Nearly every musician can point to a teacher who inspired them to keep going and follow their dream. The Salt Lake Symphony is pleased to continue our tradition of inviting talented high school musicians to play alongside us for a piece every year. Young musicians come from a variety of places, including area youth orchestras, high schools, and private studios. This year, we welcome the students to play Danzon No. 2, an exciting work by Mexican composer, Arturo Marquez. Also on the program is a unique first for the SLS, a Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra by Victor Bruns. We are thrilled to have Utah Symphony contrabassoonist, Leon Chodos, joining us as soloist. Leon is a great supporter of our orcheatra and can sometimes be seen volunteering his talents in our bassoon section. The concert will close with a powerful “first symphony”, a student composition by the great Russian composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. The Symphony No. 1 was Shostakovich’s graduation piece from his conservatory studies, launching him into instant fame as a Russian symphonist at age 19.

Program:

• Arturo Marquez: Danzon No. 2 (with invited side-by-side players)
• Victor Bruns: Concerto for Contrabassoon and Orchestra
• Dmitri Shostakovich: Symphony No. 1, op. 10