Young Musicians Join Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra for Holiday Concert

While it will be just another holiday concert for the members of the Birmingham-Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra (BBSO), this weekend will be a very big deal for several young musicians.

Several members of the Andover High School orchestra, as well as the winner of the 2012 BBSO Young Artist Competition — Bloomfield Hills violinist Haeji Kim — will perform with the BBSO this Sunday during the orchestra's annual holiday concert, titled Holiday Cheer.

Featuring a slate of seasonal favorites, the BBSO's holiday concert will begin at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Groves High School auditorium. Conducting will be Charles Greenwell.

Joining the BBSO musicians on stage for a joint performance will be the string section of the Andover High School orchestra. The two groups will perform "Andante Festivo."

However it will be Kim, a sophomore at Andover and also part of the Andover orchestra, who will be in the spotlight this Sunday.

Kim will conclude the concert with a solo performance of the first movement of Wieniawski's Violin Concert No. 1 in F minor.

Kim began her violin lessons when she was five years old and has studied with some of the area's leading instructors. In addition to winning the BBSO's competition, Kim has received first prize at the Rochester Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, and the Dearborn Symphony Orchestra Competition.

Tickets to the Holiday Cheer concert are $22 for adults and free for children 18 years and younger. Ticket prices at the door are $25. Tickets may be purchased at www.bbso.org or by calling 248-352-2276.

What can you expect to hear at the BBSO's Holiday Cheer concert? You'll find the following pieces on this weekend's program:

• "English Folk Song Suite" - Vaughan Williams
• "Emperor Waltz" - Johann Strauss, Jr.
• "December: Christmas" (final movement from "The Seasons") - Tchaikovsky
• "The Toy Trumpet" - Raymond Scott
• "Noel" - George Whitefield Chadwick
• Excerpts from "L'Arlesienne" - Georges Bizet
• "March of the Princesses" (from Cinderella) - Jules Massenet
• "Andante Festivo" - Jean Sibelius
• "Violin Concerto No. 1" - Henryk Wieniawski