Bergen Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert is May 17

Bergen Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Woomyung Choe, is performing a spring concert with music by Beethoven, Nielsen, and Sibelius on Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m.

This 55 piece orchestra, with featured guest pianist Young-Ah Tak, will play at the First Presbyterian Church of Englewood.

The BSO, now in it's third concert season, is made up of professional musicians from the greater New York/New Jersey area. Some of whom play for the Newburgh Symphony Orchestra and others who are emerging musicians at the beginning of their careers. The mission of the Bergen Symphony Orchestra is to provide a high quality classical music experience that will not only enhance the cultural life of the community, but also to educate and entice the next generation to love the music of the past.

Woomyung Choe, who is a musician as well as a medical doctor, is the driving force behind the BSO.

"I enjoy bringing serious classical music, affordable to everyone, to people of all ages in the local community," Choe said. 

Choe has been the conductor of the Greater Newburgh Symphony Orchestra for nineteen years and also serves as the artistic director for the Chamber Symphony of the Berkshires.

"My vision for the BSO is for it to continue to grow in Bergen County and include more young people, both in the audience and as performers," Choe said.

Pianist Young-Ah Tak made her New York City debut at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts’ Alice Tully Hall with the Juilliard Orchestra  and has performed nationally and internationally. Notable performances have been presented at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, New York City’s Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall and Columbia University, Boston’s Jordan Hall, Chicago’s Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series and Ravinia Festival, California’s Music@Menlo, Banff Centre in Canada and at major concert halls and international music festivals in her native Korea.

Her work has been called, “a thrilling blend of fury and finesse.”  She will be performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467 (composed in 1785) at this BSO concert. This piece has achieved popular fame today as a theme in the Swedish film "Elvira Madigan" and Neil Diamond's adaptation as "Song Sung Blue".

Everyone is welcome to the acoustically renowned First Presbyterian Church, at 150 East Palisade Avenue, Englewood.

Tickets cost $20, senior and student tickets cost $15, and children under 15 are free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at Song Piano—call 201.569.7733—95 South Dean Street, Englewood, or First Presbyterian Church. Please email woomyung@gmail.com or call 413.446.6266 for further information.