Artist Biographies

Christopher James Lees, resident conductor

Christopher James Lees was named Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony in 2018.

Emerging American conductor Christopher James Lees brings passionate and nuanced orchestral performances to the stage, a fierce commitment to contemporary music, and a natural charisma to audiences all around the world.

In 2018, Mr. Lees began an appointment as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra. In addition to the more than 50 annual concert appearances with the CSO, he has stepped in to conduct Subscription Classical performances on four occasions, including a gala weekend with Grammy Award winning artist and Jazz legend Branford Marsalis in May 2021.

An active guest conductor, Mr. Lees has returned for performances with the Los Angeles and Rochester Philharmonics, the Houston, Detroit, Milwaukee, North Carolina, Portland, and Flint Symphonies, and conducted debuts with the Indianapolis, Kansas City, Toledo, and Vermont Symphonies.

Additional engagements have taken him to the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Orchestra de Chambre de Paris, Aspen Philharmonic Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, and at the Music in the Mountains Festival & Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão in Brazil.

Only the second American Gustavo Dudamel Conducting Fellow with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mr. Lees made his debut with the orchestra in April 2013 and returned for concerts in February 2015.

A dedicated advocate for music of our time, Mr. Lees has premiered more than one hundred fifty new works by a diverse range of composers, and collaborated closely with Pulitzer Prize winners John Adams, William Bolcom, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Joseph Schwantner, Steven Stucky, Caroline Shaw, Roger Reynolds, and Julia Wolfe.

An equally passionate advocate for music education, Mr. Lees has brought inspirational energy to student orchestras across the country, from the Colburn School to the New England Conservatory, and previously served on the faculties of the University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Michael Boudewyns, performer

Mr. Boudewyns first appeared with the Charlotte Symphony in 2011, also in The Story of Babar.

In 2004, Michael co-founded Really Inventive Stuff. In 2004, he also made his solo orchestra debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

In the 21-22 season, he returns to the Colorado Music Festival (The Story of Babar / The Toy Symphony), Jacksonville Symphony (Peter and the Wolf), Charlotte Symphony Orchestra (The Story of Babar), and the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (Peter and the Wolf).

As a member of Really Inventive Stuff, he has performed family concerts with orchestras internationally (Singapore), in England (Airedale), in Canada (Regina, Victoria and Winnipeg), and around the United States (Annapolis, Allentown, Delaware, Des Moines, Detroit, Hartford, Illinois, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Lincoln, Milwaukee, the National Symphony, New Haven, Newark, Philadelphia, Portland, Princeton, Richmond, Saint Louis, Santa Rosa, Symphony in C, Symphony of Southeast Texas, Texarkana, Tulane University, Utah, and the Westchester Philharmonic).

Michael’s many orchestra performances also include Beyond the Score presentations with the Philadelphia Orchestra (Beethoven 5, Bartok’s The Miraculous Mandarin, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring, and Prokofiev 5), the National Symphony Orchestra (Shostakovich 4) and the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra (Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Tchaikovsky 5 and Beethoven 5).

He studied Theatre at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. He is also a graduate of the Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) at the University of Delaware, and co-founder of ReallyInventiveStuff.com.

Sara Valentine, performer

Ms. Valentine first appeared with the Charlotte Symphony in 2011, also in The Story of Babar.

In 2004, Sara co-founded Really Inventive Stuff. In 2007, she made her solo orchestra debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

As a member of Really Inventive Stuff, Sara has performed family concerts with orchestras around North America, including Philadelphia, Saint Louis, Winnipeg, Kansas City, Richmond, Rochester, Annapolis, Charlotte, New Haven, Portland (Maine), Princeton, Symphony in C, Richmond, Richardson, Harrisburg, Texarkana and Tulane University. In 2014, she made her international debut with the Singapore Symphony as narrator for Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, appearing as Ms. Symphonia Semi d’Quaver — a renowned British “orchestra-ologist” and ardent fan of Henry Purcell.

Her orchestra performances also include Beyond the Score presentations with the The Philadelphia Orchestra (Elgar’s The Enigmas Variations and Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony) and the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony).

Regional theater credits include Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre, Delaware Theatre Company, Resident Ensemble Players, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, and the Shakespeare festivals of North Carolina, Philadelphia, Colorado, and Maine.

Sara is Assistant Professor and the Chair of the Department of Theatre at the University of Southern Maine, and continues to develop family programming for orchestras as cofounder and creative director of ReallyInventiveStuff.com. She is a graduate of Ithaca College and the Professional Theatre Training Program (PTTP) at the University of Delaware.

Annie Liu, violin

This concert marks Ms. Liu’s first appearance with the Charlotte Symphony.

Annie Liu has been playing the violin for more than 10 years, studying under Violet Pan. She is 17 years old and attends Catawba Ridge High School. She also plays in the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and in her free time, she loves to listen to music.

THE SYMPHONY GUILD OF CHARLOTTE

2022 YOUNG ARTISTS COMPETITION WINNERS

Grand Prize Winner Advanced Level: Annie Liu Grand Prize Winner Intermediate Level: Nikhil Perego

Honorable Mention Advanced Level/Open Division: Samuel Han Honorable Mention Advance Level/Orchestral Division: (tie) Audrey Kim & Ellie Dixon Honorable Mention Intermediate Level/Both Divisions: Shirley Tian

Essay Competition Advanced Level: Calvin Chen Essay Competition Intermediate Level: Benjamin Mitchell

This year’s competition also featured excellent performances by finalists: Calvin Chen, Ellie Dixon, Clark Fan, Samuel Han, Yuwen He, Skyla Kiang, Audrey Kim, Annie Liu, Nikhil Perego, Cadence Shevy, Shirley Tian, Aaron Wang

Alternates Selected: Alyssa DeGarde Advanced, Christopher Huynh - Intermediate

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

A very special thank you to our panel of adjudicators: Dr. Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant (Duke University), Dr. Robert Young (UNC School of the Arts) and Christopher James Lees, Resident Conductor Charlotte Symphony

Special thanks also to the parents, teachers, accompanists et al supporting these wonderful young musicians, and to Christ Lutheran Church for hosting us.