Jason Sia, piano

Carmencita Guanzon Arambulo Poème: A Song Without Words
Claude Debussy L’isle joyeuse
Frédéric Chopin, transcr. Carl Reinecke Larghetto from Piano Concerto No. 2
Maurice Ravel Gaspard de la nuit
Earl Wild / George Gershwin Grand Fantasy on Gershwin’s Opera ‘Porgy and Bess’

Recognized for his eloquently expressive depth of interpretation and seamless technique, pianist Jason Sia presents a captivating program spanning French impressionism, Romantic lyricism, and dazzling 20th-century virtuosity. Mr. Sia has performed throughout the United States, Europe, Central America, and Asia, including appearances at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

The program opens with Poème: A Song Without Words by Carmencita Guanzon Arambulo, a lyrical and intimate work of quiet nostalgia, followed by Claude Debussy’s radiant L’isle joyeuse, shimmering with color, rhythmic vitality, and a sense of ecstatic freedom. A moment of poetic reflection follows with the Larghetto from Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2, presented in a refined solo transcription by Carl Reinecke, offering one of Chopin’s most tender and operatic melodies.

At the heart of the program is Maurice Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit, a monumental and haunting triptych inspired by the prose poems of Aloysius Bertrand. Widely regarded as one of the most technically demanding works in the piano repertoire, it conjures vivid imagery: the seductive water nymph in Ondine, the desolate tolling of Le gibet, and the demonic, electrifying virtuosity of Scarbo, a tour de force of pianistic brilliance and imagination.

The program culminates in the exhilarating Grand Fantasy on Gershwin’s Opera ‘Porgy and Bess’ by George Gershwin, brilliantly reimagined by virtuoso pianist Earl Wild. This electrifying paraphrase transforms Gershwin’s iconic melodies into a dazzling showcase of color, rhythm, and virtuosity—blending jazz, opera, and classical traditions into a thrilling and triumphant conclusion.

For more information, please visit www.jasonsia.com

Duo Soriga

Josephine Lee, soprano
Hwayoung Shon, gayageum

Gangwon-do Arirang (강원도 아리랑) — Traditional Korean Folk Song, arranged by Hwayoung Shon
Premiere of this arrangement

Sae-taryeong (새타령) — Traditional Korean Folk Song, arranged by Hwayoung Shon
Premiere of this arrangement

Nanpa Hong Touch-Me-Not Flower (봉선화) poetry by Hyungjun Kim, arranged by Hwayoung Shon
Premiere of this arrangement

Hyogun Kym Welcome to Hangeul (웰컴 투 한글) arranged by Hwayoung Shon
Premiere of this arrangement

Hwayoung Shon Prologue (서시) poetry by Dongju Yun
World Premiere

Hwayoung Shon Mugunghwa: Red Light, Green Light (무궁화 꽃이 피었습니다)
World Premiere

Hwayoung Shon Will-o’-the-Wisp (도깨비불)
World Premiere

Hwayoung Shon Gumiho (구미호)
World Premiere

Duo Soriga unites soprano Josephine Lee and gayageum performer-composer Hwayoung Shon in an intimate dialogue between voice and Korean strings, blending masterful performance with exploratory sound to create poetic musical narratives across tradition and contemporary expression. Soriga is a creative fusion of the Korean words ‘Sori’ (voice/sound) and ‘Gayageum’, while also carrying the poetic nuance of “a beautiful sound blooms” in Korean. They weave together the profound resonance of the gayageum, an instrument that mirrors the depths of human emotion, with the clarity of the human voice into a single, unified breath. As Josephine’s lyrical narratives unfold alongside Hwayoung’s intricate and expansive melodies, the two voices respond with tenderness and precision, creating a distinctive and evocative musical dialogue.

Duo Soriga captures both the serene aesthetics and inner dynamism of Korean music, offering audiences a timeless resonance and intimate connection. This program by Duo Soriga features a collection of works composed and arranged by Hwayoung Shon, including four World Premieres and four Arrangement Premieres.

Josephine YoonGeong Lee is a Korean-born soprano praised by The New York Times for singing “with suave clarity.” A tenure-track member of the Regular Chorus of San Francisco Opera and winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions San
Francisco District, she has performed with San Francisco Symphony and Stanford Symphony Orchestra at Davies Symphony Hall, Herbst Theatre, and Bing Concert Hall. A Tanglewood Music Center Soprano Fellow and recipient of the Grace B. Jackson Prize, she holds a Doctoral degree in Voice from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. www.josephineleesoprano.com

Hwayoung Shon is a gayageum virtuoso and composer dedicated to bridging traditional Korean music with contemporary expression. She has performed as a soloist at Herbst Theatre, Stanford Live, and with the Santa Cruz Symphony, and her work has been recognized internationally by BBC World Service, The Guardian, and The Atlantic, with compositions featured at Klimahaus Bremerhaven, Pitt Rivers Museum Oxford, and the Korean Cultural Center, Washington D.C. Praised by the late director of the National Gugak Center as “a once-in-a-generation talent,” she continues to redefine the role of the gayageum on the global stage. www.hwayoungshon.com

 We recognize the challenges that we still face: the slow return of live audiences after the pandemic, a shift in the funding landscape by major Foundations, and the economic uncertainties brought about by inflation, conflict and climate change. When you give to Old First Concerts, you invest in the local arts community and stand with us as we overcome these challenges together! 

 Your donation to Old First Concerts:  

• Helps keep our prices incredibly affordable – you might have to pay twice as much to hear the same artists at another venue. We also provide $5 tickets for low-income seniors and students to nearly every concert. 
• Supports local musicians and keeps them in our community. Our series has hosted many first post-pandemic performances. 
• Ensures a safe space for music by women and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) composers. Performers of this music seek out Old First Concerts as the venue of choice for this programming.   

 This year, we hope you would consider of gift of $125 or another amount that feels right to you. We deeply appreciate all gifts and acknowledge them in our printed programs and on our website.

If you would prefer to mail a check, please send it to:
Old First Concerts
1751 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94109

Old First Concerts is a registered 501(c)3 Charitable Organization (Tax ID#:94-2898233).