Beaverton Symphony Orchestra’s season opening concert is the first for newly appointed music director, Pierre-Alain Chevalier. “I’m honored to serve as we jump into a new chapter filled with the joy of music. In the Beaverton Symphony Orchestra I have found like-minded musicians that care deeply about their art and its impact in their community. I hope you will join us for this outstanding season kick off, as well as our concerts in January, March, and May. We have so many wonderful things planned!”

This concert is doubly special! Long-time friend and collaborator of the BSO, violinist Kunito Nishitani, will cross the Pacific to grace the BSO audience with his exquisite virtuosity. Many patrons will remember his beautiful rendition of Camille Saint-Saëns Violin Concerto in the fall of 2022. An alumnus of Portland State University, Nishitani lived locally for some time and has worked with the Portland State University Orchestra, Lewis and Clark College Orchestra, and served as a string instructor with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and Metropolitan Youth Symphony. Currently residing in Tokyo, Nishitani is music director of the Shakujii International Orchestra and Kunito International Youth Orchestra and String School.

With credits across the globe, Kunito’s breadth of experience and musical depth is sure to shine through performing the monumental Violin Concerto by Johannes Brahms. This concerto will serve as the cornerstone of this season kick-off concert, highlighting the musicianship and skill of both Mr. Nishitani and the orchestra. In an atypical fashion, the concert will open with a symphony (Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished” Symphony in B minor), followed by an overture (Felix Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage), and conclude after intermission with Brahms.