Dr. Yuchi Chou

Music Director

“Fierce, with graceful gestures and attention to detail.” - KlasikaPlus.cz

Dr. Yuchi Chou, born in Taiwan, enjoys an international career as a conductor and pianist, as well as being a passionate educator and performer. The 2024-2025 Season will be her inaugural season with Seattle Festival Orchestra and her second season with SYSO Junior Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Chou has been the winner of the 2021 International Conductors Competition and Workshop in Atlanta, finalist of the International Erno Lanyi Competition, Ansbacher Fellowship with Vienna Philharmonic at the Salzburg Festival, Conducting Fellow of Allentown (PA) Symphony, Aspen Music Festival, Conducting Fellow and at Peninsula Music Festival and San Francisco Shenson Fellowship. Dr. Chou has performed at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, San Francisco Davies Symphony Hall, and Cleveland Severance Hall. Dr. Chou has been working with a number of orchestras in the Seattle area, including as assistant conductor to Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, guest conductor of West Seattle Community Orchestra, Seattle Festival Orchestra and Philharmonia Northwest. Aside from the orchestral activities, Yuchi also serves as President of the Bellevue Federated Music Club.

Past positions include Guest Conductor of Western Washington University, Assistant Conductor of Peninsula Music Festival, Associate/ Assistant Conductor of Community Women’s Orchestra (Oakland, CA); Coaching Conductor of San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra. Yuchi concluded her academic journey at Northwestern University after San Francisco Conservatory and Oberlin Conservatory. As a Mercer Island resident, Yuchi loves watching her honeybees buzzing in her backyard beehive.

Kaisho Barnhill

Composer

Kaisho Barnhill is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Washington pursuing degrees in Music Education and Psychology. A member of the UW Symphony Orchestra as a timpanist and percussionist, Kaisho's musical journey began with piano lessons at a young age. He transitioned to percussion in high school, drawn to the excitement of marching band. While percussion remains his primary instrument, he continues to play piano for enjoyment and occasional performances.

Kaisho has sought to develop his skills in composition and arranging by exploring various musical forms, including arranging for marching band, composing drumline cadences, and experimenting with solo piano works. Monday Mornings, composed in May 2024, marks his first completed orchestral piece. This work spurred him on, leading to the creation of Friday Evenings and Sunday Nights, the second and third installments in a larger project titled "The Week." Kaisho studies composition and conducting with Mr. William White.

Beauty and the Beast (Prelude & Overture)
Alan Menken

Alan Menken’s Beauty and the Beast Overture is a magical introduction to one of Disney’s most beloved stories. Featuring iconic melodies such as “Belle,” “Gaston,” “The Mob Song,” “How Does a Moment Last Forever,” and the unforgettable “Beauty and the Beast,” the piece seamlessly weaves together themes that showcase Menken's genius for storytelling through music. With a mix of Broadway exuberance and cinematic grandeur, this overture sets the stage for an enchanting musical journey.

Monday Mornings
Kaisho Barnhill

Monday Mornings is a programmatic work that captures my experience as a college student on an ordinary Monday morning. Each moment in the narrative is musically heightened to provide the audience a deeper understanding of my emotions, offering a humorous and relatable glimpse into my life. 

The first half of the piece is full of dread. I wake up reluctantly for an early class and head to the market for my favorite Japanese bread rolls, only to find they're out of stock—again—leaving me without breakfast. Distressed and tardy, I rush to class, bracing for an unfortunate day. 

Sitting in class proves difficult. I didn’t sleep enough last night, and without my bread rolls to snack on, I start to drift away, daydreaming about how much better my morning would be with them, and the second half of the piece begins. It’s a beautiful day. The sun is beaming down on the city, birds are singing, and the market has my favorite Japanese bread rolls. If only every Monday could be like this.

