Wheeling Symphony Orchestra (WSO) announces that its Wesbanco Capitol Concert Series will close with “Baroque & Beyond” on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 7:30 pm. The concert will feature the music of guest artists Stefan Jackiw, Violin; Yoonah Kim, Clarinet and Rachel Stegeman, Violin. All concertgoers are invited to a season-ending celebration following the performance.
The final concert of the WSO’s Wesbanco Capitol Concert Series will take place on Thursday, May 26, 2022 at 7:30pm. The orchestra will be conducted by Maestro John Devlin and feature guest artists Stefan Jackiw, Violin; Yoonah Kim, Clarinet and Rachel Stegeman, Violin. Works by American composer Eric Nathan, including his Double Concerto for Violin and Clarinet and a setting of pieces by J.S. Bach, will be performed alongside Max Richter’s special project Recomposed: Vivaldi-The Four Seasons.
“This concert will be an exciting way to end our season,” says Music Director John Devlin. “We will be presenting two works by American composer Eric Nathan – his Double Concerto for Violin and Clarinet and Dancing with J.S.Bach. Eric Nathan and I attended the same music school in junior high and high school, so I have a personal connection to Eric and often program his music to mark special occasions. The completion of this season back on our home stage is definitely a cause for celebration for the orchestra and me.”
Bryan Braunlich, the WSO’s Executive Director, echoed Devlin’s sentiment that the evening will be a celebration of what was a remarkable season for the orchestra. “In 2022, we were finally able to return to our home stage at the Capitol Theatre after a two-year disruption caused by the pandemic,” says Braunlich. “In just four months, we have had five concerts at the Capitol and each one has been better than the last. We will also be celebrating the members of the Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary whose support has made this concert possible.”
Guests artists Stefan Jackiw and Yoonah Kim, will perform Eric Nathan’s Concerto for Violin and Clarinet. Jackiw and Kim, who were married in 2020, performed the world premiere of this Nathan piece in 2019.
Jackiw is one of America’s foremost violinists, captivating audiences with playing that combines poetry and purity with an impeccable technique. Hailed for playing of “uncommon musical substance” that is “striking for its intelligence and sensitivity” (Boston Globe), Jackiw has appeared as soloist with the Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco symphony orchestras, among others.
Hailed by The New York Times for her “inexhaustible virtuosity”, clarinetist Yoonah Kim is rapidly earning recognition as a young artist of uncommon musical depth and versatility. Yoonah is a winner of the 2016 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. In 2016, Yoonah became the first woman to win first prize at the Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition, leading to her world premiere performance of Pocket Concerto by American composer Dag Gabrielsen at The Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis, presented by Yamaha. Earlier that year, she was a featured soloist at Juilliard’s Focus Festival, performing Donald Martino’s A Set for Clarinet at Peter Jay Sharp Theater in New York City.
Rachel Stegeman is Concertmaster of the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra. She also serves as Concertmaster of the Youngstown Symphony, Associate Concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Pittsburgh Ballet Orchestra, has performed as a guest Concertmaster for the West Virginia Symphony and Johnstown Symphony, and performs frequently as a guest section violinist at Pittsburgh Symphony. Before moving to the East Coast, she was Associate Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Opera Pacific, Los Angeles Opera as well as other orchestras in the area. She was also a member of the Pacific Symphony and a recording studio violinist in hundreds of major motion pictures, records, television shows, commercials and live award shows.
The WSO Board of Directors will host a post-concert celebration immediately following the performance in the covered alley adjacent to the Capitol Theatre. All audience members are invited to connect with Maestro Devlin, WSO musicians, our guest artists and our family of symphony supporters. The reception will feature light desserts and drinks. Admission to the after-party is free.
The Capitol Concert Series is presented by Wesbanco, Inc. Baroque and Beyond is supported by guest artist sponsor The Wheeling Symphony Auxiliary.
