CANYON An acclaimed conductor and rising star pianist, both from South Korea, teamed with the West Texas A&M University Symphony Orchestra for a concert held on March 4 in Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall on WT’s Canyon campus.
Dongin Youn, the music director and principal conductor of the CitiPhilharmoni Orchestra in Seoul, led the orchestra for their performance of his newly composed “Arirang Overture.”
This was Youn’s second time to lead the WT Symphony following his appearances as guest conductor for the “Music of the Christmas Season” concerts in 2017.
Also joining the orchestra: Jiyeon Kang, a winner of the CitiPhilharmoni concerto competition, for a performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2.
Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World. That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched in September 2021 — has raised more than $120 million.
Orchestra members are:
- Violin 1: Jose Luis Forero Daza, a graduate student in music from Bogotá, Columbia; João Paulo Grissoe, a freshman music performance major from Linz, Brazil; Keila Batista, a graduate student in music from São José, Brazil; Indra Aguirre Sankar, a graduate student in music from Bogotá, Columbia; Kayla Richardson, a senior music industry major from Amarillo; Matthew Loyd, a junior music education major from Pampa; Sydney Buckner, a senior animal science major from Amarillo; Tatiana Kolesnik, a junior music performance major from Saint Petersburg, Russia; Hollie Williams, a freshman music performance major from Kress; and Raiden Fore, a senior music education major from Amarillo.
- Violin 2: Josenir Junior, a graduate student in music from Criciúma, Brazil; Michael Mata, a junior music performance major from Victoria; Cassidy DeMarais, a sophomore music education major from Rockwall; Wendy Lambert, a freshman music performance major from Amarillo; Luis Lozano, a graduate student in music from Bogotá, Columbia; Marissa Partida, a sophomore music performance major from Victoria; and Elena Moreno, a sophomore music education major from Amarillo.
- Viola: Jasmin Caldera, a sophomore health sciences major from Amarillo; Connor Lincycomb, a junior music performance major from Amarillo; Patrick Daly-Williams, a freshman music education major from Amarillo; Mia Brandyberry, a junior education major from Amarillo; and Robert Hansen, director of the WT School of Music.
- Cello: Anna Ng, a freshman biology major from Amarillo; Bethany Mueller, a graduate student in music from Amarillo; Rodrigo Alonzo, a sophomore music performance major from Amarillo; Katherine Cook, a sophomore music therapy and performance major from Midland; Christian Morris, a freshman social science major from Amarillo; Tristan Tilman, a senior music industry major from Alamogordo, New Mexico; and Andrea Skyberg, a sophomore physics major from Lubbock.
- Bass: Emily Arciniega, a sophomore music education major from McKinney; Jose Gerardo Gardea Yepiz, a graduate student in music from El Paso; Ryan Evans, a sophomore music performance major from Amarillo; Joe David Romo, a junior music education major from Amarillo; Kortni VanDamme, a sophomore music industry and composition major from Amarillo; Marcus Curnutte, a sophomore music education major from Midland; and Carson King, a freshman music education major from Rockdale.
- Flute: Kyndahl Britton, a sophomore music performance major from Pflugerville; Broderick A. McQuarters, a graduate student in music from Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Abigail Wade, a junior music performance and education from Missouri City.
>> Oboe: Tobin Brooks, a junior music performance and education major from Canyon; and Abigail Hite, a junior music performance and education major from Nashville.
>> Clarinet: Dayton Scholz, a sophomore music performance and education major from Amarillo; and Joseph Henriquez, a junior music performance and industry major from Arlington.
>> Bassoon: Meghan Lancaster, a senior music education and composition major from Canyon; and Kegan Otoole, a sophomore business administration major from Friendswood.
>> Horn: Jorge C. Lopez, a junior music education major from Rio Grande City; Christopher Santiago, a sophomore music education major from Odessa; Norrin Hodgson, a junior music education major from Odessa; Luke Rodriguez, a junior music education major from Rosenberg; and Landon Proffitt, a senior music industry from Andrews.
>> Trumpet: Payne Morris, a senior music education major from Odessa; Brayden York, a sophomore music education major from Odessa; and Nathan Thompson, a freshman music education major from El Paso.
>> Trombone: Corey Nance, a senior music performance major from Carrollton; and Abraham Wood, a senior music education major from Floresville.
>> Bass Trombone: Justin Slaughter, a senior music education major from Odessa.
>> Tuba: Lucas Martinez, a junior music education major from Lewisville.
>> Percussion: Caleb Martin, a graduate student in music from Plainview; Hien Doan, a junior music performance and education major from Amarillo; and Colton Gallandat, a sophomore music education major from Joshua.
