Cape Central Orchestra performs tonight with internationally noted violinist

Rarely does a high school orchestra have the opportunity to perform with a musician of international stature. But that's what's happening tonight when the Cape Central High School Orchestra presents its Spring Concert in the high school Field House at 7:00 pm.

Performing with the Orchestra will be violinist Dr. Sue-Jean Park, a graduate of Seoul Arts High School, Seoul National University, Yale University and the University of Texas at Austin.

Dr. Park will perform the Mendelssohn Concerto for Violin & String Orchestra. Central High School Orchestra Director Steve Schaffner said the Orchestra will also perform "Hessian's Ride" by Kirt Mozier, Purple Haze" by Jimi Hendrix and "Fire & Rain" by James Taylor.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Park began her studies on the violin with her mother. While completing her formal education she studied with legendary violinists such as Erick Friedman, Vincent Frittelli, Kyung-Hee Yoon and Choon Soo Chung. She toured Europe, Asia and Israel as a member of Jenesses Musicales World Orchestra with Sir Neville Mariner, Kurt Masur and Gidon Kremer as an orchestral musician.

Dr. Park was concertmaster of several orchestras, including Jenesses Musicales World Orchestra (UNESCO), the University of Texas at Austin Symphony Orchestra, Seoul National University Symphony Orchestra, and Seoul Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. She also was the associate concertmaster of the Rome Festival Orchestra in Italy and a principal violin of Yale Philharmonic, Pacific Music Festival Orchestra in Japan, and the Victoria Symphony.

As a soloist, Dr. Park played with the Jenesses Musicales World Orchestra, Seoul Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Jackson Symphony, and has given numerous solo recitals. She has won competitions both in the US and Korea. Currently Dr. Sue-Jean Park is assistant professor of violin and viola at Murray State University and concertmaster of the Jackson Symphony Orchestra.

This is the final performance of the year for the Cape Central High School Orchestra, which is composed of one hundred one 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders, many of whom are award-winning musicians and will be continuing their music educations at the college level. In between selections, several Southeast Missouri District awards will be conferred. Dr. Sara Edgerton, Professor of cello and bass at Southeast Missouri State University, and conductor of the Southeast University Symphony, will recognize musicians that perform with the University Symphony as well as the Central orchestra.

The performance is open to the public. An ice cream social will follow the performance.