Notes by Kaisho Barnhill

The Gremlin Rag
Jerry Goldsmith
arr. Luke Fitzpatrick

Joe Dante’s Gremlins (1984) is a wild movie that I love. I’ve always enjoyed Jerry Goldsmith’s amazing score and felt that The Gremlin Rag captured the insanity of the Gremlins in musical form. In my arrangement of The Gremlin Rag, I wanted to showcase the spirit of the movie in various ways throughout the orchestra. Special thanks to the whole orchestra, particularly the strings, for their musicianship and attention to detail when rehearsing and putting this together and to Warner Bros. and Alfred Music for granting me permission to arrange this.

Notes by Luke Fitzpatrick

Merry-Go-Round of Life
Joe Hisaishi

Composed by Joe Hisaishi for Studio Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle (2004), Merry-Go-Round of Life is a sweeping waltz that has become one of his most beloved and recognizable pieces. Opening with a gentle, bittersweet melody that gradually builds into rich orchestral textures, the piece beautifully captures the film’s blend of fantasy, romance, and adventure. Hisaishi’s score effortlessly shifts between elegance and whimsy, with Merry-Go-Round of Life serving as the emotional centerpiece—a musical embodiment of Howl and Sophie’s journey through love, transformation, and courage.

My Neighbor Totoro
Joe Hisaishi

Few film scores capture the spirit of childhood like Joe Hisaishi’s music for My Neighbor Totoro. Scored for full orchestra, the music evokes both whimsy and wonder, perfectly mirroring the gentle pace and emotional depth of Hayao Miyazaki’s animated classic. Rather than relying on sweeping drama, Hisaishi creates the film’s atmosphere through melodies at times joyful, and at other times heartwarming and tender. The score doesn’t just accompany the film—it breathes with it, illuminating themes of family, imagination, and the quiet magic found in everyday life.

Star Wars – Suite for Orchestra
John Williams

Composed in 1977, John Williams’ Star Wars Suite for Orchestra brings to the concert stage some of the most iconic themes from his score to Star Wars. Originally written for the film’s soundtrack, these pieces were later arranged into a suite for orchestra, showcasing Williams’ masterful ability to merge cinematic drama with classical orchestral traditions. Drawing inspiration from the symphonic styles of Holst, Korngold, Stravinsky, and Prokofiev, among others, the suite reflects Williams’ gift for memorable melody and orchestration that speaks directly to the emotions of the listener.

Orchestrated for a full symphony orchestra with extended brass and percussion, the suite captures the epic scope and emotional nuance of the Star Wars universe. From the heroic fanfare that opens the “Main Title” to the regal celebration of the “Throne Room”, the music carries audiences through a galaxy of sound that transcends the screen. Though originally composed for film, Williams' music has earned a place in the concert repertoire, standing on its own as a powerful work of symphonic storytelling.

Thank You Donors & Sponsors

Donors ($100+)

Help Us Grow!

We are so very thankful to be able to share our music with you, and we are always working to deepen and broaden our impact on the community. Please consider making a donation to support our orchestra. Ways to give include:

• The donation box at the ticket table

• Our website at sforch.org/donate

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Seattle Festival Orchestra
PO Box 15552
Seattle WA 98115-0552

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Save the Date(s)!

We’re already thinking ahead to our 2025-2026 season and would love to continuing sharing the joy of music with you. Mark your calendars for our concerts next season!

Nov 8th & 9th, 2025
Dec 13th & 14th, 2025
Mar 14th & 15th, 2026
May 16th & 17th, 2026

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Board of Directors & Volunteers

Officers
Aaron Coe, President
Ilene Dracott, President Emeritus
Monica Chen, Treasurer
Albert Huang, Secretary

Directors
Andy Wickell
John Ochsenreiter
Kevin Tao
Melissa Heidrich
Molly Campbell
Nicole Hessler
Roger Klorese

Volunteers
Flora Lee, Librarian & Webmaster
Liam Frye-Mason
Cory Maccarrone
Elena Marcus
Karen Fong