Tsz To Wong (DMA ’24) joins Kelvin Ka Long Lee (MM ’19, AD ’22) as two of only eight cellists invited to the live final round of the Section Cello auditions of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Established in 1947 and currently led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the HK Phil is recognised as Asia’s foremost classical orchestra, presenting more than 150 concerts per season over a 44-week season, the HK Phil attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually. In 2019 the HK Phil received the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award—the first orchestra in Asia to receive this distinction.
Hook ’em Horns!
Next Sunday, January 29, at 3pm EST, Jonathan Dexter (MM ’05) gives the US premiere performance of Fazil Say’s Concerto for Cello and Orchestra “Never Give Up” with conductor Yanniv Attar and the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra. Jonathan has been featured in recordings and performances with multiple grammy award winning artists and producers in classical, rock, pop, and country music. Performance highlights include appearances on the Jimmy Fallon Show, The View, VH1, Billboard Music Online, Fox and Friends, and Rachel Ray. In 2022, Jonathan was a featured cellist with the Lorelei Ensemble, the Boston-based chamber-choir, in their recording Antigone, available from New Focus Recordings. Gramophone Magazine reviewed the recording, “Stunning precision of harmony, intonation, and… spectacular virtuosity.” In 2015, Jonathan was the cellist in the recording Irving Berlin: This is the Life with the Paragon Ragtime Orchestra, produced by three-time Grammy award winner for Best Classical Music Producer Judith Sherman. Working from his home studio, Jon records strings for projects around the world. Customers have ranged from SONY Masterworks, Columbia Records, Castlerock Entertainment and multiple classical labels. Jon contributed strings produced in his home-studio for the 2011-2013 seasons of Steven Spielberg’s TV series Smash on NBC. Jon also composed, performed, and recorded the original score to short film Recess, an official selection at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. Recently and more locally, Jon has been engineering audio recordings for PennState faculty. Jonathan joined the Pennsylvania Chamber Orchestra in 2012 as its Principal Cellist; the same year he moved to State College with his wife, flutist, Naomi Seidman. As the Jano Duo, Jon and Naomi have performed around the country for over a decade and are headed to Bangkok in April to perform at the Thailand Flute Festival 2023.
Hyugrai “Ray” Kim (DMA ’19, AD ’24), having advanced to the Final Round in the Section Cello auditions of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, has been offered a trial week next June 2023. The ASO, currently in its 77th season, is led by Music Director Nathalie Stutzmann and continues to affirm its position as one of America’s leading orchestras with excellent live performances, renowned guest artists and engaging education initiatives. The ASO performs more than 150 concerts each year from the Delta Classical Series, Movies in Concert, Family Concert Series, Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE and the Coca-Cola Holiday Series, as well as community and education concerts.
This week, the 
Longhorn Cellos 