CULVER CITY SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
A Little Russian Romance
Sunday, April 19, 2026
PROGRAM
Alexander Borodin (1833–1887): In the Steppes of Central Asia (1880)
Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987): Violin Concerto in C major, Op. 48 (1948)
I. Allegro molto e con brio
Alicia Huang, Violin
Vasily Kalinnikov (1866-1901): Chanson Triste (1892-1893)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1878)
I. Allegro moderato
Minji Choi, Violin
INTERMISSION
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17
“The Little Russian” (1872)
I. Andante sostenuto – Allegro vivo
II. Andante marciale, quasi moderato
III. Scherzo: Allegro molto vivace
IV. Finale: Moderato assai — Allegro vivo
(Program subject to change)
A Little Russian Romance
Sunday, April 19, 2026
PROGRAM
Alexander Borodin (1833–1887): In the Steppes of Central Asia (1880)
Dmitry Kabalevsky (1904-1987): Violin Concerto in C major, Op. 48 (1948)
I. Allegro molto e con brio
Alicia Huang, Violin
Vasily Kalinnikov (1866-1901): Chanson Triste (1892-1893)
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35 (1878)
I. Allegro moderato
Minji Choi, Violin
INTERMISSION
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893): Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 17
“The Little Russian” (1872)
I. Andante sostenuto – Allegro vivo
II. Andante marciale, quasi moderato
III. Scherzo: Allegro molto vivace
IV. Finale: Moderato assai — Allegro vivo
(Program subject to change)
Minji Choi is a 16 year-old violinist currently studying under the tutelage of Professor Margaret Batjer at the Colburn Music Academy.
Since making her debut at age 13 with the Southern California Philharmonic, Minji has made appearances as a soloist with the Pasadena Community Orchestra, the Bellflower Symphony, and the Orchestra Collective of Orange County. She has also been invited to perform with the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra later this year.
Minji was the winner of Culver City Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 Parness Competition (Intermediate Division). In 2025, she was nominated as the Grand Prize Finalist in classical music and scholarship recipient at The Music Center’s Annual Spotlight Competition, where she was given the opportunity to perform at the Ahmanson Theater in its Finale performance. She was also named a 2025 and 2026 National YoungArts Winner in Classical Music and received first prizes at the Music Teachers National Association California State Competition, American String Teachers Association Bowed String Solo Competition, and the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Concerto Competition, where she also received the overall grand prize titled the Andrys Basten Award.
Minji is currently playing on a Mario Miralles violin on a generous loan from the Kohl Family.
Since making her debut at age 13 with the Southern California Philharmonic, Minji has made appearances as a soloist with the Pasadena Community Orchestra, the Bellflower Symphony, and the Orchestra Collective of Orange County. She has also been invited to perform with the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra later this year.
Minji was the winner of Culver City Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-25 Parness Competition (Intermediate Division). In 2025, she was nominated as the Grand Prize Finalist in classical music and scholarship recipient at The Music Center’s Annual Spotlight Competition, where she was given the opportunity to perform at the Ahmanson Theater in its Finale performance. She was also named a 2025 and 2026 National YoungArts Winner in Classical Music and received first prizes at the Music Teachers National Association California State Competition, American String Teachers Association Bowed String Solo Competition, and the California Association of Professional Music Teachers Concerto Competition, where she also received the overall grand prize titled the Andrys Basten Award.
Minji is currently playing on a Mario Miralles violin on a generous loan from the Kohl Family.
Alicia Huang is an accomplished young violinist whose musical journey began at age six. By age eight, she was already performing in orchestras, quickly distinguishing herself through both technical skill and musical expression. She has performed Vivaldi’s Summer concerto with the Pacific Academy Foundation Orchestra and studies under esteemed violin instructor Chiai Tajima.
Alicia has earned numerous honors, including First Place in the 2024-25 Culver City Symphony Orchestra Parness Concerto Competition (Junior Division) and First Place at the GMAC International Competition. She has also received top recognition at MACOC. Her leadership abilities have been recognized through her selection as concertmaster of the SCSBOA Elementary Honor Orchestra in 2024 and her continued role as concertmaster with the Irvine Honor Orchestra in 2025.
In addition to her solo achievements, Alicia is an active orchestral musician. She performed with Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings during the 2024–2025 season as Principal Second Violin and continues as a First Violinist in the 2025–2026 season, where she will be featured as a soloist in Max Richter’s Recomposed Vivaldi: Spring. She has also been accepted into the 2026 CASMEC All-State Middle School String Orchestra.
