Bion Tsang

The Menuhin Competition comes to the United States for the first time and will take place in Austin, TX. Bion Tsang will be the Official Cellist of the 2014 Competition performing the Handel-Halvorsen “Passacaglia” in G minor for Violin and Cello with all the finalists of the Junior Section (competitors under the age of 16).

Founded by Yehudi Menuhin in 1983, the Menuhin Competition attracts some of the world’s best violinists under the age of 22. The 10-day festival includes concerts, master classes, and community activities with world-class musicians including the Cleveland Orchestra, which performs in Austin for the first time since 1976. All performances are open to the public, attracting spectators from around the world.

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Bion Tsang is back on American Public Media’s Performance Today.

Heard today during the second hour of the broadcast is Bion’s performance of John Novacek’s “Foster Fantasy” and “Intoxication Rag” for Clarinet, Cello and Piano with clarinetist Nathan Williams and pianist/composer John Novacek. The recording was made during a marathon concert in Bates Recital Hall in Austin, TX on Friday, September 14, 2012 celebrating Bion’s first ten years at the UT Butler School of Music.

Performance Today is broadcast on 260 public radio stations across the country and is heard by about 1.3 million people each week. To find out where and when Performance Today is broadcast in your area, visit performancetoday.org.

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Bion Tsang Appointed as Fellow to Newly Created Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Cello

The Butler School of Music in the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin has appointed Associate Professor of Cello, Bion Tsang, as Fellow to the Long Chair in Cello.

Austin-based arts and culture philanthropists Joe and Terry Long created the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Chair in Cello in the Butler School of Music to support excellence in the cello faculty. In addition to the Long’s $1 million gift, another Austin-based philanthropic couple, Andrew and Mary Ann Heller, led a campaign to create a $.5 million endowment for the Friends of Cello Scholarship that will be used for scholarships, fellowships, recruitment and the enrichment of the school’s cello studio instruction. In under a year’s time, over twenty donors contributed to make this happen.

“These endowments will serve to strengthen Professor Tsang’s studio and our String program by supporting his teaching and the superb students he’s attracting from all over the world—which will in turn enrich the cultural life of Austin and Texas,” said Douglas Dempster, Dean of the College of Fine Arts.

“The extraordinary gift of the Long Chair in Cello Performance, as well as the Friends of Cello Scholarship, are a reflection on Bion Tsang’s popularity and enthusiastic support in Austin,” said Dempster. “Anyone who has heard his performances understands why he is a favorite of Austin audiences and audiences across the U.S.”

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Now streaming in its entirety: Bion Tsang’s marathon anniversary concert celebrating his first 10 years at UT. The commemorative event, which featured Prof. Tsang with 16 colleagues from on and off campus along with 16 of his students, took place on Friday, September 14, 2012, at Bates Recital Hall in the Butler School of Music.

Bion Tsang
Celebrating 10 years at UT
with
Patrick Hughes, Kristin Jensen, Anton Nel,
Rick Rowley, David Small,Nathan WIlliams,
Sandy Yamamoto, DaXun Zhang, the Miró Quartet,
the Longhorn Cellos
and guests
Peter Bay, Mela Dailey,
Amy Levine-Tsang and John Novacek

BOCCHERINI
Quintet, G. 310, Op. 28, No. 4, for Strings
Allegro con moto
Minuetto—Trio
Grave
Rondeau: Allegro con moto
Miró Quartet
Bion Tsang, cello

MOZART
Sonata, K. 292, for Bassoon and Cello
Allegro
Andante
Rondo: Allegro
Kristin Jensen, bassoon
Bion Tsang, cello

SCHUBERT
“Auf dem Strom,” D. 943, for Voice, Cello & Piano
David Small, baritone
Bion Tsang, cello
Rick Rowley, piano

— Intermission —

BACH
Chaconne for Two Cellos,
from Partita in D minor, BWV 1004, for Solo Violin
(arr. by Jaffe/Perron)
Amy Levine-Tsang, cello
Bion Tsang, cello

ROSSINI
Duetto for Cello and Double Bass
Allegro
Andante molto
Allegro
Bion Tsang, cello
DaXun Zhang, double bass

VILLA LOBOS
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 1
for Orchestra of Celli
Prelùdio (Modinha)
Bion Tsang, cello
Longhorn Cellos
Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
for Soprano and Orchestra of Celli
Aria (Cantilena)
Mela Dailey, soprano
Bion Tsang, cello
Peter Bay, conductor
Longhorn Cellos

— Intermission —

VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
Quintet in D major for Clarinet, Horn, Violin, Cello and Piano
Allegro moderato
Intermezzo: Allegretto
Andantino
Finale: Allegro molto
Nathan Williams, clarinet
Patrick Hughes, horn
Sandy Yamamoto, violin
Bion Tsang, cello
Anton Nel, piano

NOVACEK
“Foster Fantasy” for Clarinet, Cello and Piano
“Intoxication (A Rag)” for Clarinet, Cello and Piano
Nathan Williams, clarinet
Bion Tsang, cello
John Novacek, piano

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Bion Tsang’s performance of the Dvorak Cello Concerto in B minor with conductor Peter Bay and the Austin Symphony Orchestra at the Long Center for the Performing Arts makes the Austin Chronicle list of Top 10 Dance and Classical Music events in Austin last year. Critic Robert Faires characterizes Bion “as Cyrano, swashing and buckling his way through the robust, romantic score.”

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