Kenneth Liao, violin

Free concerts at noon every other Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every other Monday at noon and last about an hour.

Violinst Kenneth Liao will perform the first half of the program unaccompanied, and his San Diego Symphony violin colleague Igor Pandurski will join him for the second half, but on piano.

Violinist Kenneth Liao joined the San Diego Symphony in 2019 after spending two seasons as a Fellow with the New World Symphony. Born in Maryland, Mr. Liao received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Midori Goto, and subsequently completed a Master of Music degree at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of David Chan.

Prior to moving to San Diego, Mr. Liao served as acting associate concertmaster of the Des Moines Metro Opera, and also performed as concertmaster with the New World Symphony, Juilliard Orchestra, Pacific Music Festival and the Academy Festival Orchestra at the Music Academy of the West. He has been a substitute musician with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the Britt Festival Orchestra, and appeared in ensemble and solo performances at venues including Carnegie Hall, Walt Disney Hall, the Kennedy Center, Suntory Hall and Sapporo Concert Hall Kitara, among others.