Rising star pianist ChangYong Shin makes two significant Bay Area debuts this weekend. Still in his early 20s, Korean-born Shin captured the first prize medal in the 2016 Hilton Head International Piano Competition and made his Carnegie Hall debut the same year; his debut CD on the Steinway label, which features works by Bach, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven, followed soon thereafter.
First on the young pianist’s schedule is an appearance with the Oakland Symphony. Under music director Michael Morgan, Shin joins the orchestra in Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor. The program, titled “Notes from Korea,” also features Morgan conducting new and recent works by composers Texu Kim and Jean Ahn. Fauré’s “Pavane” completes the program. Details: 8 p.m. Nov. 15, Paramount Theatre, Oakland; $25-$90; 510-444-0801, www.oaklandsymphony.org.
Two days after his Oakland Symphony appearance, Shin plays solo piano works in San Jose as part of the Steinway Society series. He replaces originally scheduled Heejae Kim, who withdrew due to a hand injury. Shin’s program includes works by Beethoven, Chopin and Ravel. Details: 2:30 p.m. Nov. 17, Independence High School Theatre, San Jose; $40-$60, $10 student rush; 408-300-5635, www.steinwaysociety.com.
California Symphony’s “Mozart”: With new executive director Lisa Dell appointed earlier this month, the California Symphony starts a new era while continuing its exploration of intriguing connections in the classical repertoire.
This weekend, music director Donato Cabrera leads a program titled “Mozart and His Mentor.” The music begins with Mozart’s zesty Symphony No. 1, written when the composer was just 8 years old; representing the mentor end of things is Haydn’s last symphony, the No. 104, inspired in part by Mozart’s youthful exuberance. In between, Cabrera conducts Kevin Puts’ Flute Concerto, written when the Pulitzer Prize-winning Puts was a young California Symphony composer in residence. The performance features flutist Annie Wu. Details: 8 p.m. Nov. 16, 4 p.m. Nov. 17, Lesher Center, Walnut Creek; $42-$72; 925-943-7469, www.californiasymphony.org.