USC senior to open 2023-24 season of the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh

July 31, 2023

 

Pianist Leona Chen, an Upper St. Clair High School senior, will open the 2023-24 season of the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh with a performance of the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20. The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9 in Levy Hall of Rodef Shalom. Advance tickets are $30 and available online at www.copgh.org. Tickets at the door will be $35.

Leona, who will perform under the direction of guest conductor Matthew Wardell, earned this opportunity by winning the Young Artists Piano Concerto Competition earlier this spring. The competition was sponsored by the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh and the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania, which began work on the youth competition in 2022.

“We believe it is important to celebrate the musical achievements of the wonderful emerging artists in our region, and it is a pleasure to work on this partnership with the Steinway Society,” Edward Leonard, artistic director of the Chamber Orchestra of Pittsburgh, said.

Marina Lupinacci, President of the Steinway Society of Western Pennsylvania, echoes Mr. Leonard’s sentiment in the value of the partnership.

“It is a rare opportunity for a young artist to perform with a professional ensemble, and we are very pleased to be working with the Chamber Orchestra on this initiative,” she said.

The Sept. 9 program also includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”) and Boris Blacher’s musical celebration of Mozart, Hommage à Mozart.