Curtis Symphony Orchestra's First-Ever West Coast Tour (Photo Roundup)

The acclaimed orchestra performed in three U.S. West Coast cities with a kick-off concert at Longwood Gardens

GRAMMY Award-winning conductor Osmo Vänskä, recently joined the Curtis Symphony Orchestra for the school’s first-ever West Coast tour of the United States, May 12–22, 2023, beginning with a stunning concert under the sun and stars at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Curtis’s gifted student musicians then traveled to Prescott, Arizona; and Santa Barbara and Davis, California to bring their youthful exuberance and extraordinary talents to new audiences. Pianist Janice Carissa (’22), Gilmore Young Artist and winner of Salon de Virtuosi, performed at Longwood Gardens, and internationally renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman (’77), Neubauer Family Chair in Piano Studies at Curtis, joined the orchestra for the three performances in Arizona and California.

The Curtis Symphony Orchestra’s historic tour featured the highly anticipated world premiere of Awakening Lion by composer Dai Wei (ʼ19), performed alongside a rotating set of selections by Béla Bartók, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, and Robert Schumann. This exciting opportunity was made possible through Curtis on Tour, the Nina von Maltzahn global touring initiative of the school, an inspiring embodiment of Curtis’s unique “learn by doing” philosophy that offers students real-world, professional touring experience alongside celebrated alumni and faculty members.

Check out photo highlights below, featuring behind-the-scenes shots courtesy of Longwood Gardens and Laurie Carrozzino; Micah Gleason Photography; David Bazemore; Zoart Photography; and Curtis’s vice president of communications and public affairs, Patricia K. Johnson. 

  • Renowned composer and Curtis alumna Dai Wei ('19) discusses her new work, "Awakening Lion," at its world premiere; photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens and Laurie Carrozzino.
  • Maestro Osmo Vänskä conducts the Curtis Symphony Orchestra at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif.; David Bazemore.
  • Flutist Annie Li, with violinist Na Hyun Della Kyun, violist Yizilin Liang, pianist YangYang Ruan, and a friend of the performers following the concert at Longwood Gardens; photo courtesy of Laurie Carrozzino.
  • The Curtis Symphony Orchestra rehearses on the stage of the stunning Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif.; photo by Patricia K. Johnson.
  • Violists Chih-Ta Chen and Dillon Scott at Longwood Gardens; photo courtesy of Laurie Carrozzino.
  • Pianist Janice Carissa ('22) performs Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95 with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra; photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens and Laurie Carrozzino.
  • Bassoonists Luis Márquez Teruel and Kahlan Yenney in rehearsal; Micah Gleason Photography.
  • The cello and double bass sections of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra perform "Awakening Lion" by Dai Wei's (Composition '19); photo courtesy of courtesy of Longwood Gardens and Laurie Carrozzino.
  • A candid shot of concertmaster Eunseo Lee and oboist Oliver Talukder on tour; Micah Gleason Photography.
  • Yefim Bronfman ('77) in a performance of Schumann's Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, Calif.; photo by David Bazemore.
  • Members of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra performing at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis, Calif.; Zoart Photography.
  • (Timpani and Percussion, left to right) Zachary Thomas, Tae McLoughlin, and Griffin Harrison. (Horn, left to right) Christine Ott, Nicholas Ivy, and Marcus Shaw. Photo by Zoart Photography.
  • Audience members enjoying the opening concert of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra's West Coast tour on the lawn of Longwood Gardens. Photo courtesy of the gardens and Laurie Carrozzino.
  • Violinists Maya Anjali Buchanan, Zhenyi Jiang, and Gawon Kim in Davis, Calif.; Zoart Photography.
  • Roberto Díaz, president and CEO of the Curtis Institute of Music, congratulates the Curtis Symphony Orchestra on a successful tour; Micah Gleason Photography.
  • Martina Adams and the horn section of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra. Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens and Laurie Carrozzino.
  • William McGregor, Jason Henery, Hanxiao Deng, Christian Luevano, and Dimitrios Mattas at Longwood Gardens; Micah Gleason Photography.
  • Internationally renowned pianist Yefim Bronfman (’77), Neubauer Family Chair in Piano Studies at Curtis, performing Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95; Zoart Photography.
  • Portrait of composer Dai Wei ('19) on tour by Micah Gleason Photography.
  • The Curtis Symphony Orchestra rehearsing before their May 18 performance at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara, California; photo by Patricia K. Johnson.
  • Yefim Bronfman ('77) and members of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra with conductor Osmo Vänskä at the podium; Zoart Photography.
  • A snapshot of timpani and percussion student Tae McLoughlin in rehearsal; Micah Gleason Photography.
  • Cellist Hun Choi and violist Jiwon Grace Kim at Longwood Gardens. Photo by Laurie Carrozzino.
  • Pianist Yefim Bronfman ('77) performing Bartók with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Osmo Vänskä; Zoart Photography.
  • Violinist Tianyou Ma backstage with Hannah Tam in at the Mondavi Center, Jackson Hall in Davis, California; Zoart Photography.
  • Maestro Osmo Vänskä conducts the Curtis Symphony Orchestra and Yefim Bronfman ('77) in a performance of Bartók's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95 at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis, California; Zoart Photography.
  • Pianist Janice Carissa (’22), Gilmore Young Artist and winner of Salon de Virtuosi, taking a bow after her performance at Longwood Gardens; photo by Laurie Carrozzino.

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