Flint Symphony Orchestra

Enrique Diemecke, music director & conductor
Zhengyi Huang, piano
2024 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition Winner 

When you think of ballet, chances are good that right after tutus and pointe shoes, your mind will conjure a Tchaikovsky earworm from the Swan Lake Suite. Movements from one of his best-known works are used liberally in film and television, creating a familiar soundtrack to a ballet performance in popular culture. A full ballet, Tchaikovsky once wrote, is not a thing with a permanent existence. This concert suite derived from his full-length work stands alone from the dance it was once meant to accompany. That doesn’t mean we don’t intend to dance anyway! The program also features a variety of favorite dances by Strauss, Jr., and Mozart’s 21st piano concerto.

Where have I heard this before?  
Often nicknamed the “Elvira Madigan” concerto, Mozart’s Concerto 21 was used as the soundtrack of a 1967 Swedish film of the same name, which tells the story of a circus performer, forbidden love, and a suicide pact.

Inside the Music • 6:30pm 
Title: 88 Keys to the Musical Universe
Guest Speaker: Shayla Hottinger Powell, Descant Choir Conductor

Zhengyi Huang, piano
2024 William C. Byrd Young Artist Competition Winner

Zhengyi Huang is currently pursuing the Artist Diploma at Rice University under Professor Jon Kimura Parker. He previously earned two Master of Music degrees in Piano Performance and Chamber Music with Logan Skelton at the University of Michigan under full-tuition scholarships.

Zhengyi has achieved significant international success, winning seven consecutive first prizes in prestigious competitions, including the Paris Concours Européen de Piano, Eisemann International Young Artists Competition, Italy Amadeus International Competition, 81st Naftzger Young Artist Competition, Rubato International Competition, Mika Hasler Competition, and William Byrd International Competition. He also won first places in more than 20 competitions in the recent years (2021-2024), such as the MTNA-Steinway Piano Competition, the Young Texas Artists Music Competition, the Chicago International Piano Competition, and many more.

Last year, he performed with the Grand Junction Symphony and Richardson Symphony orchestras, with upcoming engagements with the Flint Symphony Orchestra in Feb. 2025. He was also featured on Seattle’s Classical KING-FM with 100,000 live listeners. This year, he has been invited to present solo recitals and teach masterclasses across the globe, with engagements in Sapporo (Japan), Shenzhen (China), Athens (Greece), Barcelona (Spain), Paris (France), Milan (Italy), as well as cities across the United States, including Washington D.C., Houston, Alaska, and Seattle. He is also planning to record and release three new albums this year under the TVClassique label in Paris, Hunnia Records in Budapest, and OnClassical in Italy.

Title Sponsor
James and Patt Spangler in memory of Gloria and Erick Van Duyne

Principal Sponsors
St. Cecilia Society
Dr. Erick Van Duyne in memory of Gloria Van Duyne

Supporting Sponsors
Linda LeMieux
Betty Salimi
Dr. Rama Rao

Preferred Steinway Performance Sponsors
Dr. Brenda Fortunate in Memory of C. Edward White

ASL Sponsor  

Age recommendation: No one under 5 admitted (including babes in arms)

Runtime: Approximately 2 hours 30 minutes
Including intermission

Sensory warning: Full band and loud volume.

Genesee County residents receive 30% off – discount applied at checkout. 

Tickets start at $18 (plus fees)