Dazzling Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, Northwest Sinfonietta present ‘Archipelago’ Apr. 29, May 1

March 31, 2022 in Orchestra, Piano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dazzling Cuban pianist Aldo López-Gavilán, Northwest Sinfonietta present ‘Archipelago’ Apr. 29, May 1

By Zachary C. Person

TACOMA, Wash. – The Northwest Sinfonietta presents “Archipelago” featuring acclaimed Cuban crossover pianist and composer Aldo López-Gavilán and a string quartet from the sinfonietta in a program of classical, Latin and jazz music.

The first performance, presented in collaboration with the University of Puget Sound School of Music and including students from the university orchestra, takes place at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 29 at Schneebeck Concert Hall in Tacoma (1567-1625 N. Union Ave.). The second performance is at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 1 at Pioneer Park Pavilion in Puyallup (330 S. Meridian).

Both concerts include works from López-Gavilán’s “Talking to the Universe,” “Ciernes de Ciudad,” “Pan con Timba,” “Aegean” and more.

Tickets $30. Student, military and group discounts available. Tickets may be purchased at: ups.universitytickets.com (April 29) and at www.nwsinfonietta.org (May 1)

Aldo López-Gavilán was born in Cuba to a family of internationally acclaimed musicians. By the age of five, he had written his first musical composition and by age seven had begun formal piano studies. He has been called “a formidable virtuoso” by the London Times and praised for his “dazzling technique and rhythmic fire” by the Seattle Times. He has been a Northwest Sinfonietta audience favorite for many years and has previously performed with the orchestra in 2015 and 2017.

Since winning the Danny Kaye International Children’s Award at age 11, López-Gavilán has embarked on a wide-ranging international performance career including concerts with the National Symphonic Orchestra of Cuba, Venezuela’s acclaimed Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, the Harlem String Quartet, with legendary jazz musician Chucho Valdés at the Havana Jazz Festival and many others.

López-Gavilán’s extensive discography includes 10 albums of original compositions and major classical works. Highlights as a composer include music for the award-winning documentary “The Poet of Havana,” a trumpet concerto premiered by Cuban virtuoso Arturo Sandoval and the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and his own dazzling concerto for piano and orchestra.

Other local events surrounding the “Archipelago” performances include two screenings of “Los Hermanos,” a film about Aldo and his brother Ilmar, at Tacoma’s The Grand Cinema (more information at: www.grandcinema.com) at 1:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 19 and López-Gavilán performing his own piano concerto with the University of Puget Sound symphony orchestra on Saturday, April 30 (more information at www.pugetsound.edu).

The Northwest Sinfonietta 2021-2022 season concludes May 21-22 with “In Place and Time” featuring flute soloist Demarre McGill and conductor Mei-Ann Chen in a program of works by Esmail, Rodrigo and Mozart.

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About the Northwest Sinfonietta: The Northwest Sinfonietta was founded in 1991 by harpsichordist Kathryn Habedank and conductor Christophe Chagnard. The 35-member ensemble is the premiere chamber orchestra in the Puget Sound region and blends the intimacy of chamber music with the power of a full orchestra. In 2015, the Northwest Sinfonietta became one of the few orchestras in the world to move to an Artistic Partner model of operations, giving the musicians of the ensemble a larger role in the programming and vision for the ensemble. Learn more about the orchestra at: www.northwestsinfonietta.org.

Conrad Tao opens Corvallis-OSU Piano International Steinway Piano Series Nov. 3

October 10, 2019 in Chamber Music, Piano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 10, 2019

Conrad Tao opens Corvallis-OSU Piano International Steinway Piano Series Nov. 3

By Zachary C. Person

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Corvallis-OSU Piano International 2019-2020 Steinway Piano Series opens with American pianist Conrad Tao at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3 at The LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis.

The 25-year-old Tao has garnered significant critical praise and accolades throughout his already lengthy performing career including being awarded a prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2011, and being named a both a Gilmore Young Artist and a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts.

