--Intermission--
Join us for an inspiring evening celebrating two exceptional young Canadian artists, both prize-winners of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra's 2026 Youth Concerto Competition. Cellist Austin Dong performs Tchaikovsky's graceful and virtuosic Variations on a Rococo Theme, one of the composer's most elegant works for cello and orchestra. Soprano Alyssa Bartholomew is featured in Glière's sparkling Concerto for Coloratura Soprano, a delightful showcase of extraordinary vocal agility and lyricism.
Following intermission, the orchestra presents Haydn's Symphony No. 85 in B-flat Major, "La Reine", a work admired for its wit, charm, and melodic richness.
From brilliant solo performances to one of Haydn's finest symphonies, this engaging program highlights the remarkable talents of two rising stars alongside music that continues to delight audiences centuries after it was written.
Austin Dong is a 17-year-old Canadian cellist recognized for his musical sensitivity, artistic maturity, and strong orchestral and solo performance experience. He is currently a member of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra, where he studies under Lucia Ticho, Cellist of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Austin began studying the cello at the age of seven and has since developed a deep passion for classical music and performance.
In recent years, Austin has received numerous awards in international music competitions across Canada, Germany, Italy, and Austria. His achievements include First Prize and the Judges’ Best Performance Award at the Vienna Virtuoso International Music Competition, First Prize at the Milan International Cello Competition, Second Prize at the Gustav Mahler Prize Cello Competition, and First Prize in the Junior Division of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra Competition 2026. In 2019, he was awarded Second Place at the Crescendo International Little Mozart Competition and was invited to perform at Carnegie Hall.
Austin previously studied at the Fei Tian Academy of the Arts on a full scholarship under the guidance of Deborah Park of the Manhattan School of Music. He has performed in major venues including Roy Thomson Hall and continues to pursue his dream of becoming a professional cellist while sharing his passion for music with audiences through both solo and orchestral performances.
Acclaimed for her beautifully ringing top range and strong coloratura (Opera Canada), Canadian soprano Alyssa Bartholomew is quickly gaining recognition for her expressive artistry and dynamic stage presence. A recent graduate of The Glenn Gould School's Artist Diploma Program and a proud alumna of Western University, she was recently named a winner of The Corcoran Concerto Competition and second-place winner of the Oakville Chamber Orchestra's Youth Concerto Competition. During the 2026-27 season, she will perform Glière's Concerto for Coloratura Soprano, Op. 82 with both the Royal Conservatory Orchestra under the baton of Earl Lee and the Oakville Chamber Orchestra.
Recent performance highlights include Fanny in Rossini's La cambiale di matrimonio at Koerner Hall and Lucy in Menotti's The Telephone with The Glenn Gould School's Opera Program. Additional operatic credits include Le Feu in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges, covering Königin in der Nacht in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, and Gretel in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.
Beyond the operatic stage, Alyssa is passionate about recital and art song repertoire, particularly works by contemporary Canadian composers. Her Artist Diploma studies at The Glenn Gould School culminated in a recital featuring a diverse program focused on 21st-century Canadian works. She has further developed her artistry through masterclasses with renowned Canadian soprano and conductor Barbara Hannigan and soprano and pianist Rachel Fenlon.
Alyssa has trained with leading summer programs including SongFest, the Canadian Opera Company's Summer Opera Intensive, and Stratford Summer Music's Vocal Academy, where she deepened her exploration of language, interpretation, and stylistic versatility
