Sung-Soo Hong may only be 18 years old but, as the first horn at the Lion Foundation
Orchestral Summer School, he's raring to go.
The Henderson musician is looking forward to leading the brass section, having been the fourth horn at the 2007 Summer School.
"It's quite a big responsibility, but I
think I'm ready for the challenge,'' he says confidently.
The first horn player for the University of Auckland Orchestra and the Auckland Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hong believes his experiences there will help him.
Nicola Baker, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra's principal horn player, who selected him for the summer school job, agrees.
"I think he will relish it. Sung-Soo has gone from being an interested high-school player to being serious enough to make the horn his major at university. The biggest change has been his self-motivation and self-improvement, something that can only come from students, not the teachers,'' she says.
The Lion Foundation Orchestral Summer School provides advanced musicians of all ages with the opportunity to develop their skills by working with professional musicians.
The participants, chosen by APO section leaders via a recorded application, spend a week in Auckland playing with professional musicians and taking part in full orchestra rehearsals, sectionals and tutorials.
Baker adds that Hong "was always quite outstanding from the start but he's developed a lot. I think he has an exciting prospect ahead of him. If his development continues at the rate that he is now, it could be a profession where he'd be a success.''
Lion Foundation Orchestral Summer School Finale Concert, Cloustoun Hall, St Cuthbert College, Epsom, Jan 17, 11am. Tickets: ph 623 1052 or see: www.apo.co.nz
