American Voices

​​Saturday, April 5 at 7:30 PM
Hammer Theatre
Free Admission/Donations Accepted
​Suggested Donation $25 Per Adult
​
Jelani Canser, conductor
Huisun Hong, cello
     First Place, Strings, Burlingame Music Club Competition

Ellington: The River Suite: III. Giggling Rapids
Copland: Rodeo: V. Hoe-Down
Herbert: March of the Toys
Joplin / arr. Knight: Maple Leaf Rag
Beach: Bal Masqué
Dvorák: Cello Concerto, mvmt. III
Bock: “If I Were A Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof
Hanson: Symphony No. 2, mvmt. I
Gershwin: An American in Paris
Jelani Canser began playing string bass at the age of eleven in his hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, performing through high school in various orchestras, as well as in band (on baritone horn and bass guitar) and in choir. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Instrumental Music Education at the University of Minnesota. In 2001 Jelani started his career as an elementary orchestra teacher in Mesa​, Arizona. He earned his Master's degree in Music Education with a concentration in Jazz Studies at Arizona State University in 2007. In 2008 he moved to San Jose and continued his career teaching orchestra and band at Muwekma Ohlone Middle School. In 2015 Jelani was awarded Teacher of the Year for San Jose Unified School District. In 2022 he joined the faculty of Lincoln High School, teaching Orchestra and Mariachi.
Picture
​
Huisun Hong, 18, is a senior at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, California. He began playing the cello at the age of eight and currently studies under Eric Sung at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music’s Pre-College Division. Huisun is a co-principal cellist of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and has been a member since 2021. In 2024, he was the runner-up in the orchestra’s concerto competition and had the honor of representing the youth orchestra at a performance for the donors and sponsors of the San Francisco Symphony’s Pierre Monteux Society.   

A 2024 National YoungArts Winner and a 2023 MTNA California State competition winner, Huisun has also performed as a soloist with the Palo Alto Philharmonic and performed Dvořák’s Cello Concerto with the California Youth Symphony this past season. Throughout his journey, Huisun has earned numerous awards, including top prizes in the KAMSA Competition, the Etude Club of Berkeley’s Young Artist Competition, the Pacific Music Society Competition, and the Burlingame Music Club’s Young Artists Competition. Additionally, he was invited to perform at the Junior Bach Festivals in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 
​
As an avid chamber musician, Huisun plays in the Aves Trio as part of the Young Chamber Musicians program. The trio took first and grand prize at the 11th Coltman National Chamber Music Competition and won the first prize in the ENKOR and MTAC VOCE State Competitions. The group has participated in masterclasses with the Horszowski Piano Trio, Miró Quartet, and pianist Stephan Prutsman and was selected for From the Top’s Learning and Media Lab Fellowship. In May 2025, the trio will perform at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Young Musicians Concert in New York.   

Huisun has had the privilege of studying under many renowned cellists, including Laurence Lesser, Andres Diaz, Paul Katz, Clara Kim, Hans Jensen, Lluis Claret, Steven Doane, and Zvi Plesser. His summers include attending the Bowdoin International Music Festival, NYO2, Encore Chamber Music, NYO-USA, and the Morningside Music Bridge Program. This summer, he will return to participate in the Morningside program on a full scholarship.
We're a part of the creative workforce! And we’re proud to announce that our organization is a 2023 California Arts Council grantee! California's state arts agency is supporting our work through their Arts and Cultural Organizations General Operating program. 

​Cambrian wins Best of the Bay 2016-2017 for Best New Music Performance and Best Discovery

Our heartfelt thanks go to Tamami Honma, Luis Andrei Cobo, and the Awesome Foundation San Jose for their collaboration and support!