Kenneth Liao
Igor Pandurski
Monday, March 31, 2025
12 PM
Violinist Kenneth Liao joined the San Diego Symphony in 2019 after spending two seasons as a Fellow with the New World Symphony. Originally from Maryland, Liao received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Midori Goto, and subsequently completed a Master of Music at The Juilliard School under the tutelage of David Chan.
Liao is a former 1st violin member of the Royal Swedish Opera (Kungliga Hovkapellet) in Stockholm, Sweden. He has additionally performed with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Des Moines Metro Opera (as Associate Concertmaster), 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.
Liao performed for several years on a Nicoló Amati violin on loan from the Stradivari Society of Chicago, which led to numerous performance opportunities throughout the country. In addition to orchestral playing, Liao also loves playing chamber music and teaching. Aside from music, he enjoys traveling, cooking, baking cakes, and going to Costco.
San Diego Symphony Orchestra violinist Igor Pandurski began violin study in his native Croatia, receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Zagreb Music Academy in what was then Yugoslavia. He went on to study with Camilla Wicks at the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, earning a master’s degree in violin performance. During his time in Texas, Pandurski performed with the Houston Ballet Orchestra and the Houston Pops Orchestra.
As a former member of the Zagreb Philharmonic, Gaudeamus Chamber Orchestra, and Bergen Philharmonic (Norway), Pandurski toured Europe, the United States, and Japan. He also performed with the Zagreb Symphony Orchestra, Zagreb Opera, and Zadar Chamber Orchestra.
Since arriving in San Diego, Pandurski has been at various times a member of the San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Mainly Mozart Festival Orchestra, and San Diego Opera orchestra. He is a very active recording artist as well as an in-demand chamber musician, performing locally with such groups as Luscious Noise. He has been a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra for over 20 years.
Free concerts at noon every Monday year-round . . . 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 Monday at noon and last about an hour.
The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:40 a.m. Last entry is at 12:10 p.m. or once capacity is reached. Seating is first-come; first-served. Reservations are not necessary, but seating is limited.