CULVER CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
America PLUS!
Sunday, January 25, 2026
PROGRAM
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): An Outdoor Overture (1938)
Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Violin Concerto, Op. 14 (1939)
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Presto in moto perpetuo
INTERMISSION
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1883)
I. Allegro con brio
II. Andante
III. Poco allegretto
IV. Allegro — Un poco sostenuto
(Program subject to change)
America PLUS!
Sunday, January 25, 2026
PROGRAM
Aaron Copland (1900-1990): An Outdoor Overture (1938)
Samuel Barber (1910-1981): Violin Concerto, Op. 14 (1939)
I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Presto in moto perpetuo
INTERMISSION
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897): Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 (1883)
I. Allegro con brio
II. Andante
III. Poco allegretto
IV. Allegro — Un poco sostenuto
(Program subject to change)
Esme Arias-Kim is a nineteen year old violinist born and raised in Chicago. At age ten, she made her solo orchestral debut with the Oistrakh Symphony and has continued to make solo performances with orchestras including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, MinnesotaOrchestra, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Civic Orchestra of Chicago, Western Michigan University Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Southern California Philharmonic, New Philharmonic, Chicago Arts Orchestra, Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia da Camera, Fox Valley Orchestra, Ottawa Chamber Orchestra, Midwest Young Artists Symphony Orchestra, Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra, Accademia d’Archi Arrigoni Orchestra, as well as solo recitals at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Peninsula Music Festival in Door County WI, Chicago Cultural Center, 92Y New York, and Musikferien at Starnberger See in Germany. Her radio and television appearances include a recital on Chicago’s classical radio station WFMT’s “Introductions” and NPR’s “From the Top” as well as a televised appearance on KGW 8, Portland, Oregon.
Most recently, Esme was named a semifinalist in Cedille Record’s Emerging Artists Competition, the winner of the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition, the Silver Medalist of the 2023 Stulberg International String Competition, and the Gold Medalist of Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s 29th Annual Young Artist Competition. Her other first place accolades include first prize in the Sphinx Competition, Southern California Philharmonic, Walgreens National, International Young Artist, Arthur D. Montzka, Musicians Club of Women, Enkor International, New York International Artist Association, and DePaul Concerto Festival competitions.
Esme is currently studying at the Colburn Conservatory with Robert Lipsett and previously studied with Almita Vamos and Betty Haag-Kuhnke. She has had masterclasses and lessons with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn, Midori Goto, Julia Fischer, Ian Swensen, Vadim Gluzman, Kirill Troussov, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Paul Huang, Fabiola Kim, Grigory Kalinovsky, Mihaela Martin, Ilya Kaler, PhilipSetzer, as well as the Borromeo Quartet and the Cavani Quartet. Esme plays on an 1866 Vuillaume violin, generously on loan from the Geeting Family.
Most recently, Esme was named a semifinalist in Cedille Record’s Emerging Artists Competition, the winner of the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Young Artists Competition, the Silver Medalist of the 2023 Stulberg International String Competition, and the Gold Medalist of Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s 29th Annual Young Artist Competition. Her other first place accolades include first prize in the Sphinx Competition, Southern California Philharmonic, Walgreens National, International Young Artist, Arthur D. Montzka, Musicians Club of Women, Enkor International, New York International Artist Association, and DePaul Concerto Festival competitions.
Esme is currently studying at the Colburn Conservatory with Robert Lipsett and previously studied with Almita Vamos and Betty Haag-Kuhnke. She has had masterclasses and lessons with artists including Itzhak Perlman, Hilary Hahn, Midori Goto, Julia Fischer, Ian Swensen, Vadim Gluzman, Kirill Troussov, Noah Bendix-Balgley, Paul Huang, Fabiola Kim, Grigory Kalinovsky, Mihaela Martin, Ilya Kaler, PhilipSetzer, as well as the Borromeo Quartet and the Cavani Quartet. Esme plays on an 1866 Vuillaume violin, generously on loan from the Geeting Family.
Maestro’s Musings for January 25, 2026
The Maestro is still musing... Please be patient.