Meet the Artists

Saturday, July 30, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.

Meet the Artists

Chia-Hsuan Lin, Associate Conductor

Hailed by the Virginia Gazette as “a rock solid” and “animated” conductor, Chia-Hsuan Lin delights audiences throughout the world with her trademark energy and command. Formerly the assistant conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, she is in her sixth year as associate conductor of the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, and she was named the interim music director of the Contemporary Youth Orchestra of Cleveland in 2020.

Highlights of her tenure with RSO include appearances on the Masterworks and Metro Collection subscription series, Handel’s Messiah, Symphony Pops, family concerts, and a record crowd exceeding 19,000 for Henrico County’s “Red, White, and Lights” Independence Day celebration in 2018. After Lin’s RSO Masterworks in November 2019, Clarke Bustard wrote, “I’ve heard the Brahms Fourth [Symphony] played in concert by half a dozen great orchestras, led by some of the most esteemed conductors of the past three generations. I’ve never heard a more compelling live performance than this one.” (Letter V) Lin made her Minnesota Orchestra debut in 2020, and has also led the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Virginia Symphony, Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Williamsburg Symphony, Richmond Ballet, Peninsula Music Festival Orchestra, Academy of Taiwan Strings, and Taipei Philharmonic Chorus. A former member of the Taipei Percussion Group, Lin’s innovative streak continues with premieres of new works by Chris Thile, Stephen Prutsman and Laura Schwendinger. She has also been a featured guest with Classical Revolution RVA, bringing classical music to unconventional settings. Lin is a trained percussionist and holds a Doctorate in Orchestral Conducting from Northwestern University.

Shenandoah Valley Music Festival 2022

Curtis Nolley, Choral Director

In his 21st year as director of the Shenandoah Valley Choral Society, Curtis Nolley leads the distinguished ensemble in its 51st season. In addition to his responsibilities with the SVCS, Curtis serves as church musician and free-lance choral conductor. For forty-three years he served as music educator serving students as choral director and music specialist at every level. Emily Casey, Soprano

American soprano Emily Casey has been praised for the clarity, range and flexibility of her voice as well as her skillful dramatic and acting abilities. Ms. Casey, reviewed as a "red haired vixen with a sparkling voice" by Opera Canada in a recent performance as Musetta in Puccini's “La Bohème,” has performed many leading roles with companies across the United States, Canada, and Italy. She has been hailed as a “standout” and praised for her “musical lyricism” and has been noted for her talent in embodying both

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