Charles Seo, an eighth-grader at Memorial Middle School, has recently claimed the prize of two of Houston's most prestigious music concerto contests, the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra Competition and the Houston Youth Symphony Concerto Competition.
After emigrating to the United States from South Korea five years ago, Charles took up playing the cello after receiving a suggestion from his mother.
“I was born in a very musical environment,” Charles said. “My mom majored in music, and my dad was in the military band. I am an only child, so to prevent being overly sensitive, my mom suggested to me the cello, which has a low tone that relaxed me. I really liked playing it.”Only a short time later, the pastor at his church proposed that he audition for the Houston Youth Symphony. To no one's surprise, he made it. He is currently the principal cellist, though he is one of the symphony's youngest members.
“My Korean name is Chan Young, which means ‘Praise the Lord with Music.' That is my goal and my vision, to glorify God's name,” Charles said.
Over the years, Charles has won quite a number of other music competitions. In 2009, he won the Civic Symphony competition along with the Houston Youth Symphony Solo Competition. During the summer, he attended Madeline Island Music Camp and was later invited to perform for the Garden of Music Concert in Minnesota. Charles was also invited to the West Houston Assistance Ministries Concert as a special guest performer with the Civic Orchestra.
“My private teacher once said to me, ‘Competitions are really only useful to the extent that they motivate us to practice and improve,' and I completely agree with him,” Charles said. “However, I was extremely excited to get a chance (to play) with a full orchestra consisting of more than 100 professionals as they accompany me.”
Charles is an honor roll student and a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He enjoys playing the saxophone and Taekwondo. He has played principal cellist in the Region 27 Orchestra for the past three years and hopes to someday attend either the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or Juilliard music school.
He was taught by Donna Rogers and is now working with Brinton Smith, who is also the principal cellist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.
Charles will perform with the Fort Bend Symphony Orchestra from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 21, at the Stafford Centre. For more information, visit the Ford Bend Symphony Orchestra website at www.fbso.org/Concerto/. In addition to his special performance, Charles also received a $500 scholarship.
“I hope to be the person who really makes a difference (in) this world,” Charles said.
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