Flute and piccolo player Julin Cheung stood behind a beige velvet curtain as he prepared to audition for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
As he played, the jury on the other side of the curtain didn香蕉视频直播檛 know he was still a high school student.
It was only after the last of three blind auditions over two days that the orchestra香蕉视频直播檚 music director, Otto Tausk, knew they had their new hire 香蕉视频直播� and the curtain was drawn back, revealing Cheung to be a 17-year-old.
He香蕉视频直播檚 set to become the orchestra香蕉视频直播檚 new assistant principal flute and piccolo player, and its youngest ever member.
Angela Elster, president and CEO of the orchestra, recalled Tausk coming to see her after the final audition.
香蕉视频直播淗e said two things, one is we found a winner, which often doesn香蕉视频直播檛 happen. We can go through national auditions and then international auditions and still not hear the quality that we香蕉视频直播檙e looking for,香蕉视频直播� said Elster.
香蕉视频直播淎nd he said, not only have we found someone, but he香蕉视频直播檚 only 17 years old, and he still has to finish high school 香蕉视频直播� what do we do with that?香蕉视频直播�
Cheung, who is from Seattle and attends the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, will finish Grade 12 there first before officially joining the orchestra as an 18-year-old next April.
香蕉视频直播淚 was really nervous for the first time,香蕉视频直播� said Cheung of his initial audition.
He only got the idea to stop by Vancouver and audition while on his way back home to Seattle at the end of his school year.
Cheung said his confidence grew in later rounds and by the final audition he felt 香蕉视频直播渜uite good.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淥nce you have broken the barrier, it feels much better,香蕉视频直播� said Cheung, speaking from Berlin, Germany, on Thursday. He is set to perform at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland as part of its junior orchestra program.
He recalled his surprise after being told he had the job after his final audition.
香蕉视频直播淭he first thing I said was that I香蕉视频直播檓 still in school right now, so I need another year to finish my school in Philadelphia,香蕉视频直播� said Cheung.
Auditions for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra are a 香蕉视频直播渧ery anonymous and carefully curated香蕉视频直播� process, said Elster.
Blind auditions were important to the orchestral world 香蕉视频直播渟o that we have no judgment about who is behind the barrier, except that we listen for the sound.香蕉视频直播�
香蕉视频直播淭hat is exactly what happened when Julin won a spot in the international competition at the end of May,香蕉视频直播� said Elster.
Elster said Cheung impressed the jury with his artistry, virtuosity, technique and 香蕉视频直播渁 sound that fit right into the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra sound.香蕉视频直播�
Cheung香蕉视频直播檚 official position doesn香蕉视频直播檛 start for nine months, but he has already made his debut with the orchestra, playing as a guest soloist in front of a huge crowd at Vancouver香蕉视频直播檚 Sunset Beach for the orchestra香蕉视频直播檚 Symphony at Sunset performance on July 6.
Cheung said he played Vivaldi香蕉视频直播檚 Piccolo Concerto in C Major, RV 443.
Describing performing as the 香蕉视频直播渕ost sacred香蕉视频直播� experience, Cheung said it allowed him to enter a different era.
香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 like you香蕉视频直播檙e travelling back in time and hearing this music exactly the way that it was meant to be hundreds of years ago. It香蕉视频直播檚 the same as looking at a painting from hundreds of years ago,香蕉视频直播� said Cheung.
Growing up in Seattle, Cheung said he and his family would visit Vancouver about once a month and he was already a fan of the local food scene and natural environment.
He started playing the flute at six, joined the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra when he was nine, and was the Curtis Institute of Music香蕉视频直播檚 youngest student when he was accepted at 13.
He said his age had always drawn attention, but noted that the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra香蕉视频直播檚 current principal flute player, Christie Reside, joined when she was 19.
香蕉视频直播淚 think age is not so important 香蕉视频直播� as long as you香蕉视频直播檙e able to communicate with people around you, age is just a number and there are plenty of (young) musicians in the orchestra, so I don香蕉视频直播檛 think I am going to be left out,香蕉视频直播� said Cheung.
READ ALSO:
