https://www.king.org/nw-focus-live/
Listen to Frances Walton Competition Solo Winners Caitlin Kelley and Jichen Zhang perform on
Classical KING-FM’s Northwest Focus Live
Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Minor Claude Debussy
I. Allegro vivo (1862-1918)
III. Finale: Très animé
Serenade, after Plato’s “Symposium” Leonard Bernstein
V. Socrates: Alcibiades (1918-1990)
Caitlin Kelley, Violin
Meng Liu, Collaborative Piano
Cyber Bird Concerto Takashi Yoshimatsu
I. Bird in colors (b. 1953)
III. Bird in the wind
Jichen Zhang, Saxophone
Meng Liu, Collaborative Piano
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Hailed as “dazzling” by Peninsula Reviews, violinist Caitlin Kelley enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, and teaching artist. Caitlin has soloed with orchestras across the country and presented recitals in both the
United States and Europe. An avid chamber musician, Caitlin is a member of Wild Up, an LA-based modern music collective, and is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Nightjar, Seattle’s newest chamber music society. She has performed as Guest Concertmaster and Interim Assistant Concertmaster of the Louisville Orchestra, and is the former concertmaster of the Colburn and YMF Debut Orchestras. Caitlin performs frequently with the Seattle Symphony, Seattle Opera, and North Corner Chamber Orchestra (NOCCO). Caitlin received a Bachelor of Music degree and Professional Studies Certificate from the Colburn School in Los Angeles, and a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York.
Jichen Zhang, born in 1994. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Iowa, majoring in classical saxophone performance. He finished his master’s degree at Truman State University where he was a member of
Graduate Teaching/Research Assistantship. Zhang graduated from Yantai University (China) where he received his bachelor‘s degree. Zhang is Bastet Saxophone Artist in China and an overseas reporter for the SaxChina publication. On World Animal Day (Oct 4th, 2018), Zhang released his first saxophone album which is dedicated and benefited to stray animal care. He has won many competitions such as first place in the 16th Southern Illinois Young Artist Competition, Gold Medal Concerto Competition at Truman State University, school-wide Concerto Competition at University of Iowa, Artist Presentation Society competition in St. Louis and Schubert Club Bruce P. Carlson Student Scholarship Competition in Minnesota.
Meng Liu is a second-year DMA student majoring in piano performance at the University of Iowa
under the guidance of Dr. Uriel Tsachor. Liu graduated from the San Francisco Conservatory of
Music where she received her master’s degree and the Renmin University of China for her bachelor’s degree. Liu has participated in masterclasses with Marios Papadopoulos, Einar Steen-Nøkleberg, Phillip Kawin, etc. She also attended the 15th “Young Pianists Play Liszt” recital in San Francisco in 2018, and “Microtonal Music” Recital in SFCM in 2019. She has won a platinum award in the Quebec Music Competition in 2022. Her former teachers are Mr. Corey McVicar and Ms. Yuchun Kang.
ABOUT THE FRANCES WALTON COMPETITION
Named for its eponymous cellist, educator, conductor, and composer, the Frances Walton Competition has provided
a unique opportunity for Classical musicians ages 20 to 35 to audition for an award package including generous cash
prizes; a live performance on Classical KING-FM 98.1, one of the premier Classical music stations in the U.S.; and an
outreach and recital tour of locations throughout Washington State.
