The KU Symphony Orchestra presents “The Power of Three: Bach, Beethoven & Brahms” September 30 (Wednesday) Creston Herron, music director with violinist, Joshua Brown. Academic Festival Overture, op. 80 - Johannes Brahms Violin Concerto in E major, BWV 1042 - Johann Sebastian Bach (Joshua Brown, guest soloist) Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60 – Ludwig van Beethoven A Jayhawks Live! event, tickets are available through the Lied Center of Kansas Box Office (785-864-2787 or $25 adults/$14 students

Violinist Joshua Brown has been praised by audiences and critics worldwide for his “richness of sound, elegance of reading… commitment of every moment at the service of the work…” (La Libre). He was awarded a 2025 Avery Fisher Career Grant and gained international attention after winning second prize and both Audience Awards at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth Competition in Brussels. As the recipient of a 2025 CAG Louis and Susan Meisel Prize, Joshua is currently represented by Concert Artists Guild. Joshua was first recognized for his debut performance with the Cleveland Orchestra and has gone on to perform regularly with orchestras around the world, including the Munich Radio Orchestra, MDR Sinfonieorchester, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Civic Orchestra, East Coast Chamber Orchestra, Belgian National Orchestra and Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege, among others, continually garnering praise from critics. A passionate recitalist and chamber musician, he also regularly appears in recital performances and takes part in chamber music festivals. Joshua will perform with the KU Symphony Orchestra (KUSO), the premier orchestral organization at the KU School of Music conducted by Director of Orchestral Activities Creston Herron. KUSO provides performance majors with the highest quality preparation for a professional career in orchestral playing. KUSO offers a comprehensive course of orchestral studies and performs repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the 21st century, including premieres of new works. In addition to large-scale symphonic programming, each season includes performances of major solo works featuring faculty, student and leading international guest artists, including Blake Pouliot, PROJECT Trio, Tiempo Libre, Juan-Miguel Hernandez, Joshua Roman, Simone Porter and Xavier Foley, to name a few.

Described by The New York Times as “a genuine artist with a thoughtfully conceived and poetic interpretation,” Minsoo Sohn is a Korean American pianist known for his musical intelligence and masterful virtuosity. Sohn has toured extensively throughout North and South America, Europe and Korea. As a soloist, he has performed alongside leading orchestras, including The Cleveland Orchestra, Boston Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Tokyo Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Québec, Jerusalem Camerata, Holland Symfonia, National Orchestra of Belgium, Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Korean National Orchestra and the KBS Symphony, among others. He has collaborated with conductors such as Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Pietari Inkinen and Sasha Goetzel. 2024–25 season highlights included a duo tour with fellow pianist Yunchan Lim across Korea; at the Verbier, Gstaad Menuhin and La Roque d’Antheron festivals in Europe; and a series of recitals playing Beethoven’s Sonatas across Europe—which continued in the 2025–26 season with recitals in Korea, Japan and North America. Sohn is the teacher and mentor of Yunchan Lim, the youngest person to ever win gold at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition at the age of 18 in 2022.

Tickets available at the Lied Center of Kansas Box Office starting September 1st. Prices and contact information coming soon!

Tickets available at the Lied Center of Kansas Box Office starting September 1st. Prices and contact information coming soon!

Winner of the 2022 Young Concert Artists Susan Wadsworth International Auditions, New York-born and Connecticut-raised Chelsea Guo is equally acclaimed as a pianist and soprano. A recent graduate of The Juilliard School, she has quickly established an international presence with performances across North America, Europe and Asia. She has appeared at Italy’s Fazioli Piano Festival, Spain’s Sociedad Filarmónica de A Coruña, Germany’s Moritzburg Festival, and in leading venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Wigmore Hall. At San Diego’s 2023 Mainly Mozart Festival, she drew praise for her versatility, appearing as soprano soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 under Michael Francis and, two nights later, as pianist in Shostakovich’s Piano Concerto No. 2. She has also performed with such orchestras as the New Jersey Symphony and Fort Worth Symphony, collaborating with conductors including Barry Douglas, Xian Zhang, Michael Stern and Michael Francis. Since her historic YCA win—the first artist honored as both pianist and vocalist—Chelsea has made recital debuts at New York’s Merkin Hall and Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center. Recent highlights include the gala opening of The Florida Orchestra, a duo recital with baritone Joseph Parrish at Kansas City’s Harriman-Jewell Series and Handel’s Messiah with the Richmond Symphony.

Join us for the “Season Finale” April 14th Creston Herron, music director Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 43 - Jean Sibelius Tickets available at the Lied Center of Kansas Box Office starting September 1st. Prices and contact information coming soon!

Tickets available at the Lied Center of Kansas Box Office starting September 1st. Prices and contact information coming soon!