Flute and piccolo player Julin Cheung stood behind a beige velvet curtain as he prepared to audition for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

As he played, the jury on the other side of the curtain didn害羞草研究所檛 know he was still a high school student.

It was only after the last of three blind auditions over two days that the orchestra害羞草研究所檚 music director, Otto Tausk, knew they had their new hire 害羞草研究所� and the curtain was drawn back, revealing Cheung to be a 17-year-old.

He害羞草研究所檚 set to become the orchestra害羞草研究所檚 new assistant principal flute and piccolo player, and its youngest ever member.

Angela Elster, president and CEO of the orchestra, recalled Tausk coming to see her after the final audition.

害羞草研究所淗e said two things, one is we found a winner, which often doesn害羞草研究所檛 happen. We can go through national auditions and then international auditions and still not hear the quality that we害羞草研究所檙e looking for,害羞草研究所� said Elster.

害羞草研究所淎nd he said, not only have we found someone, but he害羞草研究所檚 only 17 years old, and he still has to finish high school 害羞草研究所� what do we do with that?害羞草研究所�

Cheung, who is from Seattle and attends the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, will finish Grade 12 there first before officially joining the orchestra as an 18-year-old next April.

害羞草研究所淚 was really nervous for the first time,害羞草研究所� said Cheung of his initial audition.

He only got the idea to stop by Vancouver and audition while on his way back home to Seattle at the end of his school year.

Cheung said his confidence grew in later rounds and by the final audition he felt 害羞草研究所渜uite good.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淥nce you have broken the barrier, it feels much better,害羞草研究所� said Cheung, speaking from Berlin, Germany, on Thursday. He is set to perform at the Verbier Festival in Switzerland as part of its junior orchestra program.

He recalled his surprise after being told he had the job after his final audition.

害羞草研究所淭he first thing I said was that I害羞草研究所檓 still in school right now, so I need another year to finish my school in Philadelphia,害羞草研究所� said Cheung.

Auditions for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra are a 害羞草研究所渧ery anonymous and carefully curated害羞草研究所� process, said Elster.

Blind auditions were important to the orchestral world 害羞草研究所渟o that we have no judgment about who is behind the barrier, except that we listen for the sound.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭hat is exactly what happened when Julin won a spot in the international competition at the end of May,害羞草研究所� said Elster.

Elster said Cheung impressed the jury with his artistry, virtuosity, technique and 害羞草研究所渁 sound that fit right into the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra sound.害羞草研究所�

Cheung害羞草研究所檚 official position doesn害羞草研究所檛 start for nine months, but he has already made his debut with the orchestra, playing as a guest soloist in front of a huge crowd at Vancouver害羞草研究所檚 Sunset Beach for the orchestra害羞草研究所檚 Symphony at Sunset performance on July 6.

Cheung said he played Vivaldi害羞草研究所檚 Piccolo Concerto in C Major, RV 443.

Describing performing as the 害羞草研究所渕ost sacred害羞草研究所� experience, Cheung said it allowed him to enter a different era.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 like you害羞草研究所檙e travelling back in time and hearing this music exactly the way that it was meant to be hundreds of years ago. It害羞草研究所檚 the same as looking at a painting from hundreds of years ago,害羞草研究所� said Cheung.

Growing up in Seattle, Cheung said he and his family would visit Vancouver about once a month and he was already a fan of the local food scene and natural environment.

He started playing the flute at six, joined the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra when he was nine, and was the Curtis Institute of Music害羞草研究所檚 youngest student when he was accepted at 13.

He said his age had always drawn attention, but noted that the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra害羞草研究所檚 current principal flute player, Christie Reside, joined when she was 19.

害羞草研究所淚 think age is not so important 害羞草研究所� as long as you害羞草研究所檙e able to communicate with people around you, age is just a number and there are plenty of (young) musicians in the orchestra, so I don害羞草研究所檛 think I am going to be left out,害羞草研究所� said Cheung.

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