-
March 19, 2018
USC freshman featured in Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra concert
Upper St. Clair High School freshman Christian Chiu has been named a winner in the 2017-18 Solo Competition, sponsored by the Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra and the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association – Greater Pittsburgh Chapter. Christian will perform the first movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in the orchestra’s upcoming concert on Saturday, March 24, 2018.
Christian made his orchestral debut with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra at age 10. He was chosen as a finalist in the MostArts Festival Young Pianists Competition and the Arthur Fraser International Piano Competition/Southeastern Piano Festival. Christian has also been first prize winner of the Duquesne Young Artist National Competition and the Pittsburgh Concert Society Young Artist Competition. Outside of his musical pursuits, Christian’s hobbies include tennis, ping pong, golf, and watching hockey games. He currently studies privately with Professor Natasha Snitkovsky. Christian’s sister, Arianna, is a previous winner of the competition – performing in 2016.
Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra will present its concert, Fire, part of its 2017-18 series based on “The Elements,” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday March 24, 2018, in the Upper St. Clair High School theatre. The concert will feature the three winners of the Young Artist Concerto Competition, including Christian.
The other winners include Gracielle Constantine, a student at North Allegheny Senior High School and Chaehyun “Cuna” Kim, a sophomore at Fox Chapel Area High School. Past winners have gone on to pursue careers in music performance and education as well as the fields of math and science, while keeping music as an important part of their lives.
The orchestra will also perform Mussorgsky’s “Night On Bald Mountain” brought to life in Disney’s Fantasia, De Falla’s “Ritual Fire Dance” and the uplifting Berceuse and Finale from Stravinsky’s “Fire Bird Suite.” Tickets are $15 general admission; $10 seniors; $5 students 13 and up. Group rates are available. For more information, please call 412-854-1389 or visit pittsburghcivicorchestra.net.
The Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra’s solo competition is designed to offer an opportunity to outstanding young musicians to perform live in concert with a symphony orchestra. The competition is open to pianists or instrumentalists up through their senior year in high school and vocalists through age 21. Applicants must live within a 50 mile radius of Pittsburgh.
