

Photograph courtesy of Yuhsin Galaxy Su
“The clarinet has at all times been seen as an orchestral instrument, though its solo potential is big and comparatively untapped. My goal is to carry its distinct voice on the middle,” says Yuhsin Galaxy Su, who’s on a mission to redefine the clarinet’s place in up to date classical music.
Su’s efforts resonate deeply at a time of change and innovation within the music trade, not simply together with her viewers but in addition with a brand new era of musicians impressed by her exceptional performances.
Formed By Household and Love for Music
Su was born and raised in Taiwan. Her early years had been molded by a powerful bond to music impressed by her household’s ardour for classical tunes. Finally, her ardour turned to a quest for creative excellence and creativity. Su’s path is studded with a number of honors and significant performances; she not too long ago secured the sought-after second clarinetist submit with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra.
She first gained prominence overseas in 2014 when she carried out André Messager’s “Solo de Concurs” at Canada’s Morningside Music Bridge. Right here, she began reworking the clarinet from its typical symphonic limitations to a solo instrument with nice emotion.
Elevating the Clarinet
Su’s aim to exhibit the clarinet’s adaptability has inspired her to carry out items emphasizing the instrument’s dynamic contrasts, varied timbres, and extraordinary vary. Her efficiency of Gershwin’s “Three Preludes” in Taiwan in 2022 drew consideration for its whimsical and rhythmic subtleties, which highlighted the clarinet’s flexibility to a number of musical genres.
“Yuhsin brings a contemporary perspective to the clarinet, making it sing in surprising and deeply shifting methods,” says Sang Yoon Kim, principal clarinet of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
The rise in recognition of live-streamed concert events has fueled a rise in curiosity in solo performances and smaller ensembles within the music trade in 2023. This tendency has produced a great atmosphere for performers like Su, whose creative strategy to classical devices satisfies the viewers’s want for distinctive and individualized musical experiences. In line with trade predictions, demand for such performances will improve by 15% every year over the following 5 years, stating how essential and well timed Su’s efforts are.
Mastery of the E-Flat Clarinet
Su has established herself as a virtuoso of the E-flat clarinet, a much less usually carried out instrument acknowledged for its greater pitch and distinct sound. In 2017, she carried out Ravel’s “Daphnis et Chloé” and Strauss’s “Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40” on the Helsinki Music Centre and Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music, respectively.
Clive Greensmith, the previous cellist of the world-renowned Tokyo String Quartet, lauded her mastery of the E-flat clarinet, saying, “Yuhsin’s interpretation of those works brings out the nuanced magnificence and technical brilliance of the E-flat clarinet.” Greensmith’s endorsement highlights Su’s capability to carry out the instrument’s explicit traits, which lend depth to her performances.
Striving for Variety
Yuhsin Galaxy Su’s contributions showcase the creativity inside typical buildings because the classical music scene continues to evolve. Her clarinet performances not solely redefine what’s achievable but in addition encourage a extra normal dialogue on the course of classical music.
On her journey, Su says, “Each efficiency is a chance to inform a narrative, to attach with the viewers in a method that transcends the notes on the web page. I hope that by way of my music, folks will see the clarinet as a part of an orchestra and a strong voice in its personal proper.”
Su’s nice performances not solely present exceptional clarinet enjoying but in addition present the trail for subsequent generations of musicians to dig deeper into their artwork. Her private story expands the boundaries of musical expression as she begins her new path with the San Francisco Symphony.