Honolulu Symphony
Violinist Sarah Chang
Kansas symphony
By Tim Ryan
woos Honolulu’s Wong
Star-BulletinHONOLULU Symphony musical director and conductor Sam Wong will leave the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra where he has also been been musical director-conductor for seven years.
Wong, who is in the third and final year of his contract with the Honolulu Symphony, also is being sought by at least one other major U.S. orchestra, the Kansas City Symphony.
Wong confirmed that he has communicated with the Kansas group but declined further comment. He said, however, that he has no intention "whatsoever" of leaving Hawaii when his contract expires.
"I'm in Honolulu to stay for well beyond a decade," Wong said last week in a telephone interview from his New York City home. "I love it there."
Wong who will leave the Ann Arbor post after its 1998-99 season, said it was "simply time to move on" from that city.
"I'm doing a lot of guest conducting in Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia and I want to be available to take advantage of these opportunities," he said.
This year, Wong will be conducting the Hong Kong Philharmonic for the fourth time, then spending two weeks with the Auckland Philharmonia. He also will travel the Far East this summer with the New York Philharmonic, and work with various Australia symphonies. Next week, he will go to Spain to conduct and expects at least two more European performances in 1998.
"This will be a very busy year, indeed," he said.
But that doesn't mean he is shirking responsibilities with the Honolulu Symphony. In the just announced 1998-99 season, Wong will conduct 11 of the 14 concerts.
"I want to spend more quality time in Hawaii and more quality time guest conducting," Wong said.
One major glitch with the Kansas City Symphony is that that organization wants Wong to live there, which he apparently does not want to do, a source said.
Honolulu Symphony president Lynne Johnson is not worried that Wong will jump ship anytime soon.
"Sam really likes this orchestra and Hawaii," she said. "What Sam would like is to live in two cities where he's musical director-conductor, which is not uncommon for international conductors."
Wong has told isle symphony executives that he wants an international career.
"We're happy to be part of that," Johnson said. "Of course, we would want for him to be here full time but that's not realistic."
Wong's commitment to Honolulu is evident in the caliber of artists he helped select and arranged to get for the symphony's 1998-99 seasons which include some of the most legendary and emerging artists in the classical arena.
Prodigies like pianist Helen Huang and violinist Sarah Chang have played with all the symphonies in the world and have recorded with the New York Philharmonic.
"The younger, emerging artists are people who I know who will become a very important force in years to come," Wong said. "They are the stars of tomorrow.
Honolulu Symphony
Pianist Jon Kimura Parker will interpret
pieces by Mendelssohn.
Symphony goes
By Tim Ryan
young in 99th year
Star-BulletinThe 1998-99 Honolulu Symphony Masterworks season, "A Century in the Wings," expanded to 14 classical concerts, marks the organization's 99th year of music.
"What better way to celebrate than to find the best, brightest and most gifted talent from around the world and bring them to Hawaii along with the legends," said Michael Tiknis, symphony executive director.
Musical director-conductor Sam Wong described the upcoming season as "extremely exciting," not only for the return of some of the big-name artists who have performed here before, but also because of "the young, internationally acclaimed emerging artists" and solo performances by the symphony's concert master and principal flute and oboist to "show our gems in our own backyard."
Tiknis said the symphonic audience in Hawaii continues to grow.
"Public response to Honolulu Symphony concerts has been strong. January alone brought the symphony $250,000 in ticket sales revenues in just the first three weeks of 1998. It's rewarding to see the return of great interest in the concerts of the Honolulu Symphony," he said.
Guest conductors include pianist-conductor Vladimir Feltsman, Max Bragado-Darman and Naoto Otomo of Japan in his American debut. Wong will conduct 11 of the 14 Masterworks programs.
Stars performing include:
Pianists Emanuel and Yoko Ax
The season opens Sept. 12.
The world premiere of University of Hawaii professor Takeo Kudo's "Let Freedom Ring," a deep, soul baring piece that explores Japanese internment, will be performed by taiko artist Kenny Endo in January.
'A Century in the Wings'
7:30 p.m. Sept. 12
4 p.m. Sept. 13
Yura Lee, violinOahu Choral Society, Timothy Carney, director
7:30 p.m. Sept. 19
4 p.m. Sept. 20
Naoto Otomo, guest conductor
Susan McGinn, flute
4 p.m. Oct. 25
7:30 p.m. Oct. 27
Sarah Chang, violin
4 p.m. Nov. 15
7:30 p.m. Nov. 17
Alex Slobodyanik, piano
4 p.m. Nov. 22
7:30 p.m. Nov. 24
Alisa Weilerstein, cello
Pearl City High School Band
Michael Nakasone, Thomas Kamisato, Kent Sato, band directors
4 p.m. Nov. 29
7:30 p.m. Dec. 1
Jon Nakamatsu, piano
4 p.m. Jan. 3
7:30 p.m. Jan. 5
Kenny Endo, taiko artist
Oahu Choral Society, Timothy Carney, director
4 p.m. Jan. 10
7:30 p.m. Jan. 12
Jon Kimura Parker, piano
7:30 p.m. Jan. 16
4 p.m. Jan. 17
Han Na Chang, cello
4 p.m. March 7, 1999
7:30 p.m. March 9, 1999
Helen Huang, piano
4 p.m. April 11, 1999
7:30 p.m. April 13, 1999
Vladimir Feltsman, guest conductor/piano
4 p.m. April 25, 1999
7:30 p.m. April 27, 1999
Ignace Jang, violin
Scott Janusch, oboe
4 p.m. May 2, 1999
7:30 p.m. May 4, 1999
Max Bragado Darman, conducting
Dickran Atamian, piano
4 p.m. May 23, 1999
7:30 p.m. May 25, 1999
Emanuel Ax, piano
Yoko Ax, pianoAn asterisk (*) indicates concerts in the Great Composers series.
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