Alicia brings passion, discipline, and artistry to every performance, representing a rising generation of exceptional young musicians.
Alicia has earned numerous honors, including First Place in the 2024-25 Culver City Symphony Orchestra Parness Concerto Competition (Junior Division) and First Place at the GMAC International Competition. She has also received top recognition at MACOC. Her leadership abilities have been recognized through her selection as concertmaster of the SCSBOA Elementary Honor Orchestra in 2024 and her continued role as concertmaster with the Irvine Honor Orchestra in 2025.
In addition to her solo achievements, Alicia is an active orchestral musician. She performed with Pacific Symphony Santiago Strings during the 2024–2025 season as Principal Second Violin and continues as a First Violinist in the 2025–2026 season, where she will be featured as a soloist in Max Richter’s Recomposed Vivaldi: Spring. She has also been accepted into the 2026 CASMEC All-State Middle School String Orchestra.
Alicia brings passion, discipline, and artistry to every performance, representing a rising generation of exceptional young musicians.
Maestro’s Musings for April 19, 2026
Welcome to our wonderful April event! It is always a pleasure to perform for our loyal audience of friends, family, and faithful supporters. Thank you for joining us to experience YOUR Culver City Symphony Orchestra perform a concert we call “A Little Russian Romance.” You will enjoy seeing that title come to life throughout the concert as the romantic melodies gradually unfold, culminating in the “Little Russian” (Ukrainian!) Symphony by the MOST romantic composer ever: Tchaikovsky! The four composers we present today draw their musical influences from Russian and Ukrainian folk melodies, often quoting actual songs. You’ll hear strong, driving rhythms, exquisitely crafted orchestration, and inspiring and emotional expression. Oh, did I use the word INSPIRING? Just wait until you hear our two brilliant young violin soloists, our Junior and Intermediate winners of the CCSO’s Parness Competition, Alicia Huang and Minji Choi. Words cannot describe the artistry and skill of these young performers!
We’ll set the stage with a work by Alexander Borodin, a composer, doctor, and professional chemist who, along with Rimsky-Korsakov and Glinka, laid the foundation of Russian Nationalism in music. That’s a fancy way of saying the musical ideas of these composers often came from folk tunes, rhythms, and harmonies from their specific countries and regions. Borodin’s “Tone Poem” In the Steppes of Central Asia, composed in 1880, paints a musical picture of a caravan slowly traversing the vast frontier of the steppes: mostly flat, grassy plains.
Jumping ahead to 1948, Dmitri Kabalevsky gave the world his virtuosic and energetic Violin Concerto. The Soviet Union was calling for accessible, tuneful music, and this fun and folk-like concerto might have been inspired by the Ukrainian Schedryk, or Carol of the Bells.
Vasily Kalinnikov was destined for greatness with his well-received symphonies and chamber music... that is, until his tuberculosis continued to worsen. For his health, he moved to the warm climate of Crimea, where he died just before his 35th birthday. His tragically short life is perfectly described in his beautiful, bittersweet Chanson Triste.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky gave the world some of the most beloved and recognizable melodies, including his famous ballets, operas, symphonies, and concertos. His Violin Concerto, especially, typifies Tchaikovsky’s romantic and melodic gift. It is often said that without sadness and difficulties in life, composers would not be able to write the beautiful music we all love. Tchaikovsky had just overcome a terribly tumultuous time in his personal life when this most beautiful and beloved concerto was completed.
Tchaikovsky had a strong connection to Ukraine. He frequently stayed at his sister’s estate in Kamianka in central Ukraine, where he composed significant portions of several important works. Ukrainian folk music, culture, and landscape deeply influenced him—most notably in his Symphony No. 2, which incorporates authentic Ukrainian folk songs. Throughout his life, he drew on Ukrainian themes. Tchaikovsky’s 2nd symphony, "The Little Russian", is so-called because of the Russian empire’s name for Ukraine.
The 1st movement opens with a melancholy horn solo based on a Ukrainian folk song translated as “Down by Mother Volga.” Think of vast landscapes and open skies. As the tempo quickens, the music bursts into energetic motion, driven by bounding, lively rhythms and bright orchestral colors. Tchaikovsky displays his excellent orchestration skills.
The 2nd movement is an ironic piece - one would rarely describe a march as lyrical, but Tchaikovsky creates a light, dance-like atmosphere with graceful and refined melodies. The sheer joy and non-stop sparkling energy of the 3rd movement is briefly calmed by a smooth and gentle middle Trio section.
