Join us for a 30-minute lecture before each Classics Series concert. These engaging lectures cover the repertoire, composer insights, and secrets from soloists. Please join us for this FREE learning opportunity!
125th Anniversary Opening Night
Guest Speakers:
David Southorn, NHSO Concertmaster
James Keene, NHSO Harmony Fellow
Aurora Mendez, NHSO Harmony Fellow
Come learn about what it’s like to play in the different violin sections of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra! Join newly-appointed Concertmaster David Southorn as well as two NHSO Harmony Fellows that play in the first and second violin sections. How do all of them communicate on stage? What is the role of the Concertmaster? What’s the difference between the first and second sections? Learn about our musicians’ backgrounds and ask them your own questions in this interactive event.
Violinist David Southorn enjoys a versatile career as a chamber musician, concertmaster and soloist. He is currently part of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s CMS II program as a member of the award-winning Amphion String Quartet, and has collaborated with such distinguished musicians as David Shifrin, Joseph Swensen, Carter Brey, Edgar Meyer, Peter Wiley, Paul Neubauer, the Tokyo String Quartet as well as Ani and Ida Kavafian. Mr. Southorn currently serves as Concertmaster of the Delaware Symphony. Additionally, he has performed as a guest concertmaster with the Miami and New Haven Symphonies, as well as with the Incheon Philharmonic in South Korea. Mr. Southorn is a member of the New York Classical Players and LE TRAIN BLEU, and is a substitute violinist with the New York Philharmonic. Mr. Southorn received a Bachelor of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music and Artist Diploma from Yale University and a Professional Studies Certificate from the Manhattan School of Music. His teachers have included Ani Kavafian, Glenn Dicterow, Lisa Kim, Ian Swensen, Camilla Wicks and Wei He.
James Keene is a versatile soloist, chamber musician, orchestral violinist, and music pedagogue. After attending Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, he received his B.M. from Rutgers University, and later studied at San Francisco Conservatory. Starting in high school, he has played solo, chamber, and orchestral performances for audiences throughout China, Italy, Spain, Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and the USA. Currently, as founder of Classical Revolution NJ he schedules chamber music performances throughout the central NJ area. He travels frequently between the east and west coast for performances in the Bay Area. Also, as a faculty member
of Newark School of the Arts, he instructs the Carollo Scholarship violin students there. His principal teachers have been Todd Phillips, Carmit Zori, Lenuta Ciulei, and Wei-He. Most recently, James placed 1st place Russel Johnson String Competition in Philadelphia and shared the Carnegie Hall main stage with Dionne Warwick.
A violinist born and raised in New York City. Aurora Mendez began her musical studies at the age of four at the “Bronx House School of Music.” After moving to Chile with her family at the age of 15, Aurora formed part of the National Youth Orchestra Foundation of Chile for 6 years serving as a member of the “Metropolitan Youth Orchestra” and the “National Youth Orchestra.” Along with her orchestral activities, she taught extensively throughout Chile. Aurora has toured the world with various orchestras such as the Chilean National Youth Orchestra, Youth Orchestra of The Americas, and most recently, the Schleswig Holstein Musik Festival. She has performed in master classes for Fernando Hasaj, Rachel Barton-Pine, Mayumi Seiler, Lynn Blakeslee, Andreas Witmanm, the Latin American Quartet and many more. An active teacher, Aurora formed part of the “Youth Orchestra of the Americas” Global Leadership program whose mission is to use music education as a vehicle for social change. She taught talented youth in Chile, El Salvador and Chicago, USA. She received her BA in Music Performance and Artist Diploma at Montclair State University.