He has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras including the New York Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, and Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. During the 2019-20 season, Tao will perform as soloist with the symphonies of Seattle, Baltimore, Charlotte, Phoenix and others.

Tao’s eclectic Corvallis program juxtaposes three well-known staples of the piano repertoire (J.S. Bach’s “Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue; Rachmaninoff’s “Etude-Tableau, Op. 39 No. 2”; Schumann’s “Kreisleriana”) with innovative late-20th and 21st century works (David Lang’s “Cage” and “wed”; Elliott Carter’s “Two Thoughts About the Piano”; Julia Wolfe’s “Earring”; and Jason Eckardt’s “Echoes’ white veil”).

Tao will also present a masterclass on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 3:00 p.m. in OSU’s Community Hall room 303, 1650 SW Pioneer Place. The masterclass is free and open to the public; space is limited.

Tickets $25 advance, $28 door. College students with ID and youth 8-18 admitted free. Advance tickets may be purchased online at corvallispiano.org or locally in Corvallis at Grass Roots Books & Music. To request accommodations relating to a disability please call (541) 758-0036, preferably at least one week in advance.

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About Corvallis-OSU Piano International: Corvallis-OSU Piano International furthers the appreciation and celebration of piano music and performance in our community by providing high-quality performances, outreach opportunities and educational programs. COPI presents the Steinway Piano Series, an annual concert series featuring world-class performers. Children’s concerts, master classes, lectures and a jazz series also serve as part of a mission to bring people together in a culture of piano through performance, education and advocacy.

Corvallis-OSU Piano International presents “Noche de Alma Latinoamericana” Oct. 20

October 03, 2019 in Piano, Chamber Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2019

Corvallis-OSU Piano International presents “Noche de Alma Latinoamericana” Oct. 20

By Zachary C. Person

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Corvallis-OSU Piano International presents the third annual “Noche de Alma Latinoamericana” on Sunday, October 19 from 2:00 – 5:30 p.m. at The LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th St., Corvallis.

The free, family-friendly event is dedicated to bringing together classical and folk traditions of Latin America. This year’s theme is “Dia de los Muertos” (Day of the Dead), and attendees are invited and encourage to dress in traditional clothing.

Pianists William Villaverde and Fabiana Claure are the featured performers. The husband-wife duo, who are from Cuba and Bolivia respectively, present “A Piano Journey Through Latin America” featuring works such as Bolivian “Cuecas”, Brazilian tangos, classical and jazz-inspired Cuban music, and a four-hand piano arrangement of Astor Piazzolla’s “Tango Suite.”

Local youth musicians Amaia Arismendi (piano), Isaac Heredia (piano), Kai Frueh (piano), Ben Frueh (violin), Elsa Moreno (voice) and Jesus Moreno (guitar) will also present a performance during the festival.

The complete festival schedule of events includes:

· 2:00-5:00 p.m. – Corvallis Arts Center Activities (Dia de los Muertos) (Giustina Gallery)

· 2:00-2:30 p.m. – Dancing Workshop (Giustina Gallery)

· 2:30-3:15 p.m. – Local young musicians perform (Austin Auditorium)

· 4:00-5:00 p.m. – Claure and Villaverde piano duo performs (Austin Auditorium)

· 5:00-5:30 p.m. – Pan dulce and champurrado refreshments (Giustina Gallery)

“Noche de Latinoamericana” is free and open to the public. No tickets are required. To request accommodations relating to a disability please call (541) 758-0036, preferably at least one week in advance.

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Steinway Piano Series presents virtuoso pianist Yeol Eum Son April 14

March 22, 2019 in Chamber Music, Piano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 22 March 2019

Steinway Piano Series presents virtuoso pianist Yeol Eum Son April 14

By Zachary C. Person

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Pianist Yeol Eum Son performs at Oregon State University as part of the Corvallis-OSU Piano International Steinway Piano Series at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 14 in the Austin Auditorium at The LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th Street, Corvallis.

