Experience SLO Symphony’s Keys of Grandeur Concert
Classics II
SLO Symphony and Paderewski Festival Present Keys of Grandeur
Be swept into an evening of passion, color, and virtuosity. The program opens with the lively Mazurka from Halka by Stanisław Moniuszko, before presenting Beethoven’s regal Emperor Concerto, performed by rising star Hyunjin Roh. After intermission, the orchestra explores the emotional depth of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique, a work of haunting beauty and intense expression. In partnership with the Paderewski Festival, this concert promises an unforgettable night of virtuosity, passion, and musical brilliance.
San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center
Saturday November 7, 2026, 7:30pm
Concert sponsors: Craig Russell Endowment, Paderewski Festival, The Van Duren and Danielson family in memoriam of Alexis Danielson
Seeking additional sponsors
Program Details
Stanisław Moniuszko Mazurka from Halka (1858)
- Halka is considered Poland’s national opera.
- The Mazurka is based on a traditional Polish folk dance.
- The opera’s 1858 premiere helped establish Moniuszko as Poland’s leading composer.
Ludwig van Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 in E-flat op.73 “Emperor”
- Featuring Hyunjin Roh, winner of the 2025 Paderewski International Piano Competition
- Beethoven never called it the “Emperor”; the nickname was added later by others.
- The concerto opens unusually with the piano playing almost immediately.
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor op.74 “Pathétique“
- Tchaikovsky conducted the premiere just nine days before his death.
- The nickname “Pathétique” suggests deep emotion and passion rather than sadness alone.
- Unlike most symphonies, it ends with a slow, quiet movement instead of a triumphant finale.
Enhance Your Experience
“Symphonic Forays” Pre-Concert Talk
- Start time at 6:30pm
- Go behind the scenes with Maestro Sewell, soloist Hyunjin Roy, and other special guests
- Free to all concert ticket holders
“No Ties Allowed” Open Rehearsal
See how the orchestra prepares for a concert! A casual environment perfect for the “symphony curious” and those with younger children. This one hour program is from 11:00 AM – 1 2:00 PM. Learn more about No Ties Allowed events.
“Let’s Talk Music” on Monarch Dunes Radio
About the Soloist
Pianist Hyunjin Roh has gained international recognition following her remarkable achievement at the 2025 Paderewski International Piano Competition, where she won First Prize along with the Mozart Concerto Prize, the Semifinal Recital Prize, and the Prize for the Best Performance of a Work by Paderewski. She has been praised for her refined yet powerful touch, rich tonal palette, and sincere musical interpretation.
Since making her debut in Seoul through the Kumho Prodigy Concert in 2014, she has continued to perform actively on major stages both in Korea and abroad, including Carnegie Hall, Jordan Hall, and Bennett Gordon Hall, as well as the Seoul Arts Center Recital Hall, Lotte Concert Hall, Seongnam Arts Center Concert Hall, Kumho Art Hall, and Shinyoung Chamber Hall.
Her international presence has expanded through notable achievements such as Second Prize at the 2024 Borderland Chopin International Competition and appearances as a semifinalist at the Leeds International Piano Competition and the Hilton Head International Piano Competition. In Korea, she has won numerous first prizes at major competitions including the JoongAng Music Competition, Ewha-Kyunghyang Music Competition, HDC Young Chang Competition, Suri Music Competition, and the Sungjung Music Competition. She was also selected as a fellow of the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, further broadening her artistic activities in North America, while demonstrating profound musicality in chamber music performances.
A graduate of Yewon School, Seoul Arts High School, Seoul National University (Bachelor’s degree), and the New England Conservatory (Master’s degree and Graduate Diploma), she is currently pursuing the Artist Diploma at the Colburn School in Los Angeles under the guidance of Fabio Bidini, where he continues to develop deeper interpretative insight and a broad repertoire.
Through constant exploration and reflection, pianist Roh strives to convey the human emotions and artistic truth inherent in music, pursuing a path as an artist who communicates deeply with her audience.
What You’ll Hear
Enjoy a preview of what we have in store for you. This curated playlist is available on Spotify.
Access for All
At the SLO Symphony, we believe everyone deserves access to the inspiring experience of live music.
To help make this performance accessible to our community, child and student tickets are priced at just $12, and adult tickets start at only $20, making it possible for more people to experience this powerful performance together. Ticket availability is limited and is offered on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. These community-focused ticket prices are made possible through the stewardship of our Board of Directors and the generosity of our donors, whose support helps ensure that the arts remain accessible to all.
Classical 101: Facts That Might Surprise You
- Paderewski visited Paso Robles in 1914 and bought over 2,800 acres in the area later that year. Epoch Winery is now the steward of the vineyard he planted. In 1917, Paderewski extended his local presence, purchasing over 2,600 acres in Santa Maria with oil exploration on his mind. Oil was never found there and he sold that property in 1933
- Paderewski was the prime minister of Poland in 1919 and signed the Treaty of Versailles, which ended World War I
- Paderewski’s opera “Manru” is the only opera by a Polish composer ever performed by the Metropolitan Opera in New York
- Mozart died just two months after the premiere of “The Magic Flute”
- The “opus” number – abbreviated “Op.” – designates the order in which the piece was issued. For example, the Paderewski piano concerto is his opus number 17 – the seventeenth piece in his catalog
- Paderewski’s close friend Zygmunt Stojowski (1870-1946) was one of the founders of what eventually became the Juilliard School of Music