The 4th movement is the symphony’s majestic and blockbuster finale. It is built around the Ukrainian folk tune called “The Crane,” first introduced in a broad, playful manner. What follows is a tour de force of variation and development. Tchaikovsky brilliantly transforms the simple melody through shifts in orchestration, dynamics, and tempo, gradually building tension and excitement. What a powerful ending!!!
We hope you will be as thrilled with this music as we are! Your Culver City Symphony Orchestra loves performing for you, and we so greatly appreciate your support that enables us to present these FREE concerts in our wonderful community. We always look forward to seeing you either in our home of the beautiful Frost Auditorium, or the expansive Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, or during the summer at the waterfront Burton Chace Park.
See you again soon at the Symphony! Next up for us at the Frost, on June 20, is a tribute to the brilliance of our founder, George Berres, as well as Scott Joplin, William Grant Still, Florence Price, and others as we explore and celebrate our Musical Roots of Black America. I can’t wait!!!
Musically Yours, Clyde
We’ll set the stage with a work by Alexander Borodin, a composer, doctor, and professional chemist who, along with Rimsky-Korsakov and Glinka, laid the foundation of Russian Nationalism in music. That’s a fancy way of saying the musical ideas of these composers often came from folk tunes, rhythms, and harmonies from their specific countries and regions. Borodin’s “Tone Poem” In the Steppes of Central Asia, composed in 1880, paints a musical picture of a caravan slowly traversing the vast frontier of the steppes: mostly flat, grassy plains.
Jumping ahead to 1948, Dmitri Kabalevsky gave the world his virtuosic and energetic Violin Concerto. The Soviet Union was calling for accessible, tuneful music, and this fun and folk-like concerto might have been inspired by the Ukrainian Schedryk, or Carol of the Bells.
Vasily Kalinnikov was destined for greatness with his well-received symphonies and chamber music... that is, until his tuberculosis continued to worsen. For his health, he moved to the warm climate of Crimea, where he died just before his 35th birthday. His tragically short life is perfectly described in his beautiful, bittersweet Chanson Triste.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky gave the world some of the most beloved and recognizable melodies, including his famous ballets, operas, symphonies, and concertos. His Violin Concerto, especially, typifies Tchaikovsky’s romantic and melodic gift. It is often said that without sadness and difficulties in life, composers would not be able to write the beautiful music we all love. Tchaikovsky had just overcome a terribly tumultuous time in his personal life when this most beautiful and beloved concerto was completed.
Tchaikovsky had a strong connection to Ukraine. He frequently stayed at his sister’s estate in Kamianka in central Ukraine, where he composed significant portions of several important works. Ukrainian folk music, culture, and landscape deeply influenced him—most notably in his Symphony No. 2, which incorporates authentic Ukrainian folk songs. Throughout his life, he drew on Ukrainian themes. Tchaikovsky’s 2nd symphony, "The Little Russian", is so-called because of the Russian empire’s name for Ukraine.
The 1st movement opens with a melancholy horn solo based on a Ukrainian folk song translated as “Down by Mother Volga.” Think of vast landscapes and open skies. As the tempo quickens, the music bursts into energetic motion, driven by bounding, lively rhythms and bright orchestral colors. Tchaikovsky displays his excellent orchestration skills.
The 2nd movement is an ironic piece - one would rarely describe a march as lyrical, but Tchaikovsky creates a light, dance-like atmosphere with graceful and refined melodies. The sheer joy and non-stop sparkling energy of the 3rd movement is briefly calmed by a smooth and gentle middle Trio section.
The 4th movement is the symphony’s majestic and blockbuster finale. It is built around the Ukrainian folk tune called “The Crane,” first introduced in a broad, playful manner. What follows is a tour de force of variation and development. Tchaikovsky brilliantly transforms the simple melody through shifts in orchestration, dynamics, and tempo, gradually building tension and excitement. What a powerful ending!!!
We hope you will be as thrilled with this music as we are! Your Culver City Symphony Orchestra loves performing for you, and we so greatly appreciate your support that enables us to present these FREE concerts in our wonderful community. We always look forward to seeing you either in our home of the beautiful Frost Auditorium, or the expansive Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium, or during the summer at the waterfront Burton Chace Park.
See you again soon at the Symphony! Next up for us at the Frost, on June 20, is a tribute to the brilliance of our founder, George Berres, as well as Scott Joplin, William Grant Still, Florence Price, and others as we explore and celebrate our Musical Roots of Black America. I can’t wait!!!
Musically Yours, Clyde