University Symphony Orchestra

Ludwig van Beethoven | 1770-1827
Leonore Overture No. 3, op. 72b

Jean Françaix | 1912-1997
Quadruple Concerto for flute, oboe, clarinet and bassoon
  I. Allegretto tranquillo
  II. Vivo, scherzando
  III. Andante
  IV. Finale: Presto
Immanuel Davis, flute
Christine Soojin Kim, oboe
Sang Yoon Kim, clarinet
Fei Xie, bassoon

Dmitri Shostakovich |1906-1975
Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77
  I. Nocturne: Moderato
  II. Scherzo: Allegro
  III. Passacaglia: Andante – Cadenza (attacca)
  IV. Burlesque: Allegro con brio – Presto
Charrine Liu-Maddox, violin
2025-26 USO Concerto Competition winner
 

Mark Russell Smith has served as the Artistic Director of Orchestral Studies at the University of Minnesota since 2007. A graduate in cello performance from the Juilliard School, and of the Curtis Institute of Music, he studied conducting with Max Rudolf and Otto-Werner Mueller. In 2012, Smith spearheaded the U of M School of Music’s Britten Peace Project, with performances of Britten’s War Requiem in Europe and the U.S. Recent U of M projects include Bright Sheng’s Dream of the Red Chamber, Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring (with the Joffrey Ballet), and St. Matthew Passion with the Detmold Hochschule für Musik (Germany). He serves as music director and conductor of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, where he led the Midwest premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Omar’s Journey by Michael Abels. Smith has guest conducted the Minnesota Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestras of Houston, St. Louis, Nashville, and many others. He was named artistic director of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies in 2012, and was director of new music projects with the SPCO. Previously, he has served as music director of the Cheyenne Symphony, Springfield (MA) Symphony, and Richmond Symphony.

Flutist Immanuel Davis is a highly versatile performer who enjoys playing the entire span of the flute repertoire. He has performed as a recitalist and master class teacher worldwide. He has appeared as a recitalist and chamber musician at Weill Recital hall at Carnegie Hall, MoMa's Summer Garden Series, Noonday Concerts at Trinity Church, and the Meet the Virtuoso series at the 92nd St Y. Orchestral work has included performances with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Oregon Symphony, Riverside Symphony, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Jupiter Symphony, and Buffalo Philharmonic. Mr. Davis has also played on Broadway in Fiddler on the Roof, Show Boat and Ragtime, among others

In 2005, Immanuel was a recipient of a Fulbright Grant for study of baroque flute and performance practice with Wilbert Hazelzet at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague. Since then he has performed as soloist and chamber player with such early music ensembles as Early Music New York, ARTEK, Lyra Baroque and the Bach Society of Minnesota. He has also had the pleasure of performing on NPR’s “Performance Today” and in numerous recitals with Barthold Kuijken. In 2019, he released the CD “La Magnique”, a duo recording of French baroque repertoire with Barthold Kuijken on the Naxos Label. 

Educated at the Juilliard School, Mr. Davis received both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees as a student of Julius Baker. Immanuel Davis has been the flute professor at the University of Minnesota since 2001. Immanuel is also an AmSAT-certified teacher of the Alexander Technique.

Christine Soojin Kim, oboist, has been praised for her “lovely yet powerful playing” (Boston Musical Intelligencer) and her “delightful and excellent solos” (Your Observer News). She made her concerto debut at age 14 and has since appeared as a soloist with the Suwon Philharmonic Orchestra, Yongin Youth Orchestra, Bundang Youth Orchestra, and the Seoul National University Orchestra, among others.

Kim served as Acting Assistant Principal Oboe of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (2023–2024) and was a member of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (2022–2023). She has held principal oboe positions with the Sarasota Orchestra and the Des Moines Opera Orchestra, and has appeared as a guest musician with the Minnesota Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, New World Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, the Korean Symphony Orchestra, and additional ensembles.

She earned a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with John Ferrillo and Anne Gabriele, an Artist Diploma from the Colburn School under Allan Vogel, and a Bachelor of Music from Seoul National University with Yun-Jung Lee. Kim is currently the tenured Principal Oboe of the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra and leads the oboe studio at the University of Minnesota.

South Korean clarinetist Sang Yoon Kim (b. 1987) is Principal Clarinet of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the top prize winner of the 67th Prague Spring International Music Competition (2015). He gained international recognition following his appearance as a soloist with the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo at the Prague Spring International Music Festival. Recent highlights include his performance of the Bruch Double Concerto with violist Tabea Zimmermann and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra in 2025.

Kim has performed as a soloist and guest principal clarinet with leading orchestras across Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia, including the Cleveland Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Brussels Philharmonic, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Rouen Haute-Normandie, KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, and numerous national orchestras in South Korea. He has collaborated with distinguished conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski, Christoph Eschenbach, Franz Welser-Möst, and Jaap van Zweden.

Committed to education, Kim is Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota and served as Visiting Associate Professor at Seoul National University in Fall 2025. He regularly gives masterclasses internationally. He studied at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris—as the first Korean clarinetist accepted in the institution’s history—and later earned an Artist Diploma from the Colburn Conservatory of Music under Yehuda Gilad.

Sang Yoon Kim is a Buffet Crampon, Vandoren, and Silverstein Performing Artist.

Fei Xie joined the Minnesota Orchestra as Principal Bassoon at the beginning of the 2017–18 season, following five seasons as Principal Bassoon of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. He first joined the Baltimore Symphony as Second Bassoonist in 2008 and, upon winning the principal position in 2012, became the first Chinese-born bassoonist to hold a principal role in a major American symphony orchestra. His previous positions include Principal Bassoon of the Mansfield Symphony in Ohio and second bassoon in the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. He has also appeared as guest principal bassoon with ensembles such as the Houston Symphony and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

As a soloist, Xie has appeared with the Minnesota Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Festival Mozaic Orchestra, and the Sichuan Conservatory Symphony Orchestra in China. Highlights include performances of Mozart’s Bassoon Concerto with the Minnesota Orchestra and Jolivet’s Bassoon Concerto, both of which have been widely praised. His artistry has drawn critical acclaim from The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun, and Star Tribune. A frequent festival artist, he has performed at Festival Mozaic—where he serves as principal bassoon—as well as the Tanglewood Music Center, Music Academy of the West, Sun Valley Summer Symphony, and the National Repertory Orchestra.

An avid educator, Xie has taught masterclasses throughout the United States, China, and Brazil and currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Bassoon at the University of Minnesota School of Music.

Originally from Ellicott City, Maryland, Charrine Liu-Maddox is currently pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Minnesota, studying with Sally O’Reilly. Charrine received her undergraduate degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of William Preucil, Stephen Rose, and Kathleen Winkler. She earned a Master of Music degree at the Peabody Institute as a student of Rebecca Henry and Judith Ingolfsson. An enthusiastic chamber musician, Charrine has worked closely with members of the Cleveland, Brentano, Harlem, Cavani, and Audubon String Quartets. Recent engagements have included winning 1st prize in the Schubert Club Scholarship competition, participating in the international debut of Clarice Assad’s Piano Concerto and a Naxos recording with Inscape Chamber Orchestra, performances with the Lakes Area Music Festival, and consecutive fellowships with the National Orchestral Institute and Festival.