The Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra performs Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 “Titan” for the season final Classics on Saturday, April 30 at 7 p.m. at the Victory Theatre. 

The concert opens with Maurice Ravel’s technically challenging Tzigane performed by guest artist and Evansville Philharmonic Concertmaster Jia-Rong Gan followed by Music Director Roger Kalia directing an oversized Orchestra for Mahler’s monumental Symphony No. 1 “Titan.” Mahler’s glorious “Titan” Symphony is epic in all proportions, from its massive orchestration to sprawling form and range of emotion, incorporating sounds of birds or distant mountain horns for color. 

A native of Malaysia, Jia-Rong began her violin studies at the age of five and has since captivated audiences across the United States, Europe, and Asia. 

Currently the Concertmaster of Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Jia-Rong is also a member of the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Kentucky. Jia-Rong’s passion for music does not conclude with her orchestral performance. A devoted chamber musician, Jia-Rong has held resident string quartet positions at various universities and since 2018, she has been the Artist-In-Residence at the University of Evansville with Eykamp String Quartet. 

As a soloist, Jia-Rong has won numerous competitions, including concerto competition at Brevard Music Festival and Western Illinois University; First Prize winner of the Young Musical Talent of Malaysia Competition, and has performed as a soloist with the University of Evansville Symphony Orchestra, Florida State University Symphony Orchestra, Brevard Music Center Orchestra, and WIU Symphony Orchestra. 

Jia-Rong earned a Doctor of Music at Florida State University, received her Master of Music at Florida State University, and a Bachelor of Music from Western Illinois University. 

Concert Sponsor is Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation. 

Purchase tickets at www.evansvillephilharmonic.org, call the EPO Box Office at (812) 425-5050, Ext 300, or purchase at the door two hours prior to the concert. Children and full-time students can attend the concert free (while available) and receive the free ticket by calling the ticket office or at the Victory Theatre Sixth Street entrance the night of the concert. Discounted tickets are available for age 18-39 attendees and can be purchased at www.evansvillephilharmonic.org/club1839/. Discounted tickets are available for seniors and the military by calling the EPO Box Office. 

SYMPHONY HAPPY HOUR

Roger Kalia will host a free informative pre-concert talk, “Symphony Happy Hour,” at COMFORT by Cross-Eyed Cricket, located at 230 Main Street in Evansville, on Wednesday, April 27 at 5:30 PM. The discussion will provide interesting and unique facts about both works as well as different musical aspects to listen for. EPO Musicians: Rebecca Salo, Horn and Greg Olson, Bass and the Eykamp Quartet (Jia-Rong Gan, violin; Michael Chu, violin; Mark Hatlestad, viola; Graham Cullen, cello) will perform excerpts from the “Titan” program. 

About the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra:

Under the continued leadership of Music Director Roger Kalia, the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra has become the largest non-profit performing arts institution in the Tri-State area with a commitment to artistic excellence, diverse and creative programming inside and outside its historic Victory Theatre home, its engagement with communities throughout the state of Indiana and its ambitious approaches to music education, performance, and collaboration. In the decades since its founding in 1934, the EPO has presented a range of classical, pops, family, diversity, and holiday programming to thousands of people each year.