Zi Hao Yang, a high-school junior studying at UNC School of the Arts, said recently that he wants to play the clarinet in a professional orchestra some day. He described as "too hard" the pursuit of a solo career.
So far, however, Yang has been making quite a mark as a fledgling soloist.
The Piedmont Wind Symphony has engaged him to perform Weber's Concertino for B-flat Clarinet on Tuesday in Brendle Recital Hall at Wake Forest University, having named him the winner of its ninth annual concerto competition in January. And in May, he will perform the finale from Weber's Second Clarinet Concerto with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, for which he won a concerto competition as well.
"I'm very excited," said Yang, a native of China who began studying the clarinet with Alexander Fiterstein at UNCSA this past fall.
The Piedmont Wind Symphony's program, conducted by Robert Simon, will also feature "side-by-side" performances in which members of all-county honors bands for middle- and high-school students in Forsyth County team up with the symphony to play music by Milhaud and Holst. High-school students will perform Hindemith's Symphony in B flat. The night will begin with the Wachovia Winds Youth Ensemble performing under Danny Green.
Charlton Holt, who also studies with Fiterstein at UNCSA, placed second in the wind symphony's competition and will participate as an ensemble player during Tuesday's concert. The third-place winner was Alex Langevin, a sophomore at West Forsyth High School who studies with Green and Jim Kirkpatrick.
Yang, 16, will also take home $1,000 after he performs with the wind symphony. Holt will receive $300, and Langevin will get $100.
Yang has been playing the clarinet since he was 7, and he enrolled at the Shanghai Conservatory about four years ago. He said that a piano teacher at the Shanghai Conservatory recommended that he try his luck at UNCSA.
Yang's success here follows a similar record of accomplishment in China. He has toured Germany as the principal clarinetist with the Shanghai Conservatory Symphony. And he has participated in master classes around the world led by leading players of his instrument.
"In many ways, he's one of the best (here)," Fiterstein said. "He has
very good technical skills, very advanced technique. He has the ability to practice -- which is very important at this stage of the game. You can start out with kids with a similar talent level, but the one who works the hardest will definitely be better."
Yang's ability to speak English is limited. But he had no problem following Fiterstein's suggestions during a recent practice session at the school. Yang said he finds American food "OK" and enjoys watching NBA games and doing card tricks in his spare time.
Yang isn't the only student in Fiterstein's studio to win a competition this year. Holt and Rashad Hayward took top honors at the Durham Symphony Young Artists Competition for their performance of a double concerto by Moravian composer Franz Krommer.
Holt, who is in the 11th grade, is from Wake Forest. Hayward, a college freshman, is from Raleigh. For their win, they will perform the Krommer concerto with the Durham Symphony at 3 p.m. today at the Carolina Theatre in Durham.
"They're very advanced for their age group," Fiterstein said of his students. "They could enter competitions for that age group anywhere and do pretty well. It takes time to get more repertoire into their playing. But basically, I think they're really capable of doing great things."
kkeuffel@wsjournal.com | 727-7337
The Piedmont Wind Symphony will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in Brendle Recital Hall at Wake Forest University, along with members of all-county honors bands. The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with the Wachovia Winds Youth Ensemble performing under Danny Green. Tickets are $12, $10 for seniors and $5 for students. Call 722-9328.
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