Trading the Office of the President for the spotlight with an orchestra, President Beong-Soo Kim joined the USC Thornton Symphony as a guest artist for an unforgettable night on Friday.

Sharon Lavery, resident conductor of the Thornton Symphony and Thornton Winds, conducted the show.

The evening commenced with a few words by Jason King, dean of the Thornton School of
Music. King introduced the event as a celebration of the artistry and collaboration at USC, while emphasizing the importance of diverse perspectives in music.

“That breadth is central to who we are at USC Thornton,” King said. “We believe in honoring musical traditions while remaining open to where artists and our students may take them next.”

The night consisted of three pieces: “Capriccio espagnol, Op. 34” by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34” by Benjamin Britten and “Pini di Roma, P. 141” by Ottorino Respighi.

“The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra” by Britten emerged as the centerpiece of the evening. In Britten’s composition, each section of the ensemble had its moment in the spotlight. The themes moved from the warm hum of the woodwinds to the sweep of the strings, the power of the brass and the sharp sting of the percussion.

Soloists took their variations one at a time, and the audience could hear the different personalities emerge before the whole orchestra came together in a powerful, intricately layered finale.

Yeejune Cho, a sophomore majoring in psychology as well as anthropology, was at the concert and said she appreciated the music and the behind-the-scenes efforts.

“I could really tell that they practiced a lot and put so much effort into it,” Cho said. “Being able to attend tonight and experience such a memorable moment was a privilege for me.”

The evening’s narrator, who introduced the instruments and gave context on their roles within the piece, was none other than Kim.

Kim began his remarks by acknowledging Rosh Hashanah and the 25th anniversary of 9/11. He explained that the event was “particularly fitting” as the symphony would be celebrating music that symbolized both “remembrance and also revival.”

“Live music in particular has a way of connecting all of us to the past,” Kim said. “Also, music can connect us to each other and to our hope for the future.”

Having played the cello since the age of 5, Kim was no newcomer to music. Kim’s teachers were Eleonore and Alice Schoenfeld, who were professors at Thornton, prompting him to frequent USC to perform and listen to concerts before assuming his office.

“There’s something very, very special and important about live music, about coming and hearing musicians who are performing for you,” Kim said. “For you to do them the honor of coming to them and recognizing all of the practice and all the craft that went into this evening.”

During the performance of Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra,” Kim explained the role and musical qualities of each instrument and why they were used in each section of the piece.

“The double basses are the largest of the string family, with heavy grumbling voices that also have the ability to sing beautifully,” Kim said during the piece.
“Pini di Roma,” the final piece of the night, received the most praise, with the loudest cheers from the audience. The piece is structured as a continuous four-movement work, with each section named after a specific palette of the Roman landscape. The orchestra launched into “The Pines of the Villa Borghese,” with a rush of bright, brisk melodies. The woodwinds skipped above the strings and bursts of brass gave the music a playful, even unruly energy.
The sound moved quickly between sections of the orchestra, which captured the attention of the audience before the movement gave way to a darker and more restrained feel. William Yi, a sophomore majoring in business administration, identified this as his favorite tune from the evening.
“It was just really majestic, and it really showcased the talent of the orchestra in its entirety,” Yi said.

Cho added that seeing Kim’s presence at the concert carried a massive impact on her personally.

“It was really inspiring to see President Kim represent USC as a person of color because that is why exactly USC stands for diversity and inclusion,” Cho said. “As someone who is also Korean, I felt some immense pride in that.”

Ending his speech, Kim expressed his belief in the power of music to unite people.

“Music can connect us to each other and to our hope for the future, so I want to end by again thanking you,” Kim said. “While I usually end my speeches by saying ‘Fight on,’ tonight I will say, ‘Play on.’”