WILSON, N.C. — April 4, 2025 — The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season will conclude with its Spring Concert on Sunday, April 13, at 3 p.m. in the Kennedy Family Theatre on campus.
Under the direction of conductor Christopher Ellis, the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra will present a dynamic program featuring guest soloist Janghyun Thomas Kim, an internationally recognized clarinetist and teaching assistant professor of clarinet at East Carolina University. Kim will perform Carl Maria von Weber’s Symphony No. 2. The program will also include Joseph Haydn’s Symphony No. 102, showcasing the orchestra’s versatility and artistic excellence.
Advance online seat reservations are strongly encouraged. Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased at https://www.barton.edu/cultural-arts/symphony/spring-concert. Season ticket holders who have not yet used their tickets this year should email Bonnie Schiavo at blloschiavo@barton.edu to reserve their seats.
About the Soloist —
Janghyun Thomas Kim (Clarinet) has been praised for his “great technique” and “excellent breath control” by the music critic of South Korea’s major newspaper “Chosun Ilbo.” Originally from South Korea, Kim has established himself as a versatile artist, excelling as a performer, chamber musician, educator, and composer on an international scale. Currently, he serves as the teaching assistant professor of clarinet at East Carolina University and clarinet instructor at Lenoir-Rhyne University, a testament to his commitment to music education.
An accomplished performer, Kim made his solo debut at South Korea’s Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and his American solo debut at Carnegie Hall in 2019. His extensive performance career includes winning the Grand Prix at the IV International Music Competition-Caspi Art Competition and securing first prize at the Music International Grand Prix. He co-founded the Vermillion Duet, actively commissioning and performing contemporary works from underrepresented composers. The ensemble has received grants from Chamber Music America, the Louisiana Office of Cultural Development and Frisco Arts, and has performed at prestigious venues such as the VII Festival Internacional de Música de Cámará in Ecuador, Louisiana’s Old State Capitol and the National Flute Association Convention.
As a passionate educator, Kim has mentored students across the globe, previously serving as a teaching artist at the Orff Schulwerk Music Therapy Institute in South Korea and Kids’ Orchestra in Baton Rouge, La. His dedicated mentorship has led students to secure college opportunities and make their debuts at Carnegie Hall.
About the Conductor —
Christopher Ellis began studying the violin at age 10 in his hometown of Farmville. His early private teachers included Dee Braxton-Pellegrino and Paul Topper, who he later studied with at East Carolina University. Ellis earned a Master of Music degree from Florida State University. He has performed with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Tar River Orchestra, and Richmond Symphony Orchestra. He has also appeared as a soloist with the Beaufort County Community Orchestra, New Bern Civic Strings, and the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra.
Ellis has been the conductor of the Beaufort County Community Orchestra since 2005. After serving as concertmaster of the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra from 2002 to 2023, he was named conductor in 2023. In addition to his conducting duties, Ellis maintains an active teaching career, offering private lessons in Wilson, Rocky Mount, Greenville, and Goldsboro, and serving as a violin and viola instructor at Coastal Carolina Community College in Jacksonville.
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