Program

Four Meditations on Musubi (2025)*   
Catherine Fields (b.2000)

1. unravel & dance                        
2. yearn & touch
3. spindle & loom
4. burst!

Hommage à Manuel de Falla(1995)     
Béla Kovács (1937-2021)  

Chromatic Fantasy (1720/2002)   
J.S. Bach/arr. Hasty (1685-1750)/(1920-2011)  

Fantasie for solo clarinet (1993)
Jörg Widmann (b. 1973) 

Owen Ngo Yeung Cheung, clarinet

INTERMISSION

Skyward Unchained (2025)* 
Wenbin Lyu (b. 1994)       

Sonata for Violin and Piano (1961) 
Leslie Adams (1932-2024)

1. Moderato                                               
2. Lento
3. Allegro

Jungeun Noh, violin
Dasom Kwon, piano

* indicates Glow Music commission and world premiere

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Program Notes

Four Meditations on Musubi

Musubi is a foundational concept in the Shinto religion, which has manifold and nuanced meaning– it means literally “to tie together,” but is used to describe the process of creation, birth, and becoming, as well as the interconnectedness of all things, and what many of us may recognize as fate and providence.

The music’s connection to this concept is quite general, more of one individual’s (in this case, a solo clarinet) reflections on the interconnectedness of us to each other, to nature, to God.

The piece often alternates between long searching lines and weightless dances. The third movement, “spindles and looms,” is a perpetual spinning of threads which seamlessly shift in color as they exit the spindles. The final movement, “burst,” evokes the moment a new creation is brought into existence. I encourage listeners to bring their own stories to the music, perhaps reflecting on the people who have changed the course of their life, who came at just the right time, or maybe have always been there.

Notes by Catherine Fields

A Journey Through Fantasy

Tonight’s program is a fantasy story—a musical journey through different eras and places, offering a taste of how life might have felt in each one.

We begin our trip in Spain. At the start of Béla Kovács’ Hommage to Manuel de Falla, it sounds as if someone is singing—or perhaps calling everyone nearby to a celebration. When the party begins, people start dancing to iconic Spanish music. As the energy rises and the festivities grow wilder, we make our exit… before things get out of hand!

Next, we find ourselves in the 18th century—a time of elegance, order, and strict musical rules. But not everyone is content with the status quo. In Chromatic Fantasy, we hear someone pushing boundaries. The structure is looser, more adventurous, even rebellious—yet still grounded in the classical spirit of the time.

Finally, we return to the modern world—specifically, 1993. Music has expanded to include influences from jazz, film scores, and experimental sounds. Society is more open to breaking the rules, and musicians are exploring their instruments in new ways. Jörg Widmann’s Fantasie reflects this spirit. Unlike the flowing transitions of Chromatic Fantasy, Fantasie thrives on rapid contrasts and surprises. You’ll hear sounds you may never have imagined coming from a clarinet.

Notes by Owen Cheung

Skyward Unchained was composed in the spring of 2025. I composed this piece right after breaking free from a suffocating relationship. In that moment, I thought, finally, I am free from all the pain, all the shadows of the past. I deserve a life filled with light and beauty. And so, I named this piece Skyward Unchained. While composing, I imagined myself bathing in golden sunlight, the endless blue sky wrapping me in its warmth, whispering promises of new beginnings.

This is one of my rare lyrical compositions. Like my other slow pieces, these works are always deeply personal and hold a special place in my heart. I aimed to create a powerful piece to express my life experiences and my optimism about the future, just as the title reflects. And I was very proud when I came up with the name, Skyward Unchained.

Notes by Wenbin Lyu

As a Korean living abroad for many years, I often think about how to present my identity through music. When I discovered this Sonata for Violin and Piano by Leslie Adams, its deep connection to Black musical traditions—woven into the fabric of Western classical music—really spoke to me.

Leslie Adams is an American composer whose music bridges many worlds. Blending classical tradition with elements of jazz, spirituals, and popular music, his works are rich in emotional expression, cultural depth, and broad appeal. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Adams developed a musical voice that is both lyrical and thoughtful, with a focus on clarity, warmth, and introspection.

This sonata reflects these qualities across three movements. The first opens with a bold and steady 16th-note pattern that drives the music forward. As the movement unfolds, we hear a balance between energetic rhythms and a more tender second theme. The wide range of both instruments adds color and expressive depth.

The second movement feels like a quiet song, sung in solitude. A simple melody repeats gently, becoming more intense before returning to the quietness. Near the end, a bright major chord appears — an unexpected moment of hope — before returning to the softer, more reflective mood.

The final movement is driven by rhythm and infused with energy, built on a tresillo pattern common in Afro-Cuban and popular music. The music sways between rhythmic vitality and lyrical phrasing, shifting between minor and major harmonies. The piece ends on a surprising E major chord — a gentle but striking change in light and color.

