Selvaggi Trio

Korean-American cellist, Patrick Jee, is a rising star in the classical music world and is hailed as being a “gifted virtuoso” (Harris Goldsmith). Already a seasoned veteran of the stage, Mr. Jee’s wildly charismatic and powerful performances have received accolades from audiences and critics alike. His music has a “lustrous suavity and a satin-smooth singing line” (New York Concert Review). “His masterful technique and tight connection with the orchestra brought out all that is available in the Elgar Cello Concerto” (Edmonton Journal). “He is a complete musician” (Ezra Laderman).

Mr. Jee’s solo career has taken him across the United States, Canada, Asia, and Europe with engagements and re-engagements by many orchestras including the Buffalo Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, and the National Orchestra of Toulouse. “He exudes warmth, energy, and control from his every pore. His technical mastery is amazing enough, but his gift of musicality is beyond any words to describe” (Paul Ferington, Buffalo Philharmonic).

Praised as a “true musical colourist,” an artist of “rare eloquence and grace,” Grace Fong’s performances have been hailed as “positively magical” with “enormous style and taste.” Her piano festivities have gained critical acclaim in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia. Grace Fong’s studies in piano began with Paulina Drake and Norberto Cappone, and continued at the Colburn School of the Performing Arts in 1994 with Dr. Louise Lepley. She then studied under the direction of John Perry at USC where she was awarded the USC Renaissance Scholar Prize Award. Ms. Fong graduated from USC with a double major and minor, among them a Bachelor’s of Music in Piano Performance. Upon graduation, she was named “The USC Thornton School of Music Keyboard Department’s — Most Outstanding Student – B.M.” Ms. Fong received her Master’s of Music and Doctorate of Musical Arts degrees at the Cleveland Institute of Music under the direction of Sergei Babayan, who describes Ms. Fong as “not only a true artist and an exciting virtuoso, but a sensitive poet who can speak about the most important of subjects through the craft of her hands.” At CIM, Ms. Fong has been awarded the Sadie Zellen and William Kurzban Prizes in Piano.

Radio/television broadcasts have included British Broadcasting Company, WCLV-FM 104.9, KUSC 91.5 FM in Los Angeles, the “Emerging Young Artists” series in New York, and “Performance Today” on National Public Radio. Performances with orchestras have included the Halle Orchestra in the United Kingdom, Music Academy of the West Festival Orchestra, the Olympia Philharmonic Orchestra, The Shreveport Symphony, the Peninsula Symphony, the Musica de Camera Orchestra, the Los Angeles Debut Orchestra, and the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, and the New Hampshire Music Festival Orchestra.

Prior to being named concertmaster of the Oregon Symphony, violinist Jun Iwasaki has served in the same position with the Canton Symphony Orchestra from 2005-2007. Jun has also been a member of Sejong, a conductor-less chamber ensemble based in New York.

Born in Tokyo, Jun began violin study at the age of five and by twelve made his solo debut with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra In 2002, he and his quartet won the grand prize at the Coleman Chamber Music Competition. He appeared with numerous orchestras including the Blossom Festival Orchestra, Rome (GA) Philharmonic, New Bedford Symphony, Canton Symphony, Richardson Symphony, Cleveland Pops Orchestra, Plano Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Institute of Music Orchestra. In addition, Jun has served as concertmaster of Asian Artists and Concerts Orchestra (AAC) and guest concertmaster of the National Arts Center Orchestra in Ottawa in 2006.