17cÍřŇł°ć Tech 17cÍřŇł°ć Presents:
DRIVE | DESIRE | DESTINY
Thursday, April 9th, 2026
7:30pm
Ferst Center
17cÍřŇł°ć Tech Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Chaowen Ting, Conductor
The concert begins with the mechanical, high-energy rhythms of Jennifer Jolley’s Motordom, followed by Sibelius’s Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47, featuring 2025 GTSO Concerto Competition winner Adrian Cheung. This cornerstone of the repertoire is beloved for its technical demands and soulful, Northern character. The concert concludes with Wagner’s Prelude and Liebestod from Tristan und Isolde, featuring mezzo-soprano Aubrey Odle. This profound work weaves a rich orchestral tapestry, leading the audience through a journey of yearning toward one of music’s most celebrated finales.
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Composer Bio – Jennifer Jolley
Jennifer Jolley (b. 1981) is a composer, conductor, and professor whose work is founded on the belief that the pleasures and excesses of music have the unique potential to engage political and provocative subjects. Addressing a range of topics such as climate change, #MeToo, and feminist history, Jennifer strives to write pieces that are equally enjoyable and meaningful.
Her works have been commissioned and performed by ensembles worldwide, including the Dallas Winds, the Vermont Symphony Orchestra, and the Quince Ensemble. She is currently an Associate Professor of Music Theory and Composition at Lehman College in the Bronx and has been a member of the composition faculty at Interlochen Arts Camp since 2015.
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Soloist Bio – Adrian Cheung
Adrian Cheung is a fourth-year violinist with the GTSO and a computer science student from Virginia. He studies with Emily Daggett Smith of the Vega String Quartet and was previously under the tutelage of June Huang. Adrian's artistry has brought him to prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall and the National Gallery of Art. He has performed with the US Army Orchestra and worked with various artists from the National Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Adrian is also an active chamber musician and pianist, and some of his favorite composers are Rachmaninoff, Mahler, and Sibelius.
As he approaches graduation next month, Adrian is thrilled to share his dream concerto with everyone under the baton of Maestra Chaowen Ting. He dedicates this performance to the friends, family, and mentors who have supported him throughout his musical journey.
Soloist Bio – Aubrey Odle
Aubrey Odle, mezzo-soprano, is the 2025 Second Prize winner of the Butler International Vocal Competition and a recipient of the 2024 Sullivan Foundation Award. Recognized for her commanding stage presence and rich tone, she performs a wide range of dramatic and lyric mezzo-soprano repertoire.
In 2025 she made her mainstage debut with The Santa Fe Opera as Siegrune in Die WalkĂĽre, where she also covered Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw. Her 2026 engagements include Larina in Eugene Onegin as a Filene Artist with Wolf Trap Opera, in addition to concert appearances in the Atlanta area.
Aubrey completed two seasons as a Studio Artist with The Atlanta Opera, appearing as Lady-in-Waiting in Macbeth, Siegrune in Die Walküre, Giovanna in Rigoletto, and covering Second and Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Additional highlights include performances with Des Moines Metro Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Knoxville Opera, and Utah Lyric Opera in roles such as Judith (Bluebeard’s Castle), Carmen/Mercédès (Carmen), Flora (La traviata), and Maddalena/Giovanna (Rigoletto).
In concert, she has appeared with The Santa Fe Orchestra, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra and Utah Valley Symphony. Further honors include recognition from Opera Birmingham, The National Opera Association, the Orpheus Vocal Competition, and The American Prize competition.