Corvallis-OSU Piano International will also host a masterclass and opportunity to meet Son from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 in Community Hall room 303, 1650 SW Pioneer Place.

Son is a prizewinner at the Tchaikovsky and Van Cliburn international piano competitions. She is known for thrilling performances of a wide range of concert repertoire, and is an in-demand performer worldwide. Notable solo engagements have included performances with the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields; Dresden Philharmonic; Orchestre de la Suisse Romande; the Orchestre Philharmonique du Radio France, and many others. Son has performed solo recitals at many of the most important concert venues in the world, including Wigmore Hall and Cadogan Hall in London, Berlin’s Philharmonie and the Seoul Arts Centre in her native South Korea.

Her Corvallis recital program includes two popular sets of romantic-era preludes: Frederic Chopin’s Op. 28 and Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Op. 32.

Chopin’s Op. 28 is a cycle of 24 preludes for solo piano, one each in all 24 major and minor keys. The set of short pieces - none is longer than 90 measures - vary widely in musical content, and are not related thematically as a set. The preludes were composed from 1835-1839. Though Chopin, an acclaimed virtuoso pianist, never performed Op. 28 in its entirety at a single performance, his 24 preludes have since become a cornerstone of the solo piano repertoire.

Rachmaninoff’s Op. 32 is a set of 13 preludes for solo piano written in 1910. Op. 32 was written as a complement to the 11 preludes previously composed by Rachmaninoff, and completed his set of 24 preludes for piano in all major and minor keys.

Tickets $25 in advance, $28 door. Advance tickets are available online at corvallispiano.org or locally at Grass Roots Books & Music. Youth ages 8-18 and all college students with valid ID admitted free. CAFA discounts apply, valid for purchase of up to two $5 tickets at The LaSells Stewart Center starting one hour prior to the concert with SNAP card. Accommodations relating to a disability may be made by calling 541-758-0036, preferably at least one week in advance.

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Pianist Alpin Hong presents ‘Masters of Metamorphosis’ lecture-concert March 1

February 01, 2019 in Piano, Chamber Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Pianist Alpin Hong presents ‘Masters of Metamorphosis’ lecture-concert March 1

By Zachary C. Person

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Pianist Alpin Hong presents “Masters of Metamorphosis” as part of the Corvallis-OSU Piano International Insights at the Piano series at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1 at First Presbyterian Church, 114 SW 8th St, Corvallis.

The program features several theme and variation sets, including “Desperate Measures” by Robert Muczynski and Modest Mussorgsky’s well-known “Pictures at an Exhibition.”

Hong is a sought-after musician known for his powerful performances and engaging style. Equally at home in a variety of contexts, he has performed in recital at New York’s Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, as soloist with symphony orchestras throughout the country, and has collaborated with rock bands in an effort to redefine the modern classical concert experience.

He brings a rare combination of world-class piano technique, an audience-engaging presence, and a background in extreme sports, martial arts and video games to the concert stage. In addition to his concert activities, Hong has presented a TEDx talk titled “Transform Yourself Into a Performer” and is regularly featured as a keynote speaker for philanthropic and educational events across the United States.

Hong will also perform George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” on Saturday, March 2 at 2:00 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Library as part of the “People and Pianos Day” hosted by Corvallis-OSU Piano International. The event is free and open to the public.

Tickets $10 in advance, $15 door. Advance tickets are available online at corvallispiano.org or locally at Grass Roots Books & Music. Youth ages 8-18 and all college students with valid ID admitted free. CAFA discounts apply, valid for purchase of up to two $5 tickets at The LaSells Stewart Center starting one hour prior to the concert with SNAP card. Accommodations relating to a disability may be made by calling 541-758-0036, preferably at least one week in advance.

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COPI Steinway Piano Series presents MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius Grant’ recipient Jeremy Denk Jan. 13

December 18, 2018 in Chamber Music, Piano

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 18 December 2018

COPI Steinway Piano Series presents MacArthur Foundation ‘Genius Grant’ recipient Jeremy Denk Jan. 13

By Zachary C. Person

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Pianist Jeremy Denk performs at Oregon State University as part of the Corvallis-OSU Piano International Steinway Piano Series at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 13 in the Austin Auditorium at The LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th Street, Corvallis.

