Pianist Joyce Yang and Bassist Edgar Meyer
Debut with The Phoenix Symphony

Acclaimed Soloists join the Symphony for first Classics concerts of 2008

(PHOENIX) - The Phoenix Symphony presents two weekends of Classics Concerts in January featuring two talented soloists including Van Cliburn medalist and pianist Joyce Yang on January 10-13 and virtuoso bassist and composer Edgar Meyer on January 17-18. The internationally celebrated artists will perform as part of concerts featuring the music of Beethoven, Copland, Debussy, Mozart and Meyer himself. Both concerts are under the direction of Virginia G. Piper Music Director Michael Christie at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix.

The first weekend of Classics Concerts features the music of Mozart and Debussy January 10-13. The performances begin with Debussy's evocative Afternoon of a Faun paired with Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor with soloist Joyce Yang. Since capturing the silver medal at the Van Cliburn competition in 2005, Ms. Yang has toured the globe as a celebrated concerto soloist and recitalist. She makes her much anticipated debut with the orchestra during the weekend's performances. The weekend of Classics also features Mozart's Symphony No. 31 entitled "Paris" and Debussy's symphonic sketches, La Mer. Thursday's concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening's concert begins at 8 p.m. and is sponsored by SunCor Development Company. A Friday morning coffee concert begins at 11 a.m. and features one hour of music selected from the week's evening performances. The Sunday matinee begins at 2 p.m.

The second program of Classics features American music icon Edgar Meyer displaying his mastery of the double bass on January 17 and 18. Mr. Meyer, a composer and virtuoso bassist, will perform his second Double Bass Concerto bringing the oft- neglected instrument to center stage. Hailed by The New Yorker as "the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument," Edgar Meyer is equally gifted as a composer creating classical works as well as bluegrass pieces collaborating with artists such as Joshua Bell and Béla Fleck. Mr. Meyer's concerto is paired with Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 entitled "Pastoral" and music from Aaron Copland's famous ballet, Billy the Kid. Thursday's concert begins at 7:30 p.m., and Friday evening's performance begins at 8 p.m.

Tickets to hear the mastery of Joyce Yang and Edgar Meyer with The Phoenix Symphony range from $22-$71 and can be purchased by calling the Phoenix Symphony Box Office at 602.495.1999 or online at www.phoenixsymphony.org.

These concerts are part of The Phoenix Symphony's 2007-08 Classics Season. Future concerts in this season include the world premiere of " Enemy Slayer: A Navajo Oratorio" on February 7 and 9, "Mahler's Fifth Symphony" on February 28 to March 2, "Fleisher Plays Beethoven" with pianist Leon Fleischer on March 20 and 22, and "Ainadamar" with soprano Dawn Upshaw on May 23 and 24.

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About pianist Joyce Yang: In June 2005, at nineteen years of age, Joyce Yang was awarded the silver medal at the Twelfth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. The youngest of the Cliburn Competition's participants, she was the recipient of both the best performance of chamber music, as well as the best performance of a new work. Since the competition, she has appeared with orchestras across the globe while making numerous recital appearances throughout North America and in Europe. Born in Seoul, Korea, Joyce received her first piano lessons at age four from her aunt. In 1997, Joyce moved to the United States to begin studies at the pre-college division of the Julliard School of Music in New York. In April 1999, she was invited to perform at a benefit concert with the Julliard Orchestra, conducted by Leonard Slatkin. She later won the Philadelphia Orchestra's Greenfield Competition which led to a performance of the Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Philadelphia Orchestra when she was just twelve. Joyce Yang is featured in In the Heart of Music, the film documentary about the 2005 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She currently resides in New York City where she attends the Julliard School as a student of Dr. Yohaved Kaplinsky.

About double bassist Edgar Meyer: Hailed by The New Yorker as "the most remarkable virtuoso in the relatively unchronicled history of his instrument," Mr. Meyer's unparalleled technique and musicianship in combination with his gift for composition have brought him to the fore, where he is appreciated by a vast, varied audience. He has collaborated with a wide variety of recording and performing artists in styles including classical, bluegrass, and country. He has performed and premiered his own works with orchestras across the globe and written works for other celebrated artists, including violinist Hillary Hahn. Mr. Meyer began studying bass at the age of five under the instruction of his father, and continued further to study with Stuart Sankey. He is the winner of numerous competitions. In 1994, he became the only bassist to receive the Avery Fisher Career Grant and in 2000 became the only bassist to receive the Avery Fisher Prize. In 1994, Mr. Meyer joined the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and continues to perform regularly with this ensemble. Currently, he is also Visiting Professor of Double Bass at the Royal Academy of Music and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia.

About Music Director Michael Christie: Michael Christie begins his third season as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director of The Phoenix Symphony with the 2007-08 season. He also serves as Music Director of the Colorado Music Festival and of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. He has appeared with orchestras across the United States, Europe, and Canada, as well as with the Finnish National Opera, Queensland Opera, and Zürich Opera. In 1995, Mr. Christie was awarded a special prize at the First International Sibelius Conductor's Competition. Following the competition, he became an apprentice conductor with the Chicago Symphony. Michael Christie graduated from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in trumpet performance. His conducting teachers have included Daniel Barenboim, Robert Spano, Eiji Oue, and Peter Jaffe.

About The Phoenix Symphony: Celebrating its 60th Anniversary Season, The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman Gerald W. Murphy.

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Sym­phony Hall in downtown Phoenix, in Scottsdale, in Prescott, and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.

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MOZART AND DEBUSSY
Symphony Classics Concert No. 6
Friday Morning Coffee Classics No. 4
Sunday Concert No. 3

January 10 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
January 11 - Friday morning at 11:00 a.m.*
January 12 - Saturday evening at 8:00 p.m.
January 13 - Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Joyce Yang, piano

DEBUSSY Prelude to an Afternoon of a Faun
MOZART Piano Concerto No. 24
MOZART Symphony No. 31 ("Paris")
DEBUSSY La Mer ("The Sea")

In 2005, Joyce Yang captured the Silver Medal at the
legendary Van Cliburn Competition. Since then, she has
captured the hearts of cheering audiences around the
globe. Don't miss Yang's anticipated Phoenix Symphony
debut in Mozart's delightful Piano Concerto No. 24.

Saturday's concert is sponsored by Sun Cor Development Company.

TICKETS: $22, $32, $42, $51, $61, $71
FRIDAY COFFEE CONCERT: $22, $28, $34
FRIDAY "MEET THE ARTISTS" LUNCHEON: $25
*Friday coffee concert is one hour of music selected from the evening's program.
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BEETHOVEN AND MEYER
Symphony Classics Concert No. 7

January 17 - Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m.
January 18 - Friday evening at 8:00 p.m.
Symphony Hall

THE PHOENIX SYMPHONY
Michael Christie, conductor
Edgar Meyer, double bass

BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 ("Pastorale")
MEYER Double Bass Concerto No. 2
COPLAND Billy the Kid (suite from the ballet)

Michael Christie brings you a program of music that both
romanticizes nature and defies it. Enjoy Beethoven's
evocative, nature-inspired Symphony No. 6 ("Pastorale")
and American icon Edgar Meyer, whose virtuosic mastery
of the double bass pushes the limits of human ability.

Friday's concert is sponsored by UMB Bank.

TICKETS: $22, $32, $42, $51, $61, $71