On October 11, the Santa Rosa Symphony will begin its 2025-2026 season with Beethoven’s Triple Concerto in C Major, a “barn burner” that will feature violinist Julian Rhee and two of his mentors, pianist Wu Han and cellist David Finckel.
“This is a big, bold, heroic, and confident piece. It requires each soloist to play well on their own, as part of a trio, and in sync with the orchestra and conductor. I can’t imagine a more interactive work,” said Finckel.
At 25, Rhee is known for his refinement, showmanship, and attention to sound. The violinist won a 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, was a prize winner at the 2024 Queen Elisabeth International Violin Competition, and a silver medalist at the 11th Quadrennial International Violin Competition of Indianapolis.
“We’ve rehearsed the piece a bit at Wu Han and David’s house in upstate New York. It’ll be amazing to play with the Santa Rosa Symphony for the first time. I can share music I’ve gotten to know with artists I consider my friends and teachers,” said Rhee. Together, Han and Finckel co-direct the Chamber Music Society (CMS) of Lincoln Center and the Music@Menlo Chamber Music Festival and Institute. Currently, Rhee is doing a three-year residency with The Bowers Program. Co-directed by Han and Finckel, the program integrates emerging professional artists into the Chamber Music Society’s activities, from concerts to collaborations.
The Triple Concerto is one of four pieces programmed in the Santa Rosa Symphony’s season opener. The concert will also feature Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, Julia Perry’s A Short Piece for Orchestra, and Umberto Giordano’s Intermezzo from Fedora. Highlights of the Santa Rosa Symphony’s upcoming season will include Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony, Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in D Minor, with all performances conducted by Francesco Lecce-Chong.
Wu Han said she enjoys playing with Rhee because he brings positive energy and beautiful sound to his music. Finckel said Rhee plays with great taste and integrity. “He also listens to our suggestions. That helps to get the coordination among three soloists just right,” said Finckel.
Wu Han and Finckel said performances such as this one with Rhee honor the late Ann S. Bowers, the Silicon Valley industry pioneer, philanthropist, and lover of classical music for whom The Bowers Program is named. Bowers passed away in January 2024, after generously supporting young musicians’ programs at CMS and Music@Menlo for a decade.
Rhee is focused on mapping out a vision of his path as a musician. “There are no clearly laid out steps,” the violinist said. “It is easy to get bogged down with day-to-day practice. I am taking many opportunities to perform as a soloist and continue independent study.” Rhee will present a solo recital at Fried Music II in Los Angeles on Nov. 24.
His current participation in the classical music scene contrasts with his intense self-focus during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that period, he returned to his parents’ home in Wisconsin. Rhee practiced on his own and with his sister, Tabitha Rhee, who is currently a violist with the New York Philharmonic.
“We exhausted a lot of the violin-viola repertoire, but had fun with that experience. I particularly liked showing our parents, who are amateur musicians, what goes into our practice. My mother plays piano. My father studied voice but is a physician,” said Rhee.
