An unassuming and modest 15 year old boy, Ryan Jannak-Huang plays the piano with the grace and skill of a professional musician more than twice his age. He has been studying under his aunt, the nationally renowned educator Brenda Huang, for 10 years. Under her guiding hand, Ryan and twin brother Kyle have won numerous awards and competitions locally and across the country. Ryan took second place in the MTNA (Music Teacher’s National Association) National Piano Competition and was a finalist in the Crain-Maling Foundation Chicago Symphony Orchestra Youth Auditions. He also placed first in the Milwaukee Chopin Youth Piano Competition Junior Division. Even with all those accolades under one’s belt, the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 is a devilish and daunting work. When asked why he would choose such a work to enter a competition, Jannak-Huang told the story of studying an excerpt from the work in 7th grade.

 

from ChicagoMusic.org/classical

March 8, 9, 13 Baroque Band

Celebrate Italian violinist and composer Arcangelo Corelli in “La Dolce Vita”. 2013 is the 300th year since the composer’s death. Featuring works by Corelli, Locatelli, and Geminiani. Locations vary by date, Tickets $35 adults/$15 students.

 

 

from ChicagoMusic.org/classical

Dame Myra Hess Concert

Join pianist Winston Choi and violinist Brenden Conway on your lunch break Wednesday for the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert. At Chicago Cultural Center Preston Bradley Hall, 78 E. Washington St.; Wednesday, Feb. 20 at 12:15 p.m.; Free Admission; www.imfchicago.org

BY ALLEGRA MONTANARI

from ChicagoMusic.org/classical

If you’re looking for a sampling of everything chamber music has to offer – from instrumentation to genre – The Chicago Ensemble is a group not to be missed. With a commitment to American composers of today and dedication to proven works of the past, The Chicago Ensemble has strived to bring variety to their audiences for over 30 years. We talked to Gerald Rizzer, artistic director, about the upcoming “Exhilaration & More” concert on February 24 and 26.

 

by Donna Marbury

from ChicagoMusic.org/classical