Notes by Dasom Kwon

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Artists Bio

Catherine Fields (b. 2000) is a composer and pianist with a diverse body of works for wind band, symphony orchestra, voice, piano, chamber ensemble. By way of melodic lyricism and an evocative timbral and harmonic palette, she seeks to transport her listeners into an experience. She is intrigued with the way music leads to deeper communication and understanding between people, and aims to foster meaningful collaborations through her music.

Owen Ngo Yeung Cheung is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Clarinet Performance at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), studying with Prof. Pavel Vinnitsky. Originally from Hong Kong, he began playing clarinet at age seven and later trained at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts’ Junior Program. After graduating from high school, Owen focused on clarinet studies at the Conservatoire à rayonnement régional de Paris, France, under Prof. Florent Héau and Alexandre Chabod. After two years at CRR, he started his Bachelor’s degree at Eastman School of Music for under Professors Kenneth Grant and Michael Wayne. Owen is passionate about performance and connecting with audiences. In his free time, he enjoys watching sports, playing video games, and shooting hoops with friends.

Wenbin Lyu is a Chinese composer based in Cincinnati whose music fuses contemporary Western techniques with elements of ancient Eastern culture. Drawing inspiration from nature, science, and video games, his compositions are known for their energy, rhythmic drive, and sense of fun. His work has been featured in over 70 music festivals, and he has collaborated with numerous acclaimed ensembles. Wenbin holds degrees from the China Conservatory of Music, the New England Conservatory (NEC), and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Violinist Jung Eun Noh is known for her expressive and dynamic performances in both chamber and orchestral settings. She has received top prizes in major competitions, including the 2024 CCM Chamber Competition, the 2023 Wien Competition, and the 2021 International Clara Schumann Competition. She performs regularly with the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic and the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. Since moving to the U.S. in 2017, Jungeun has completed her Master’s and Artist Diploma at CCM and is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree under Prof. Kurt Sassmannshaus.

Dasom Kwon is a sought-after pianist based in Cincinnati. She recently earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Ohio State University while serving as a Graduate Teaching Associate. She also completed dual master’s degrees in piano performance and collaborative piano at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Dr. Kwon has worked as a pianist and opera coach for the Indianapolis Opera Company and at the Interlochen Arts Camp. She currently serves as a collaborative pianist at Xavier University and Northern Kentucky University and is the principal pianist for the Cincinnati Men’s Chorus.

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Gratitude

The following donors have made generous contributions to the funds that support our programs for the community including Concert Number Five and Community Outreach to MYCincinnati. The donations are used to pay artists, venue, piano tuner and mover, printer, recording engineer, and administrative fees.

Giving from February 2022 through March 2025

$5,000-9,999

Community of Faith Presbyterian Church

$2,000-4,999

Yeon-Kyung Kim

$500-1,999

Yejoong & Kyeongseon Kim

James Tocco

$250-499

Becky & Bill Lindsay

Hyejung Yoon

$100-249

Multiple Anonymous at Dayton Korean United Methodist Church

Chong H. Ahn

Aesook K. Choi

Dawn & Dan Farwick

Jaeyong Kim

Jinhee & Seyun Kim

Jiyeon Oh

Dana Stevenson

$50-99

Ariadne Antipa & William Perry

Sharon Carter

Hyejin Joo

Risa Kaneko

Helena Kim & Curtis Pavey

Saetbyeol Kim

Christina Lalong

Sandra Driggins-Smith

$1-49

Anonymous

Anna Mae Agricola

Glenn Danielson

Sanghyun Do

Matt Hastings

Julieta Mihai

Roy Miller

Siryung Park

Adam Pronczek

Tyler Rigg

Pamela Robinson

Katherine Sharp

Joyce E. Vorhees

Joanna & Gary Willis

Minsoo Yang

Isaac Yeo

Donations from today will support plans for Glow Music: inviting a bigger group of performers, commissioning more composers, having more than one concert a year, and inviting more talents to the Greater Cincinnati Area. Make your donation today!

*Checks payable to: Glow Music

Staff and Board of Directors

Yeon-Kyung Kim, Founder and Director

William Lindsay, Secretary, Founding Member

Matt Williamson, Interim Treasurer

Thank You!

First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati and Lisa Yunker

Ariadne Antipa & William Perry

Hye Jung Yoon & Jaeyong Kim

A-1 Piano Movers, Lou Proske

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Mission Statement

Glow Music serves young classical musicians and their community by providing opportunities for them to perform as professionals. We provide audiences with opportunities to connect to the musicians of their community, serving to promote both traditional classical music and contemporary works, including those by historically underrepresented groups.