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17cÍøÒ³°æ Tech 17cÍøÒ³°æ Presents:
Wings of Light, Dreams Awakened

17cÍøÒ³°æ Tech 17cÍøÒ³°æ Presents:
Wings of Light, Dreams Awakened

Monday, November 17th, 2025
7:30pm
Ferst Center

17cÍøÒ³°æ Tech Symphony Orchestra

Dr. Chaowen Ting, Conductor

The concert starts with a journey of regeneration and rebirth with Shuying Li’s The Phoenix Ascends, then welcomes Binyue Deng – winner of the 2025 GTSO Concerto Competition – for the first movement of Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor. The program follows with Debussy’s delicate and fluid Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune and culminates with his Nocturnes, L 98, featuring members of GT’s Chamber Choir and Treble Choir.

Program

The Phoenix Ascends
Shuying Li (b. 1989)
Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
I. Allegro maestoso
Frédéric Chopin (1810–1849)
Binyue Deng, piano
Winner of 2025 GTSO Concerto Competition
Prélude à l’Après-midi d’un faune
Claude Debussy (1862–1918)
Nocturnes, L 98
I. Nuages
II. Fêtes
III. Sirènes
Claude Debussy (1862–1918)

Program Notes: The Phoenix Ascends

The Phoenix Ascends draws inspiration from the timeless myth of the phoenix, a universal symbol of rebirth, transformation, and renewal. Through its journey from ashes to majestic ascension, the phoenix embodies themes of resilience and regeneration that resonate deeply across cultures.


The composition begins with a majestic opening, depicting the phoenix awakening amid the beauty of dawn. It leads to a dreamlike, tonal atmosphere, where lush harmonies flow seamlessly between strings, woodwinds, and percussion, evoking the joy of flight before transformation. This gives way to an energetic section driven by rhythmic vitality and pulsing percussion, reminiscent of fiery trials and the phoenix’s passage through adversity. The music builds to a climactic moment of dazzling brilliance, as rapid, high-register gestures in the upper strings, woodwinds, and shimmering percussion create the sensation of radiant light. The piece concludes with a majestic final gesture, as the brass choir, trombone glissandi and resonant chords symbolize the phoenix’s triumphant ascension and ultimate renewal. 

photo of composer Shuying Li

Composer Bio – Shuying Li

Shuying Li is an award-winning composer whose music has been praised as “vivid, dramatic†(San Francisco Chronicle), “enjoyable†(Gramophone), and showcasing “an incredible span of compositional toolbox†(American Record Guide). Described as “a real talent†(The Seattle Times), she writes bold, emotionally charged music that blends rich colors with compelling storytelling, and connects with audiences through universal human experiences and emotions.

Originally from China, Shuying began her musical training at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music before earning a scholarship to continue her undergraduate studies at The Hartt School. She holds master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Michigan and is currently on the faculty at California State University, Sacramento. Previously, she directed the Composition/Music Theory program at Gonzaga University and served as research faculty at the Shanghai Conservatory of Music.

For more information, visit .

GTSO Members

Violin 1

Major

Adrian Cheung, Concertmaster

Computer Science

Nathan Lin, Assistant Concertmaster

Computer Science

Amber Li

Industrial Engineering

Alicia Li

Industrial Design

Daeyong Kwon

Computer Science

Stephen Linder

Computer Science

Aaron Wang

Computer Science

Megan Chen

Human Computer Interaction

Leyah James

Neuroscience

Christopher Linder

Computer Science

Ansel Erol

Computer Science

Sila Keha

Industrial Engineering

Gene Chang

Computer Science

Violin 2

 

Sahana Raghavan

Biomedical Engineering

Jiyoon Park

Biology

Justin Wong

Electrical Engineering

Cooper Fister

Biology

Allen Xu

Mathematics

Carol Li

Mechanical Engineering

Leo Liu

Aerospace Engineering

Ella Grace Malcom

Business Administration

Sara Takagi

Biomedical Engineering

Ariana Syed

Neuroscience

Edwin Wu

Electrical Engineering

Angelina Lee

Industrial Engineering

Viola

 

