The Kamuela Philharmonic invites the public to experience an enchanting afternoon of orchestral beauty and Shakespeare-inspired classics at at 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Kahilu Theatre in Waimea.
The winter concert, “Shakespeare in Paradise,” promises “a stunning showcase of young talent alongside timeless works inspired by the Bard,” according to a press release.
The program highlights the winners of the philharmonic’s 2024/25 Madeline Schatz-Harris Youth Concerto Competition, a perennial season favorite.
This year’s concert also features beloved works inspired by Shakespeare, including Tchaikovsky’s sweeping “Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture,” Mendelssohn’s serene and magical “Nocturne from A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and Bellini’s dramatic “Overture to The Capulets and the Montagues.”
“From the early 1800s through today, great literature is a spark of inspiration. Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky took these stories to great heights,” Maestro Brian Dollinger said in the release. “I continue to strive to program music that everyone will recognize at each concert of the Philharmonic, and this concert is full of it.
Not only do we have some incredibly talented young artist competition winners’ pieces that are unmistakable, but Tchaikovsky’s ‘Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture’ is probably in the top 10 of the lexicon of great symphonic overtures.”
Accompanied by the full philharmonic, 12-year-old pianist Eliana Chang will captivate audiences with the first movement of Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Major, while 14-year-old pianist Ben Liu brings to life the dramatic first movement of Edvard Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor.
In a historic first for the philharmonic, this year’s competition features its first-ever brother-sister duo of winners: returning champion Sophie Chan (16) and her brother Justin Chan (16) will perform a mesmerizing four-hands arrangement of Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Carnival of the Animals.”
“Each year, I’m inspired by the incredible talent of our youth concerto competition winners,” Dollinger said. “For many, it’s their first time performing as a soloist with a full orchestra — a truly unforgettable milestone.
This year is especially exciting as we feature our first-ever brother-sister duo, a testament to the remarkable talent emerging from Hawaii.
“My role is to help these young musicians feel at ease and embrace the joy of the moment, creating memories that will last a lifetime. It’s an honor.”
Tickets for “Shakespeare in Paradise” are range from $76 to $22 and can be purchased online at kamuelaphil.org or by calling the Kahilu Theatre Box Office at (808) 885.6868 or visiting the Box Office in person at 67-1186 Lindsey Road in Waimea on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and during events.