Chloe Qian is currently a 15 year old sophomore at the Orange County School of Arts (OCSA), in the Pianist Program. Chloe began her music journey at age 5, and is currently studying under Dr. Sarkis Baltaian. Her committed passion and diligent efforts made her the first place winner of multiple competitions, such as the 2018 MACOC Piano Solo Competition, 2023 Orbetello International Piano Competition, 2024 IPPA Conero International Piano Competition, 2024 AEGIO International Piano Competition Global Round, 2024 CAPMT Sonata Competition, 2025 Junior Chamber Music Concerto Competition, and more. She is an active honor member of Junior Chamber Music, with her trio winning 1st place in the Amici International Chamber Music Competition, and 3rd place in the JCM Music Competition at USC. Chloe has also been exposed to many music festivals, including the 2023 Oberlin International Music Festival, and has had the chance to learn with world-famous pianists, such as Dang Thai Son, Fabio Bidini, Ning An, and Stanislav Loudenitch. She uses her talent to give back to the community as a performer in a nonprofit, Giving Harmony. Every year, she helps organize a benefit concert, with ticket donations being proceeded to multiple research nonprofits such as Olive Crest, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Aside from piano, Chloe also plays tennis, and has competed in many USTA tournaments, as well as being a U14 member of a country club. During her free time, Chloe enjoys making crafts, sleeping, and spending time with her friends/family.

Jiwon Chung is a junior at Orange County School of the Arts, where he studies viola in the Instrumental Music Conservatory with Dr. Solim Shin. He first began his musical studies on the violin but later transitioned to the viola after being drawn to its deep and resonant sound. Since making the switch, Jiwon has continued to grow as a musician. He has performed with the CODA All-State Symphony Orchestra and currently plays with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition to orchestra, he has been an honor member of Junior Chamber Music (JCM) for three years, gaining valuable experience performing chamber repertoire with other young musicians. As a soloist, Jiwon won first place in the American Protégé International Competition and performed at Carnegie Hall. He has also performed major works for the viola, including Vieuxtemps’ Capriccio pour alto seul, and many other pieces. Through these experiences, he has built a strong foundation as a performer and continues to expand his repertoire and skills. He looks forward to further developing his musical career and performing for wider audiences.

Twelve-year-old cellist Ryan Kim has won first prizes at numerous competitions, including the Orange County Musical Arts Competition, Southwestern Youth Music Festival (both “Open” and “Baroque” categories), Satori Music Competition, and Amici National Music Competition. He is a two-time first-place winner of both the Junior Chamber Music Competition and its concerto competition, and a second prize recipient of the MTAC State VOCE Competition. This summer, Ryan made his orchestral debut performing Haydn’s C Major Cello Concerto with the SYMF Festival Orchestra after winning their “Young Cellist” category. He has been studying cello for four and a half years with Ashley Kim in Fullerton and is a member of Pacific Santiago Strings. A 7th grader at Heritage Oak Private School, Ryan also enjoys math, video games, and playing basketball with the Fullerton Ballerz in the Top Ballers Basketball League.

Natalie Xu, a 14-year-old violinist from Tustin, California, attends the Orange County School of the Arts and studies at The Violin Studio of Mori & Park. She made her orchestral solo debut at age 11 with Orchestra Collective of Orange County, and most recently won the 3rd Prize in the National Finals of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) String Competition (2025). Natalie has earned numerous first-place awards in prestigious competitions, including the MTNA Southwest Division Finals and California State Finals (2025), Young Stars of the Future (2024), Opus Music Competition National Finals (2024), Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) VOCE State Finals (2023), American String Teachers Association (ASTA) California State Finals (2022), and the Satori Grand Prize (2023 and 2022). She has also received top honors in other regional events such as California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT), Southwestern Youth Music Festival (SYMF), the Southern California Junior Bach Festival, and the Musical Arts Competition of Orange County (MACOC). As a soloist, Natalie has performed with several other orchestras, including the South Coast Symphony, Bellflower Symphony, and the Southern California Philharmonic. She has also refined her artistry by participating in masterclasses with distinguished violinists such as Paul Huang and Ayke Agus. Since 2024, Natalie has been featured on NPR’s From the Top as a part of their Daily Joy series. Earlier this year, Natalie was chosen once again to be featured in an upcoming series of NPR’s From the Top national radio show as a part of their Fellowship Program.

Saint-Saëns wrote this concerto in a rush of just over two weeks for a Paris concert in 1868, joking later that the piece “began like Bach and ended like Offenbach.” The blazing finale is a Presto in the style of a tarantella (a fast Italian dance said to drive away poison), full of swirling runs and relentless drive. Saint-Saëns himself premiered it with the great Anton Rubinstein conducting, dazzling a Parisian audience that wasn’t quite ready for such high-speed fireworks. Tonight, we get just that finale — seven minutes of pure, breathless virtuosity.

Bruch composed this unusual double concerto in 1911 as a personal gift for his son, Max Felix. Instead of the expected flashy opening, the first movement sings with warmth, letting two voices—clarinet and viola—blend in gentle conversation. Tonight, the clarinet part is taken by violin, and the sibling duo on stage adds its own family connection to Bruch’s fatherly gesture. The music flows more like chamber music than a traditional concerto, reminding us that some of the most powerful statements in music come not from fireworks, but from intimacy.