Joyce Yang's two-week residency

Pianist Joyce Yang joins the San Diego Symphony to launch our 2018-19 season with a two-week residency. Yang joins the SDSO for five performances over two weekends and will play some beloved favorites including Beethoven and Rachmaninoff.  As we polish up our Steinway in anticipation of her arrival, read on to learn more about this world-renowned pianist.

1. Yang was born in Seoul, South Korea. She grew up in New York, but held onto a passion for Korean food. Read her blog post on some of her favorite Korean food.
2. Yang is married to Alabama Symphony assistant principal bassist Richard Cassarino. The couple met when Yang was the soloist in Rachmaninoff’s ravishingly romantic variations “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.”
3. Yang has synesthesia, a phenomenon where her sense of sound is connected to her sight. Meaning, when Yang plays the piano she sees the notes in colors. For instance, she sees the key E-flat major as a royal velvet red. Watch Yang’s YouTube video explaining more about her colorful musical process here. 
4. At 19, she was the youngest contestant for the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition – and the youngest to win the silver medal.
5. Yang has a special fondness for performing chamber music – and the Symphony is excited to host her at the Auditorium at TSRI for a special performance of Beethoven chamber music.

Join us for one of Yang’s three concerts with the San Diego Symphony this October and you are certain to be in for a colorful evening of splendid music-making.

This post was written by marketing assistant Kelly Hillock.