Fifth Former Selected to Play in Connecticut Youth Symphony Orchestra

Fifth Former Joyce Cheng, who has been playing the violin for 10 years, performed in her first concert with the Connecticut Youth Symphony Orchestra Dec. 7 at the University Hartford. Her selection to the prestigious orchestra followed two auditions. Joyce, who takes private lessons with a violin professor at The Hartt School of the University of Hartford, travels to the university’s campus in West Hartford each Sunday to rehearse with the orchestra.

 

Nornia Xu ’17, Cindy Jeong ’17, Morgan Peirce ’17, Director of Theater A-men Rasheed and Head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department David Chrzanowski attended the concert.

 

“I love chamber music over concertos,” she said about the experience. “Chamber music is all about communication and harmonies, while solo pieces you are all by yourself. I meet so many people who love music as much as I do, and I’m so glad that I have the chance to work with these talented young musicians. They inspire me to become better every day.”

At Westminster, Joyce has formed a piano trio with Henry Chou ’15 and Wonjune Kang ’16, and they are currently working on Beethoven, one of her favorite composers. The trio plans to perform at the winter arts festival in March. Joyce also plays in the orchestra pit for the winter musicals and has played several times during chapel.

 

“Music is now my getaway from stresses,” she said. “I may not study music as my major in college, but it will definitely remain a huge part of my life.”