Rising Stars

Three to look out for…

John Holiday Countertenor

Born: Rosenberg, US Career highlight: Being able to share music on NBC’S The Voice. In my classical career, my highlights have involved bringing new opera to the world: Jonathan Dove’s Flight, Daniel Bernard Roumain’s We Shall Not Be Moved, Huang Ruo’s Paradise Interrupted and Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice. Musical hero: Derek Lee Ragin, the first African-american countertenor to grace the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. As with soprano Leontyne Price and mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, there is an artistry and truth in his performances.

Dream concert: To have the John Holiday Experience at Madison Square Garden!

Siqian Li Pianist

Born: Chongqing, China Career highlight:

My debut recital outside of China at Église Notredame d’auvers, the church in Van Gogh’s famous 1890 painting. I also performed a concerto in Kiev during the 2014 Revolution of Dignity, which made me understand the power of music.

Musical hero: My teachers: Hui-qiao Bao opened the door to a professional music career; Alexander Korsantia broadened my view of music as a performer; and Norma Fisher helped me explore classical music. Dream concert: I dream of playing in nature, as cellist Yo-yo Ma did with the works of Bach at the Grand Canyon.

Alex Ho Composer

Born: London, UK Career highlight: Having my first (anti) opera Untold performed in 2019. I’m really excited that it will be produced by Muziektheater Transparant again in 2023 around Europe.

Musical hero: I always find inspiration in the music, collaboration and curation of Chinese composer Du Yun. I’d recommend listening to Angel’s Bone and Sweet Land – you won’t regret it.

Dream concert: I would love to write a double concerto for pipa and yangqin for the incredible Wu Man and Reylon Yount. Chinese instruments are epic and I wish more people in Western classical music knew about them.