Kenneth Liao (l) and Drew Butcher (r)

Monday, July 28, 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.

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.