Denk is one of the foremost American pianists on today’s concert scene. He was awarded a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (a.k.a. the “Genius Grant”) in 2013, an Avery Fisher Career Prize in 2014 and was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2016. He is a graduate of Oberlin College, Indiana University and the Juilliard School.

During recent concert seasons Denk has performed as a soloist across North America with the Chicago Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Seattle Symphony and the Cleveland Orchestra. International solo engagements have included soloist engagements with the Helsinki Philharmonic, BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the City of Birmingham Symphony and many others.

Ludwig v. Beethoven’s “Five Variations on ‘Rule Brittania’ in D Major” opens the concert. Though well known today, the “Rule Brittania” theme was much more obscure in the early 19th century. Beethoven’s curiosity about British culture also spurred the composition of his earlier “Variations on God Save the King” for piano and “Wellington’s Victory, Op. 91” for orchestra a decade later.

“I Still Play” by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Adams follows. The inclusion of the five-minute piece is a clever nod towards Denk’s now-famous recording of J.S. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations” on Nonesuch Records. The work was written in celebration of Nonesuch president Bob Hurwitz upon his retirement. Hurwitz is a trained pianist who “still plays” and Adams set a series of short variations on a harmonic progression that acknowledges both Hurwitz’s love of the “Goldberg Variations” and the triumph of Denk’s recording under his watch at Nonesuch.

Two more variation-oriented works follow: Georges Bizet’s “Variations chromatiques” and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Variations sérieuses,” Op. 54. Both works were inspired by Beethoven: Bizet’s variations are a homage to his love of Beethoven’s 32 Variations in C minor; the Mendelssohn was composed as part of a campaign raising funds for a commission of a statue honoring Beethoven in his hometown of Bonn, Germany.

Franz Liszt’s transcription of Beethoven’s “An die ferne Geliebte (To the distant beloved)” and Ralph Schumann’s “Fantasy in C Major, Op. 17” close the program. The Schumann is based on a theme from “An die ferne Geliebte” and like Mendelssohn’s Op. 54 was composed as part of the campaign raising funds for the statue honoring Beethoven.

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COPI Steinway Piano Series presents Lukáš Vondráček Nov. 4 at Stewart Center

October 15, 2018 in Piano, Chamber Music

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 15 October 2018

COPI Steinway Piano Series presents Lukáš Vondráček Nov. 4 at Stewart Center

By Zachary C. Person

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Pianist Lukáš Vondráček performs at Oregon State University as part of the Corvallis-OSU Piano International Steinway Piano Series at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 4 in the Austin Auditorium at The LaSells Stewart Center, 875 SW 26th Street, Corvallis.

Following his first place prize at the 2016 International Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition, the Czech-born Vondráček has emerged as one of the most sought after performers of his generation. During the 2018-2019 season, notable solo engagements include the Pittsburgh Symphony, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Prague Radio Symphony, and the Orquestra Sinfônica de São Paulo. Recital dates include the Vancouver Chopin Society, Deutschlandfunk Cologne, the Flagey in Brussels, and many others.

Past seasons have seen him perform as soloist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic and the national orchestra of Belgium. Solo recitals have included dates at the most important venues in the world, including Wigmore Hall in London, the Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia and Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Other international awards include the top prizes at the Hilton Head, San Marino and Unisa International Piano Competitions, and the Raymond E. Buck Jury Discretionary Award at the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in 2009.

Vondráček’s program includes works by three Czech composers: Vítêzslav Novák’s “Memories, Op. 6”; Josef Suk’s “Love Song, Op. 7, No. 1”; and four selections from Bedřich Smetana’s second book of Czech dances. Two works by the German romantic composer Robert Schumann, “Arabesque in C Major, Op. 18” and “Carnaval, Op. 9,” close the recital.

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