Lin helps celebrate Weidner Center’s Silver Anniversary
Green Bay native Wayne Lin is returning “home” to help the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Weidner Center celebrate 25 years. In 1993, 11-year-old violinist Lin performed at the inaugural Weidner event hosted by Beverly Sills. He returns as one of the stars for the 25th Anniversary Season Concert, Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
Lin has since studied at Julliard and Yale, and he frequently served as concertmaster of the Juilliard Orchestra and Yale Philharmonia. He has appeared as a soloist with the orchestras of Milwaukee, Green Bay and the Fox Valley as well as the Chengdu Symphony in China, the Sudecka Philharmonic in Poland, and the Mirtinu and Hradac Králové Philharmonics in the Czech Republic. Lin is currently the Associate Concertmaster of the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.
Also returning is performer Brad Little, who made the Green Bay area home while he enchanted patrons at the Weidner Center in 1997 and 1999 as the titular character in The Phantom of the Opera, returns to the Weidner Center in this concert event. Other Broadway and tour credits include: Les Misérables, Anything Goes, Fiddler on the Roof, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and many more. After theatre success, Little began a solo career with many symphony orchestras around the world where he produced and starred in many concerts. His first solo concert was with the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Donald Pippin and a return visit the very next year. Having performed in the United States, Asia, and Europe, Little has a very wide global reach and will make an appearance in Green Bay once again for one night only.
Jessica Tyler Wright also returns. She made her Broadway debut in the revival of Sweeny Todd, has performed in War Horse and many other Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. She was also nominated for a Lucille Lortel award for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance as Marjorie Taylor in Classic Stage Company’s production of Allegro. Wright is a proud native of Green Bay and began her theatre career at age 11 when she played Annie at the Theatre on the Bay in Marinette. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theatre and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, both from Millikin University.
The Weidner Anniversary Orchestra will be conducted by Beverly Taylor, Associate Conductor from Madison Symphony, with Concertmaster Audrey Novak. The Youth Symphony at St. Norbert College will be directed by Mike Ross. The night will be filled with lush orchestral repertoire and Broadway favorites played by old and new friends.
Tickets are also available for a special pre-show Silver Celebration Dinner.
