This Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., the Marine Chamber Orchestra will perform a free concert featuring two masterworks by composers Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Jean Sibelius, as well as the world première of young composer SiHyun Uhm's Yearning, winner of the Marine Band’s inaugural Call for Scores competition. The concert, conducted by Col. Jason K. Fettig, will take place at Northern Virginia Community College’s Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center in Alexandria. No tickets are required and free parking is available in the adjacent garage.

Anchoring the concert are Mozart’s “Turkish” Violin Concerto, performed by Staff Sgt. Ryo Usami, and Jean Sibelius’ monumental Symphony No. 2 in D. Mozart’s “Turkish” concerto was the last of five violin concerti he composed and is the most adventurous in both form and content. Music critics and historians gave the concerto the nickname “Turkish” because of its weaving of alla turca elements in its third movement. Sibelius, recognized as one of Finland’s national heroes and one of its most renowned artists, composed his second symphony in 1901 and the work was an immediate success. It was easy for audiences to find a patriotic message through the symphony’s sweep from its opening pastorale to its majestic finale, and the work has been widely celebrated and performed since its première.

However, before the orchestra performs the anchor works of Mozart and Sibelius, it will present the world première of Yearning, composed by SiHyun Uhm. In a recent interview, here is what the composer had to say about her winning composition and the Call for Scores competition:

Q: How did you find out about the Call for Scores initiative and what prompted you to enter a piece?
A: I initially discovered the Call for Scores initiative through the Composers.com website. As soon as I learned about this opportunity to submit my composition for consideration by the prestigious United States Marine Band, I felt it would be an incredible honor to have my piece selected. Regardless of the outcome, I saw it as a chance to challenge myself by writing for a string orchestra and expressing my emotions and inspirations through my music.

Q: How did you feel when you found out your piece was selected as the winner?
A: I was absolutely thrilled when I learned that my piece had been selected as the winner! Not only was this my first string orchestra composition, but I felt that I had stayed true to my artistic vision and poured my heart and soul into the piece. The news came as a pleasant surprise, as I did not expect such an outcome. I was overwhelmed with joy and a sense of accomplishment.

Q: What was the inspiration behind Yearning and what do you hope the audience takes from it?
A: The inspiration behind Yearning stemmed from my deep emotional connection with the concept of “yearning” itself. As soon as I came across the Call for Scores, I was filled with a sense of longing and desire to create a musical representation of this complex emotion. I wanted to convey through my music the idea of a warm, fluctuating sound that captures the essence of yearning - the anticipation, the slow build-ups, and the fast build-ups that reflect the feeling of waiting for something to emerge, the longing for something beyond reach. I aimed to create an immersive experience for the listeners that leaves them with a profound emotional connection and resonance with the warmth and feeling of yearning and longing portrayed in the composition.

The Marine Band’s annual Call for Scores is an effort to continue the expansion of contemporary repertoire for winds and percussion, and provide an opportunity for composers 18 and up to have their work performed and recorded by a professional ensemble. The deadline for the 2023 competition is May 1. More information is available here.

Program and notes

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