Owne Xayboury is a Hmong-American currently in his junior year at Manhattan School of Music. He is a classical viola student studying under the tutelage of Cong Wu. Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he began playing the viola in 2018. He has since earned several accolades, including first place in the New York Young Virtuoso Music Competition, which led to his Carnegie Hall debut, as well as second prize in the Walter A. and Dorothy J. Oestreich Concerto Competition. A multi-year recipient of the prestigious Ruggeri Scholarship for Young Violists, Owne was also awarded the $10,000 Wilshire Quinn Musical Arts Scholarship, with CEO Christopher M. Garcia praising his “remarkable artistry and heartfelt passion” (PR Newswire). He has been featured on NPR Music in collaboration with Grammy Award-winning rapper Common, and performed at the Aspen Music Festival last summer. As the first Hmong student to be admitted to MSM, he hopes his presence in the musical world serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for his community, demonstrating that narratives can be rewritten and dreams can become reality.
Music by Robert Ward Libretto by Bernard Stambler
Andrew Grams, Conductor Felicity Stiverson, Director
Free, tickets required
Neidorff-Karpati Hall
Owne: As a violist sitting in the heart of the orchestra, Negro Folk Symphony feels like an incredibly moving experience. The music pulses with energy, rooted deeply in African American traditions. The melodies are rich and emotional, drawing on both sorrow and joy, and the orchestration is so lush that I’m constantly aware of how each section supports one another. There’s a sense of history embedded in every note, and being in the middle of it all, I feel connected to something much larger than just the music.
The music from Act III of The Crucible is charged with tension and urgency from the very start. The rhythms are sharp, almost frantic, reflecting the hysteria that’s sweeping through the courtroom. There’s a constant push and pull between the characters’ emotions, and you can feel the weight of fear and guilt in the orchestra, especially in the more dramatic moments.
Owne: Beyond the music’s incredible beauty and vibrancy, people should come to this concert as a celebration of the dedication and hard work of not only the instrumentalists, but the vocalists as well! There is something truly special about honoring the efforts of our colleagues that’s worth watching.
Owne playing with MSM Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Slatkin (HonDMA 13), December 2024
Owne: Moving to New York City to study at Manhattan School of Music was the greatest decision of my life. I came here because of the high-caliber faculty, the endless opportunities, and the rich history of nurturing world-class musicians. This place fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation, making it a great place for musicians, like me, to jumpstart our career.
Owne: When I’m not in class or practicing, I love hanging out with my friends, going on walks at Riverside Park, and thrifting!
I came here because of the high-caliber faculty, the endless opportunities, and the rich history of nurturing world-class musicians. This place fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation, making it a great place for musicians, like me, to jumpstart our career. Owne Xayboury (BM '26), Classical Viola
I came here because of the high-caliber faculty, the endless opportunities, and the rich history of nurturing world-class musicians. This place fosters creativity, collaboration, and innovation, making it a great place for musicians, like me, to jumpstart our career.
Owne Xayboury (BM '26), Classical Viola
Owne: If Mendelssohn were alive today, I’d ask him, “What kind of prank were you pulling when you wrote A Midsummer Night’s Dream and turned every orchestra audition into a nightmare”?
Would you like to learn more about Opera in Concert? Meet Justin Hong (MM ’26), who sings Giles Corey in Act III of The Crucible.
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