for symphony orchestra
The piece is inspired by melodies written by high school composers who participated in and won the Kids Compose Competition. It was premiered by the Indiana University Concert Orchestra, conducted by Jae Hwan Lee, on April 23, 2026, at the Indiana University Musical Arts Center.
Duration: 3′
Program Notes
Since childhood, I have loved walking through one of the many parks in my hometown. These parks once belonged to a former imperial residence of the Russian Tsars and were designed in both formal and landscape styles. The landscape areas have always fascinated me with their ruined buildings—some intentionally constructed to resemble ruins, others destroyed during World War II—as well as their towering trees, some of which were planted more than three centuries ago.
I was especially drawn to the old oak trees, with their vast crowns and winding branches. When I encountered a melody titled Oak Tree by one of the young composers participating in the Kids Compose project, I was immediately reminded of these majestic giants. This inspired me to imagine the beautiful melodies created by the young composers of Kids Compose as a journey through a magical forest.