From June 8 to 16, the Auckland Youth Orchestra (AYO) will present three high-caliber concerts for music lovers in Orewa, Howick, and Takapuna. The repertoire includes:
Symphony for Eight (Cellos) by American contemporary composer Philip Glass,
Flute Concerto by Denmark’s foremost composer Carl Nielsen,
Symphony No. 2 by Finland’s great composer Jean Sibelius.
These pieces are classics that have profoundly influenced the development of symphonic music and are treasures in music history.
The Flute Concerto by Nielsen will be performed by the talented Alina Chen (Chinese name “Chen Meihuan”), winner of the 2023 AYO Solo Competition. This concerto holds a significant place in 20th-century flute repertoire, known for its unique musical language and deep emotional expression. It is one of the most challenging flute pieces, requiring high technical skill and deep understanding from the performer.
This might be Alina’s final performance with AYO. In August, she will head to New York to further her studies at the world-renowned Juilliard School. Despite her fondness for the orchestra, she will embark on a broader musical journey.
Alina began piano lessons around the age of five but discovered her true passion for music at nine when she started flute lessons.
In the fourth grade, Alina moved to Kohimarama School, where students could choose their favorite instruments and join different bands. She was drawn to the flute for its appearance and the rich, warm sound it produced.
Over the next few years, she made significant progress in both piano and flute. In 2016 and 2017, she was invited to perform at the ABRSM High Scorers’ Concerts. At age 12 (in 2018), she passed the ABRSM Grade 8 exams for both flute and piano with distinction. That same year, she made her concerto debut with the APPA Symphony Orchestra at the Auckland Town Hall.
With limited time, Alina focused primarily on flute and piccolo, shining in various local and international competitions. In 2020, she won first place in her age group at the American Protegé International Woodwinds and Brass Competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall’s Winners’ Concert in New York.
At 15 (in 2021), Alina auditioned for and joined the AYO to further hone her flute skills.
AYO, founded in 1948, is the first youth symphony orchestra in the Southern Hemisphere and New Zealand’s premier regional youth orchestra. It serves as a bridge between school orchestras and professional adult orchestras, offering training and performance opportunities to musicians under 26, contributing significantly to Auckland and New Zealand’s cultural life.
Over 2,600 young musicians have performed with AYO, gaining a broader development space than school orchestras. Over the past 75 years, many dedicated individuals have worked tirelessly for the orchestra’s growth, seeing seasoned performers leave and new ones join.
During her three years with AYO, Alina has greatly benefited in terms of confidence and skills. Initially, she made various mistakes, such as playing too loudly, struggling to sync with the band, and having difficulty reading music. The woodwind section usually has only one person per part (unlike strings with multiple players per part), making any errors or imperfections more noticeable. This responsibility and pressure required her to enhance her focus and control her playing volume.
AYO holds several concerts each year, with intensive rehearsals on Wednesday evenings and sometimes on weekends. Before full orchestra rehearsals, there are sectional practices where teachers explain the techniques of different instruments and how the parts should be played together.
Alina usually plays both the flute and piccolo at concerts, gaining versatility by quickly switching instruments and blending into the orchestra. Initially needing a lot of guidance, she can now follow the scores and perform with the band independently.
Many people have supported her at AYO, especially Music Director Antun Poljanich, who has profoundly influenced her. His deep understanding of music and ability to conduct pieces of different styles have exposed young musicians to an unparalleled musical heritage. Entering AYO is not just about honing techniques; it’s a wonderful musical education.
Alina says Poljanich teaches them performance techniques, emphasizing details and strict standards. He encourages musicians to listen carefully, immerse themselves in music, and feel the sounds of other instruments. He shares his musical insights, motivating everyone to express the potential meaning of the pieces and showcase the grandeur of symphonic music.
Initially one of the younger members, Alina has grown in communication, making friends and receiving support and encouragement. She has learned to accept both positive and negative feedback, using it to motivate her improvement.
At 18, Alina has paved her musical path, actively participating in AYO rehearsals and performances. She led the band and orchestra at Baradene College in high school, studying under top Auckland flautists Luca Manghi and Melanie Lançon, refining her flute and piccolo skills.
In recent years, she has won numerous awards. In 2022, she received the NZQA Music Scholarship and first place in her age group at the 23rd Valsesia Musica International Competition for Youth.
In 2023, her woodwind quartet won second place in the NZCT Chamber Music Contest. She also won the AYO Soloist Competition’s under-18 prize, Outstanding Performance Award, and first place.
She was selected for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) Youth Achievers Program and performed Nielsen’s Flute Concerto with NZSO.
During rehearsals, top New Zealand musicians praised her, which was both surprising and exciting. Despite initial nervousness, she quickly adapted, learning to perform under pressure and becoming a better musician.
These valuable experiences boosted her confidence, helping her stand out in conservatory auditions, earning offers and scholarships from Juilliard, Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and Manhattan School of Music.
For the next four years, she will pursue a bachelor’s degree at Juilliard, studying under Grammy-nominated flautist Carol Wincenc. She hopes to enhance her performance skills and deepen her musical knowledge.
She plans to participate in major international competitions and music festivals in the US and Europe, gaining performance experience and learning from outstanding musicians worldwide. She also hopes to perform in chamber groups and renowned symphony orchestras as a soloist.
