Great Performances: Now Hear This Series 5, hosted by CC Summer Music Festival conductor and violinist Scott Yoo, is available on PBS, pbs.org/nowhearthis, the PBS App, or on PBS Passport.
Yoo highlights his own personal expedition of learning and growth throughout the four episodes in the latest season of Now Hear This on Great Performances. In this fifth season of the critically acclaimed miniseries, he "tracks the journey of classical musical artists from their start as rising stars, to becoming virtuosos, to achieving the title of 'maestro.' Yoo also explores his process composing music for the very first time and taking inspiration from his Japanese heritage. Speaking with musical stars located all over the world, from New York to Singapore, including accomplished newcomer 16-year-old violinist Chloe Chua and multi-Grammy Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, Yoo is reminded of his own career path and the values of collaboration, support, practice, dedication and sacrifice."
Great Performances: Now Hear This “Rising Stars”
Premiered Friday, April 12, 2024
Scott Yoo investigates the origins of young musicians by exploring their learning process and revisiting his training ground, Juilliard Pre-College. The episode features performances by talented adolescent musicians on piano, trombone and more.
Great Performances: Now Hear This “Virtuosos”
Premiered Friday, April 19, 2024
With time and practice, rising stars become virtuosos. Scott Yoo revisits the legacy of one of the greatest violinists of all time, Niccolò Paganini, with one of today’s violin stars, Augustin Hadelich, and even meets with the great-great-great-grandson of Paganini.
Great Performances: Now Hear This “Old Friends”
Premiered Friday, April 26, 2024
Revisiting his relationships with current maestros, Scott Yoo speaks with renowned Grammy-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma, concert pianist and psychiatrist Dr. Richard Kogan, and celebrated violinist and instructor Lynn Chang. Visiting different orchestras and students, Yoo also discovers more about the relationship between science and music.
Great Performances: Now Hear This “The Composer is Yoo”
Premiered Friday, May 3, 2024
For the first time in his life, Yoo sets out on a journey to compose a piece of music.
Now Hear This is the first show about classical music on American prime time TV since 1967. The show received an Emmy nomination in 2021. An episode in Season 3 of Now Hear This featured the CC Summer Music Festival.
Yoo has served as the Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Mexico City Philharmonic since 2016 and as Music Director of Festival Mozaic, an orchestral and chamber music festival in the Central Coast of California, since 2004.