Monday, September 28

12 PM

Praised for his stunning technique, sensitivity and superb artistry, San Diego Symphony Orchestra cellist Xian Zhuo is a young professional musician whose artistry is recognized by awards and audiences. The winner of the 2011 Isidor Handler Award (1st Prize) at the 38th Dr. Luis Sigall International Cello Competition in Chile, Zhuo's recent exciting engagements included concertos and master classes in Chile, Brazil, China and the USA. In 2013, he was selected as one of the top ten young Chinese cellists and was featured on a CCTV Concert in Beijing with the China Philharmonic Orchestra. Zhuo also had his debut with Guiyang Symphony Orchestra with Maestro Zuohuang Chen in China. He joined the SDSO in 2014.

Zhuo first gained national recognition when he won 1st prize in the China National Competition. In addition to the Isidor Handler Award, he won 1st prizes in the Corpus Christi International Competition, Loeb/Louviere International Competition, Redlands Bowl Young Artist Competition, Parness Young Artists Concerto Competition, La Jolla Symphony and Chorus Young Artists Competition and Fé Bland Foundation Music Awards. Additionally, he was chosen as one of the 25 participants for the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Russia, in 2011.

The catalog of Zhuo’s CDs represents works by award-winning Chinese-American composer Tian Zhou, recorded with the Guangzhou Symphony and released by China’s leading label, Pacific Audio and Video. His album String Poetic: Chinese Folk Music for Cello was released in celebration of the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

Born in Xiamen, China, Zhuo began cello lessons with his father at age six and made his cello debut at the age of seven. Subsequently, he received professional education at USC, Yale University, the Royal Northern College of Music and Shanghai Conservatory on full scholarships. His prominent artist teachers include Ralph Kirshbaum, Nathaniel Rosen, Aldo Parisot, Liwei Qin and Mei-Juan Liu. He also performed at masterclasses for Yo-Yo Ma, Mstislav Rostropovich, Anner Bylsma, Natalia Gutman, Trüls Mørk and Jian Wang. His goal is to share the beautiful musical fabric that he creates with audiences throughout the world.

"An extraordinarily talented young international artist of great originality and technique…breathtaking, soulful and individualistic performances … stunning technical command of the instrument, and his artistry is both sensitive and passionate.” —Nathaniel Rosen, Concert Cellist, Gold Medalist of the International Tchaikovsky Competition

Alan Busteed has performed on violin and viola with the Fort Worth and San Diego Symphonies. He presented a series of master classes and conducted a youth string orchestra in a televised concert Recife, Brazil, in 2009. Busteed has coached the first violins of the Orange County High School of the Arts and the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra. He can be heard as a violin soloist with Tinto Tango, an authentic tango quintet from Los Angeles, with whom Alan won a Latin Grammy for Best Tango Album of the Year 2021 (Tinto Tango Plays Piazzolla). He studied with Raphael Bronstein at Manhattan School of Music holds a Master of Music degree from UMASS Amherst.

For more information, contact us at 858-454-5872 or visit ljathenaeum.org/mini-concerts

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:40 a.m. Last entry is at 12:10 p.m. or once capacity is reached. Seating is first-come; first-served. Reservations are not necessary, but seating is limited.