Dreams Soaring - National Symphony Youth Orchestra 2026 Winter Tour Concerts
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PROGRAM
Yuan-Chen Li: Upstream (commissioned by Hakka Affairs Council, world premiere)
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op.37
Antonín Dvořák: Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95, From the New World
INFO
The National Symphony Youth Orchestra (NSYO) is built on the foundation of a commitment to bringing together outstanding young musicians from Taiwan and abroad, while inviting internationally- renowned artists to join them on tour. In the winter of 2026, the orchestra embarks on its sixth season under the baton of NSO Conductor Emeritus Shao-Chia Lü, bringing together a new generation of rising stars. Their program features the world premiere of Yuan-Chen Li's Upstream and Dvořák's beloved Symphony No. 9 in E minor, From the New World. Joining them onstage is distinguished pianist Alexander Kobrin, who will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor.
Li's Upstream paints a vivid portrait of Taiwan's Hakka heritage; Dvořák's New World brims with longing, hope, and the spirit of discovery; and Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto reaches into the profound depths of human emotion and strength. Spanning modern and classical soundscapes, this tour traces a musical journey through Miaoli, Chiayi, Tainan, and Taipei — inviting you to soar with the vibrant energies of NSYO as their youthful spirits rise and take flight.
ARTISTS
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Shao-Chia Lü, conductor
Alexander Kobrin, piano
National Symphony Youth Orchestra
Shao-Chia Lü, conductor
Taiwan-born conductor Shao-Chia Lü studied music in Taipei, later at the Indiana University in Bloomington, USA, and also at Vienna's College of Music. His training resulted in important first prizes at three renowned international conductor competitions: Besancon (France), Pedrotti (Italy) and Kondrashin (the Netherlands). Shao-Chia Lü accepted positions as General Music Director of the Koblenz Theatre (1998-2001), the Staatsorchester Rheinische Philharmonie Koblenz (1998-2004), and the Staatsoper Hannover (2001- 2006). He has also been Chief Conductor of the South Denmark Philharmonic from 2014 to 2017. Shao-Chia Lü appears regularly as guest conductor at several world-renowned opera houses, including Deutsche Oper Berlin, English National Opera, Opera Australia and More. Alongside his opera activities, Lü is equally at home on concert podiums. Lü has worked repeatedly with many leading European orchestras, such as the Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Münchner Philharmoniker, the Oslo Philharmonic and more. In Asia, Lü has worked with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, NHK, Seoul Philharmonic and more. Shao-Chia Lü was Music Director of the Taiwan Philharmonic (the National Symphony Orchestra) from 2010 to 2020, and has been honored with the title Conductor Emeritus in 2021. He has held the Distinguished Chair Professor at Taipei National University of the Arts since September 2020, and also received the “Honorary Doctorate” title in October 2022.
Alexander Kobrin, piano
Distinguished pianist Alexander Kobrin has gained wide acclaim for his emotionally compelling and technically inspired performances, placing him among today’s leading pianists.
He appears as soloist with top orchestras worldwide, including the New York Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, and Russian National Orchestra, collaborating with conductors such as Mikhail Pletnev, James Conlon, Vassiliy Petrenko, and Bramwell Tovey.
Kobrin has performed at major halls, including Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Royal Albert Hall, Wigmore Hall, Berliner Philharmonie, Moscow Conservatoire, and Sala Verdi in Milan, as well as at prominent festivals such as La Roque d’Anthéron, Ravinia, Beethoven Easter Festival, and Klavier-Festival Ruhr.
He is a prizewinner of major competitions including the Van Cliburn, Busoni, Hamamatsu, and Glasgow Scottish International Piano Competitions. His recordings for Harmonia Mundi, Quartz, and Centaur have received critical acclaim, including his Complete Beethoven Sonatas Project for Centaur Records.
A passionate educator, Kobrin has taught at the Russian State Gnessin Academy, Columbus State University, NYU Steinhardt, and since 2017 at the Eastman School of Music, where he was named Wentworth Family Professor in 2024. He also gives masterclasses internationally, including in Japan, China, and Switzerland.