Brian Lin wants to double-major in neuroscience and music in college, so he can marry his love for music with its effects on the brain to “promote the use of music therapy to become a prominent form of mental health and rehab treatment.”
The musical portfolio of the senior at Orange County School of the Arts was therapy to the ears of judges as Lin claimed Artist of the Year honors in instrumental music.
The judges universally praised Lin’s tone, phrasing and inflections. Even his “sense of color and shape,” in the words of Judge Tom Mueller, associate music professor at Concordia University.
Lin specializes in classical saxophone, an “underutilized medium,” according to judge Daniel deArakal, professor at Chapman University.
See all of the semifinalists for instrumental music
Shawne Zarubica, director of the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensemble, said Lin “may be a true groundbreaker in bringing the saxophone into enhanced prominence in the classical music arena.”
Robert Frelly, the music director at Chapman University, wrote in his comments: “His desire to study connections between music and the brain is both intriguing and timely.”
Lin said the saxophone, which he picked up six or seven years ago, has been a hidden gem and neglected in classical music. He hopes to elevate it one day to “rival the violin and piano.”
One of the portfolio performances Lin chose was the “Tres Modere, expressif” Sonata in C-sharp for alto saxophone.
According to Lin, the piece by female composer Fernande Decruckas “was widely forgotten until the turn of the 21st century. Since then, it has been a hallmark in most classical saxophonists’ repertoire.”
See all of the nominees for instrumental music
Lin said music has been a lifelong pursuit, writing in his statement, “I remember my parents showing me a video of me conducting to random Beethoven Symphonies when I was very little.”
The pandemic had a silver lining for Lin in that, through expanded use of digital communication, he had greater access to a wider array of musical professors and instrumentalists. Those experiences, he said, “transformed my playing” and “widened my tonal palette and the way I interpret music.”
For the past two years, Lin has been a top musician with the OCSA wind and jazz ensembles after transferring from Chino Hills High. In 2020, he won the senior winds category at the Music Teacher National Association competition for California. He also was named as the alternate to the only chair given to alto sax with the 2020 National Youth Orchestra 2 at Carnegie Hall.
Instrumental music finalists
Instrumental Music is divided into four specialties: jazz, piano and strings, winds and percussion, and world/cultural and commercial music. Artist of the Year Brian Lin is the finalist in winds and percussion.
The other finalists are:
Jazz: Christian P. Perez, Valencia High School
The last time Christian P. Perez played the saxophone for his father was on Zoom as his dad lay dying from COVID-19. The Valencia High senior brought that same sense of intimacy and “moving beyond notes and rhythm,” to win the jazz specialty.
For his portfolio, Perez played a trio of songs he said “showcase three very different yet equally beautiful parts of jazz history”: Julian “Cannonball” Adderly’s rendition of “On Green Dolphin Street,” Dexter Gordon’s “You Stepped Out of a Dream,” and Seamus Blake’s “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.”
Piano and strings: Sarah Liu, Crean Lutheran Lutheran High School
A lifetime surrounded by music and chasing after Danielle, her violinist older sister, helped prepare Crean Lutheran High School senior Sarah Liu to earn recognition as the piano and strings Artist of the Year. The Liu sisters have paired for countless performances throughout Orange County, including touring with the Pacfic Symphony. However, Sarah Liu carved out her unique space with gorgeous renditions from “The Lark Ascending,” by Vaughan Williams and Mozart’s Concerto #5.
World/cultural and commercial music: Meg Jillian Salanga, Mater Dei High School
With a couple of original songs, “Mare,” and “Love Precision,” and a stripped down version of “City of Stars,” from “La La Land” guitarist, singer/songwriter Meg Jillian Salanga, a senior at Mater Dei High, was selected world/cultural and commercial music Artist of the Year. Salanga backed her vocals on electric lead, acoustic and bass guitars, including impressive, rocking riffs in “Mare.”
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May 02, 2021 at 08:56PM
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Artist of the Year for instrumental music: Brian Lin - OCRegister
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