Arts patrons Grace P. and Sidney Shinn Lee first saw world-class harpist Emmanuel Ceysson perform five years ago at Classical Tahoe, Incline Village, Nevada – Lake Tahoe’s annual summer festival, featuring several weeks of world-class orchestra, jazz, chamber music and family concerts in stunning outdoor settings.

Now, they are the sponsors for Ceysson’s guest artist appearance with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. He’s the star attraction for the “Magnificent Strings” Bravo concert, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 1, at Madison Central High School Auditorium in Madison, Mississippi, and a sure highlight of MSO’s 80th anniversary Season Spectacular.

Ceysson will perform Reinhold Glière’s irresistibly gorgeous Harp Concerto. Johannes Brahms’ masterwork Symphony No. 1, an all-time favorite, completes the program.

The French-born harpist’s meteoric rise has included the National Opéra National de Paris (starting at age 22!), the legendary New York MET Opera Orchestra and, since 2020, principal harpist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

“Solo harpist performances are rare,” Shinn pointed out. At Classical Tahoe was the first time they had experienced one, and they were captivated.

“I just cannot believe the harp can make such a variety of sounds and a beautiful solo,” Grace said. “I just never heard that before. I never knew harp would be so interesting by itself.” The music was top-flight, and Ceysson’s presence and personality piled on the appeal. “He’s like a movie star… he has so much charisma.

“We liked him so much, he was just so talented!” she said recalling a video they later found of Ceysson as a child, performing on national TV in France. “He was just so … what do you call that?”

“Prodigy,” Shinn offered. Grace added, “All the conductors say he’s one of the top five musicians in the world right now.”

The Lees sponsored Ceysson’s return to Classical Tahoe and the couple became good friends with the musician, traveling to see him perform in Paris, too, and enjoying the tour he gave them of his hometown in Lyon. “He just loves to explore different cultures, different foods. He has been to Asia so many times, and he knows a lot about Asian food — even more than I do!” she said with a chuckle.

They wanted to bring him to Mississippi to perform, too, and made it happen. “I’m just thrilled for the community to have the chance to watch his live performance,” Grace shared. “I’d just like to have more people watch him.”

They see their patronage role as key in support of the music they love. “What happens in the U.S., music or arts wouldn’t quite exist if there wasn’t any sponsorship,” Shinn said, with ticket sales providing only a fraction of the needed revenue.

This rare chance, of a world-class musician at the top of his game in live performance with MSO, is a can’t-miss occasion. Even friends from New York who know Ceysson from his time at the MET want to fly down to watch him, Grace remarked.

“I think Jackson really should try to enjoy this as much as they have an opportunity to,” Shinn added. “It doesn’t come around too often.”

+

Reminder: New Venue
Madison Central High School’s Auditorium — 1417 Highland Colony Parkway, Madison, MS 39110 — is the location for MSO’s “Magnificent Strings” concert at 7:30 p.m. on February 1, 2025. Seating is general admission with a reserved section for Conductor, Connoisseur, and Loge season ticket holders.