Classical Music Discoveries

The Orchestra of Southern Utah Talent Showcase Podcast features the magic of youth, the enchantment of renowned professionals, and the mystic of modern movie themes – with all the performers coming from the Southern Utah area.

Child musicians Sarah Sun, JessiKate Riley, and Anastasia Gliadkovskava perform as concerto soloists with the orchestra, under the direction of OSU conductor Xun Sun.

Sarah is the eight- year-old daughter of Xun Sun and Ling Yu. She has been studying piano with JoAnn Jones since she was 4 and now takes piano from Anna Gliadkovskaya. She has participated in the annual Music Festivals and earned Gold Cup trophies in both piano and violin. She participates in the Suzuki Strings program at SUU. She plays “Piano Concerto No. 5 in D Major, K. 173, 1st Movement” by Mozart on the piano.

JessiKate Riley (12) is the daughter of Douglas and Amanda Riley of Beaver. JessiKate began studying the violin at age 3 with Sara Penny. She has studied with Xun Sun and is currently studying with Dr. Paul Abegg. JessiKate traveled to Turin, Italy in 2006 to participate in the World Suzuki Conference, where she soloed in a children’s recital. She has earned several Gold Cups through the Southern Utah String Festival for solo and ensemble performances. She has participated in Suzuki Strings for many years and has attended the Intermountain Suzuki String Institute regularly. She performs “Concerto in A minor, 1st Movement” by Charles DeBeriot.

Anastasia (11) is this daughter of Kirill and Anna Gliadkovsky and has been playing piano since the age of 6. She made her debut with Burbank Philharmonic Orchestra in Southern California at the age of 8 performing at the 5000 capacity Burbank Bowl. She plays “Piano Concert in F Minor, 1st Movement” by Bach.

Women’s choir “In Jubilo” performs under the direction of Jackie Jackson and is accompanied by Dixie Morell. The ladies have several evening concerts each year as well as performing for a number of community and church events throughout their performance season. For the OSU Talent Showcase, they are singing “Lift thine Eyes” by Felix Mendelssohn, “Go Down Moses” arranged by Hayes, “The Place of the Blest” by Randall Thompson, “Chorus of the Cigarette Girls” from the opera Carmen by George Bizet, and “You Raise Me Up” by Brendon Graham and Rolf Lovland.

Cellomania is featured as they play “Baby Elephant Walk” by Henry Mancini from the Paramount Picture Hatari. It has been arranged for quartet by Larry Moore and for cello by Nina Hansen.

The full orchestra performs music by famed movie score composer John Williams. “Theme” and “Jewish Town” from Schindler’s List features special guest violinist Melissa Thorley Lewis. She currently plays in the Utah Symphony Orchestra, grew up in Cedar City with R.L. Halversen as her teacher. Her mother June Thorley and sister Colleen Dowse play in OSU.

The orchestra also plays the E.T. Theme, as arranged by John Cacavas. Jerry Brubaker’s arrangement of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace and highlights from Harry Potter arranged by Michael Story are also performed.

This podcast is sponsored by the Cedar City RAP Fund and the Cedar City/Brian Head Tourism Bureau.

Podcast Hostess: Sandy Hedgecock
Recording/Sound: Ken Hedgecock
Program cover used by permission.