebted to Beethoven’s predecessors, Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, but has characteristics that mark it uniquely as Beethoven’s work, notably the frequent use of sforzandi and the prominent, more independent use of wind instruments.
It consists of 4 movements:
- 1 Adagio molto – Allegro con brio
- 2 Andante cantabile con moto
- 3 Menuetto (Allegro molto e vivace)
- 4 Adagio – Allegro molto e vivace
ABOUT THE SYS ORCHESTRAS
Established in 2011, a training arm of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra Inc. (SCO), the SCO Youth Symphony (SYS) is our Youth Program for young music lovers, music students, young musicians, and young music teachers in Sydney, Australia.
It consists of two training orchestras – the Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra and the Sydney Hills Junior Orchestra. Led by its Founding Conductor, Artistic & Executive Director, Dr. Brian Chatpo Koo, the SYS offers young music lovers the opportunity to play and enjoy classical orchestral music of all kinds, not only performing but also learning to understand how those masterpieces were constructed, and expanding their orchestral music education training and orchestral music performance experience. The orchestra also broadens their potential music career by building up their orchestral music repertoires, as well as imparting to them the value of communication, teamwork, and discipline.
After training, they can join our Western Sydney Symphony Orchestra playing alongside professional musicians to get more professional experience. Furthermore, they can join the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra to earn income as professional musicians.
Since 2011 we have hosted 33 concerts and trained more than 200 young musicians. Some of them now pursuing their tertiary music studies and some of them are working as professional musicians.
Young music lovers who play orchestral instruments are welcome to join us.
Contact our managers for more information:
Orchestra Manager Rossane North
management@sys.org.au
ABOUT THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Founding Conductor and Artistic & Executive Director Dr. Brian Chatpo Koo is a Sydney-based musician. Having studied music at the University of Hong Kong and the University of Sydney, Brian was the first person in Australia to receive a Ph.D. degree in music composition.
Supported by the Hong Kong University Grant, Brian also studied music at the International Summer Course for New Music in Darmstadt, Germany, and obtained his Licentiate and Fellowship Diplomas from the Trinity College of Music in London.
As a composer, his compositions have been performed all around the world.
As a conductor, he has conducted many symphony orchestras around the world for his compositions’ premieres.
He founded the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra in 2013. Together with about 100 of Sydney’s finest professional musicians and a volunteer management team, Brian is dedicated to creating a platform where more new orchestral works can be performed, heard, recorded, published, and become a part of our music culture, as he believes music development history is written by composers’ creativities. To encourage and reach the pinnacle of this creativity and art, we must through devotion, perseverance, determination, and most importantly constant performance.
Brian also founded the SCO Youth Symphony in 2011, a training arm of the Sydney Contemporary Orchestra, to provide professional orchestral training to young musicians, as he believes with classical music training and carefully selected programs covering a variety of cultural perspectives, young musicians can be equipped to broaden their vision and to enhance their understanding of culture, civilization, and human society.
YOUNG MUSICIANS
VIOLIN
Rachael Gock*
Emma Kan
Aimee Lin
Phoebe Ge
Airel Kan
Oliver Xi
Charis Song
Zarah Wickramage
Harvey Li
Elaine Zhu
Isabella Hu
Emily Shi
William Li
Jackson Ou
Luca Sun
Araliya Wickramage
Jason Ou
VIOLA
Hannah Zhou
Mathew Huang
CELLO
Roger Gock
Hayden North
Valery Lin
Katelyn Li
Ashleigh Wong
Alisa Ban
Caroline Zhou
Prithika Verma
DOUBLE BASS
Lyra Xi
FLUTE
Eva Tong
Joyce Chen
CLARINET
Ashton Hsiau
Elina Feng
Matisse Mok
HORN
Grace Li
PIANO
Lucas He
*Concertmaster
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Artistic Director – Dr Brian Chatpo Koo
Secretary – Rajishwar Datt
Treasurer – David Gock
Rawah Dorranian
Rita Lee
Rosanne North
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Executive Director – Dr Brian Chatpo Koo
Office Manager – Raj Datt
Finance Manager – David Gock
Publicity Manager – Rawah Dorranian
Orchesra Manager Rosanne North
Concert Manager – Rita Lee
Membership Manager – Cameo Song