When Rice University junior Kayleigh Kim performs William Walton’s Violin Concerto with the Shepherd School of Music Symphony Orchestra, she’ll do so on a 335-year-old Stradivarius that is on loan to the school from a generous collector.
“It's such a beautiful instrument,” said Kim, who studies with professor of violin Paul Kantor. “I found immediately it has such a warm glow to its sound. Everything is very vocal.”
The Sept. 27 concert will mark the beginning of the 2024-25 season, as the Shepherd School celebrates its 50th anniversary. The performance will culminate in Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, “From the New World,” his final and most beloved symphony. Inspired by Dvořák’s exploration of American musical styles in the late 19th century, the symphony pulses with the energy and exuberance of exploration and the unknown.
As a 2024 Shepherd School Concerto Competition winner, Kim will take center stage performing the Walton concerto, a challenging and fiery piece that has been central to her preparation for the upcoming season.
“At this point, the piece is pretty well in my fingers,” said Kim, who has been working on it for nearly two years. “Now it’s just a lot of refinement and being really sensitive to intonation and the inflections on every single note. The Walton is special in that it gives you a lot of flexibility as a soloist and room to be adventurous and spontaneous.”
Kim, who began studying the violin at just five years old, is no stranger to the stage. She recalled that her passion for the instrument truly ignited when she played in an orchestra for the first time.
“I just remember being mesmerized by the collective sound of everyone, all the musicians playing together and how it could make you feel different emotions,” Kim said. “It was really amazing to me.”
Kim noted that the support and personalized attention she has received at the Shepherd School have been instrumental in her development as an artist.
“It really does feel like a big family here,” Kim said. “We get so much individual time with our teachers, both in lessons and in chamber music coaching sessions. Our faculty even come to orchestra rehearsals to give feedback and support the students.”
The symphony orchestra’s performance will kick off the Shepherd School’s 50th anniversary season, followed by “Beethoven, Abels & Haydn” concert with the Shepherd School Chamber Orchestra on Sept. 29. Both performances will be conducted by Andrew Grams, a familiar face to the Shepherd School and former music director of the Elgin Symphony Orchestra.
“Our 50th season is set to showcase the exceptional artistry and dedication that define the Shepherd School, and this weekend we’ll focus on highlighting our symphony and chamber orchestra programs,” Shepherd School Dean Matthew Loden said. “We can’t wait to share these incredible performances with our community.”
The season-opening concerts will take place Friday, Sept. 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2:00 p.m., both in Stude Concert Hall. Tickets are available on a pay-what-you-wish basis, with prices starting at $0. Free live streams of this season’s symphony and chamber orchestra performances will be available here.