Published: September 25, 2008 04:03 pm            

Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra opens season

TERRE HAUTE — The Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra will open its 2008-09 season when well-known pianist Di Wu makes a return engagement in Terre Haute. Join the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra and music director David Bowden on Saturday in ISU’s Tilson Auditorium for “Di Wu Plays Brahms.”

Di Wu won her first piano competition at age 6 and debuted with the Beijing Philharmonic at age 14. Since then, she has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra in the Kennedy Center, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and twice with the New York Pops in Carnegie Hall.

In addition to orchestral engagements, Wu made her solo debut at Carnegie Hall and has given recitals in the United States, Canada and China. She has toured extensively in Europe. A prizewinner of many piano competitions, she won the 2007 National Audition staged by Astral and is now represented by the Astral Artistic Services.

In addition she won the first prize at the 2005 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and the 2000 Missouri Southern International Piano Competition, where she was invited to return for a worldwide broadcast encore recital.

Highlights of her performances include recitals in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, Barbados and Hong Kong. Her scheduled orchestral engagements in addition to the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra include Rockland Symphony Orchestra and Bryan Symphony Orchestra.

Wu completed her undergraduate education at the Curtis Institute of Music and recently obtained her Master’s Degree at the Julliard School. She is currently in the Artist Diploma program at the Julliard School.

The program for the Saturday concert includes Rossini’s Overture to La Gazza Ladra, Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 and Brahms monumental first concerto. “Di Wu is a pianist with power, charisma and charm whose star is rising quickly,” said music director David Bowden. “You won’t want to miss this performance.”

The evening’s concert is presented through the generousity of TRI Aerospace LLC, Templeton Coal, Fifth Third Bank and Garmong Industries.

Come early for “Concert Conversations with David Bowden” at 6:45 p.m. in the Heritage Ballroom near the auditorium. Meet guest artist, Di Wu, and music director David Bowden in person and enjoy this opportunity to hear about the music that will be played during the concert and the composers who wrote it.

        

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