Tyler Bothwell, Principal

Chemistry

Lyudmila Piatkov

Biomedical Engineering

Manu Sankaran

Industrial Engineering

Julian Aldana Brol

Mechanical Engineering

Jasmine Gistren

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Sarah Akpan-Iquot

Biology

Brandon Marshall

Computer Science

Phoebe Kelso

Mechanical Engineering

Cello

 

Mia Song, Principal

Materials Science and Engineering

Caitlyn Chen

Business Administration

Ryan Stover

Aerospace Engineering

Will Deinzer

Computer Science

Albert Kuo

Mechanical Engineering

Joseph Tappen

Mechanical Engineering

Nathan Shepherd

Computer Engineering

Sean Yoshihara

Computer Science

Bass

 

Irene Achanti, Principal

Industrial Engineering

Ethan Huang

Industrial Engineering

Hazel Patty

Industrial Engineering

Ansh Vasudevan

Industrial Engineering

 

Flute

Major

Isabel Edgcomb *`

Aerospace Engineering

Yoojin Jeong ~

Neuroscience

Alex Yang ^

Economics

Oboe

 

Shaya Farahmand ~^

Computer Science

Yoshi Garcia *`

Biomedical Engineering

Liam Nunn

Civil Engineering

Clarinet

 

Jiho Jun *`

Electrical Engineering

Joseph Lee ~^

Biomedical Engineering

Alex Hunt

Computer Engineering

Bassoon

 

Andrew Tang ^*~`

Electrical Engineering

Michelle Hung

--

Horn

 

Henry Garcia *`

Electrical Engineering

Kathryn Hughes ^

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Tristan Laanait

Applied Physics

Carlos Sanchez ~

Biomedical Engineering

Trumpet

 

Mason Beyke ^

Psychology

Sophie Huang *`

Music

Jensen Stahr

Aerospace Engineering

Trombone

 

Ben Harris ^

Civil Engineering

Sohan Jena *`

Computer Engineering

Malachi Joseph

Music

Tuba

 

Trent Rotter

Chemical Engineering

Harp

 

Jocelyn Chang

Computer Science

Percussion

 

Santiago Calvino

International Affairs

Nathan Chou

Computer Science

Fischer Jehs

Electrical and Computer Engineering

 

Denotes principal player: *Li, ~Prelude, ^Nocturnes, `Chopin

Treble Choir Members

Dr. Brittney Boykin, Director

Soprano 1

Major

Meredith Gaines

History, Technology, and Society

Emily McGowan

Architecture

Tanvi Thallapally

Biochemistry

Soprano 2

 

Zoila de Leon

Aerospace Engineering

Manya Mamidi

Computer Engineering

Caroline Vaughan

Industrial Engineering

Alto 1

 

Renee Barnes

Mathematics

Hannah Hsu

Chemical Engineering

Kelsey Moller

Chemistry

Weiyu Sun

Quant finance and computer science

Alto 2

 

Mirielle Dogini

Biology

Jocelyn Heath

Mechanical Engineering

Kate Lindley

Computer Science

Hannah Self

Computational Media

Chamber Choir Members

Dr. Joshua Palkki, Director 

Soprano 1

Major

Sam Khanimov

Music

Soprano 2

 

Nolan Midura

Chemical Engineering

Alto 1

 

Femke Kovoor

Electrical Engineering 

Alto 2

 

AJ Chadha

Computer Science

17cÍøÒ³°æ Tech 17cÍøÒ³°æ

Through interdisciplinary degree programs, outstanding performance ensembles, and innovative research endeavors, the 17cÍøÒ³°æ Tech 17cÍøÒ³°æ cultivates a rich legacy of musical traditions and develops cutting-edge technologies to help define music's future. The School serves students in bachelors, masters, and doctoral programs in music technology and offers innovative performance opportunities, courses, and cultural and artistic experiences for students throughout the Institute.