Jacksonville Symphony Blog

Taiwanese violinist Yu-Ping Tsai is gaining international acclaim as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Appointed Associate Concertmaster of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Yu-Ping won this position shortly after completing her first year of a Master’s degree at The Colburn School under the tutelage of Robert Lipsett. A graduate of The Juilliard School, where she earned her Bachelor of … Read More

Violinist Jessica Hung is Concertmaster of the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra in Ohio, a position she has held since 2008 and from which she is currently on sabbatical. In 2022, she became a member of the Jacksonville Symphony and the Orlando Philharmonic, after completing a one-year appointment as Principal Second Violin of the Sarasota Orchestra. She has also performed throughout the … Read More

Award-winning violinist Chi-Yin Chen has performed internationally in a wide range of solo and orchestral music. As an orchestral violinist, Ms. Chen first served as concertmaster of the Youth Summer Orchestra of National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra in 2007. Since then, Ms. Chen has performed with Philharmonia Moment Musical in the Young Euro Classic Festival in Berlin, Germany in 2008 and … Read More

Born in Siberia in 1992, Igor Khukhua started playing violin at the age of four and is internationally recognized for his charismatic temperament, bright musical expression and sparkling technique. Having achieved top prizes in numerous, international violin competitions, he is revered as an outstanding young soloist, recitalist and chamber musician. Khukhua is the recipient of prestigious awards from around the … Read More

Uzbek-American violinist Adelya Nartadjieva is quickly gaining attention as “…Outstanding enough to grace the stages of the world’s great orchestras.” (The Straits Times) Recent appearances include chamber music performances at Carnegie Hall, Seoul Arts Center and ElbPhilharmonie. ​Adelya is the winner of several international competitions in Greece, Singapore, United States, Russia and Uzbekistan. Her recent awards include first prize at … Read More

What do you want patrons of the Symphony to know about you? I appreciate their attendance and support very much! Do you have any pre-concert rituals or routines? I try to take a nap and warm up well. In addition, I avoid eating a large meal and drinking more than one caffeinated beverage. What would you be doing if you … Read More

Aurelia Duca also goes by the nickname, Aurica. What do you want patrons of the Symphony to know about you? I’m from Moldova, a very small country in Eastern Europe. What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional musician? I love kids and I think I would enjoy being a pediatrician. What do you do in your spare … Read More

Chris began playing the violin when he was in the first grade at age six. What do you want patrons of the Symphony to know about you? It is true for me and for most musicians that having an excited, engaged audience brings out my best performing. You, the audience, don’t realize how important your emotional and intellectual involvement is, … Read More