Pre-teen helping symphony orchestra tackle Mozart

A child prodigy will perform the works of another child prodigy with The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, March 9-11.

Kevin Chen, 12, the youngest guest artist to ever grace the Masterworks stage, will help the OSO present a program of beauty, wit and charm that features music by Mozart and those inspired by him.

Chen began piano studies at age five and within a few years had won national competitions, been named to CBC’s 30 top classical musicians under 30. He was runner up with the Montreal Symphony Concerto Competition.

He is also a prolific composer having written some 80 compositions. He can also solve a Rubik’s cube in 44 seconds.

The first half of the OSO concert includes Mozart’s Symphony No. 9 – written when he was just 16 – and his Piano Concerto No. 20, which was Chen’s request.

The second half will feature Loud Sense, Chen’s latest composition for orchestra and the Pulcinella Suite by Igor Stravinsky, a joyous way to finish the program.

In addition to being our featured performer and composer in our latest Masterworks Series, Chen will perform at the Symphony School shows, inspiring 4500 Elementary school students throughout the Okanagan.

Performance and ticket information are as follows:

• Kelowna Community Theatre, Friday, March 9, 7:30 p.m. Kelowna Tickets 250.862.2867

• Penticton at the Cleland Theatre, Saturday, March 10, 7:30 p.m. Shatford Centre (in person) or Kelowna Tickets 888.974.9170

• Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre/Sunday, March 11, 7 p.m.VPAC box office 250.549.7469.

Tickets for all shows are also available online at okanagansymphony.com/tickets/