Eli Guo is a 16-year-old flautist and pianist. He joinedthe Canadian Sinfonietta Youth Orchestra in 2015, and has played First Flute in the Orchestra for four years. He is now a Grade 11 Student of Arts atUnionville High School. He is a central figure in the Woodwind band and the School Orchestra.

Eli has shown his passion for music from a very early age. He started to play piano when he was only 4years old and performed his own composition in the music festival in London Ontario at age 5. Since then, he has participated in a wide variety of music festivals (e.g. Kiwanis Music Festivals every year), and performed at various occasions (e.g. weekly performances at Tendercare Living Centre).

Eli has studied flute with Ms. Svetlana Novikova for six years. He is fascinated by the beauty of classical music, and enjoys playing and improvising based on different styles of music. He also plays Chinese clarinet, and he wants to incorporate elements of traditional Chinese music into western music toreflect more of his own understanding.

Eli takes inspiration from many well-known artists such as Ravel, Rachmaninov, Paganini, and Emmanuel Pahud (principal flautist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra). Eli wants to follow their footsteps while not losing his originality. He dreams of making marvelous contributions to the repertoire of flute and piano in the future.

Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60

Ludwig Van Beethoven was a German composer of the late 18th-early 19th century, and was one of the most influential musical figures during the transition period between the Classical and Romantic eras of music. The Symphony No. 4 in B♭ major, Op. 60 was his fourth published symphony. This symphony has an overall amiable tone, and was admired by other great composers like Berlioz, Mendelssohn, and Schumann.
The first movement, Adagio-Allegro Vivace, shows a great contrast between two different tones and tempos. It begins with a mysterious introduction, that focuses on minor modes. This leads it to the merry, vivacious section, which especially highlights the dialogue between the bassoon, oboe, and flute.
The second movement, Adagio, is a slow rondo backed by a recurring rhythmic theme which is played by many different instruments throughout- see if you can hear it!
The third movement, Scherzo and Trio, has a very spirited and brisk tone. It especially illustrates a contrast between the melody of the bassoon and oboe, and the strings section.
The fourth movement is a heart-racing finale, through its speedy tempo and constant motion of the melody and notes. The movement is in a playful style that the composer called aufgeknöpft (unbuttoned). Beethoven ends off the symphony similarly to the style of his mentor Franz Joseph Haydn. The main theme is played at half speed with pauses, and finished with a grand flourish.

Beethoven Fun Facts!
• He began composing at the age of 12!
• The unique, unusual rhythmic patterns in his compositions may have been the result of his heart condition influencing his composing
• Beethoven was unlucky with love: he experienced several unrequited loves in his life, with his famous Moonlight Sonata being dedicated to one of them

Written by Serena Zhang, Violin I