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2009 CoursesCourses available in 2009 include violin, viola, violoncello, double bass, jazz, flute, saxophone, horn, percussion, piano, voice, italian and music in the golden age of Venice. Students will receive credit for private lessons and may also register for Italian and chamber music courses. Click here for select course descriptions. updates coming soon!
InstructorsViolin Elisabetta Garetti - Alessandria Conservatory / Concertmaster Genova Opera
Maurizio Cadossi (Baroque Violin) - Alessandria Conservatory / Concertmaster Parma Chamber OrchestraViola Mark Neumann - University of Georgia Violoncello David Starkweather - University of Georgia Claudio Merlo - Alessandria Conservatory / Principal Savona Symphony Orchestra Double Bass Milton Masciadri - University of Georgia / Accademia Filarmonica di Bolgna / UNESCO Artist
Paolo Borsarelli - Cuneo ConservatoryHorn Ellie Jenkins - University of West Georgia
Luigi Abenante - Vivaldi Conservatory, Alessandria, ItalyPercussion Thomas W. (Tony) McCutchen -University of Georgia Mario Tesio - Alessandria Conservatory Piano Evgeny Rivkin - University of Georgia
Marco Vincenzi - Alessandria Conservatory
Maurizio Barboro - Alessandria Conservatory
Silvia Leggio - Alessandria Conservatory
Gian Maria Bonino - SoloistJazz Studies Steve Dancz - University of Georgia Trumpet Brandon Craswell - University of Georgia Saxophone Kenneth Fischer - University of Georgia Claudio Lugo - Alessandria Conservatory Music in the Golden Age of Venice Stephen Valdez - University of Georgia Italian Voice Riccardo Ristori - Alessandria Conservatory
Bio: Maurizio Cadossi (Violin) Maurizio Cadossi is the chair of ensemble music for string instruments at the "Antonio Vivaldi" Conservatory in Alessandria. He has performed as a a violinist with chamber groups throughout Italy in such prestigious venues as Il Teatro Regio in Parma, Il TeatroVerdi in Trieste, the Siena Summer Music Performance Institute, the Bologna Festival, and the Ravenna Festival. He has also performed abroad in such divergent loacations as Wien, Prague, Nice, Santiago de Compostela, Washington, and New York. As a soloist, he has won several international competitions and performs regularly in Europe, the U.S.A, Mexico, and Japan with the most prestigious Italian chamber orchestras. Mr. Cadossi graduated from the "A. Boito" Conservatory of Parma in 1985. He has also studied with H. Szeryng at the Geneva Conservatory, R. Zanettovich at the Music School of Fiesole, D. Terenzio at the Civic Music School in Milan, and F. Rossi at the Artists Association in Verona. A specialist in Baroque music, Mr. Cadossi is the founder and conductor of the Ensemble Orfei Farnesiani. The ensemble performs on period instruments and aims to peak interest in the Lombard-Emilian literature of the XVII and XVIII centuries. Mr. Cadossi has issued recordings on the Tactus, Casa Bongiovanni, and Koch labels.
Bio: Elisabetta Garetti (Violin) Elisabetta Garetti graduated from the Conservatory “G. Nicolini” of Piacenza and has studied with such notable teachers as Franco Gulli at the Accademia Chigiana of Siena, Christian Ferras at the Academie National de Nice, Dora Schwarzberg, and Leos Spirer.
Garetti performed with the “Haydn Symphony Orchestra” of Trento and Bolzano from 1987 to 1989 as both a section player and soloist. In 1989, she became chief assistant at the “Fondazione A. Toscanini Symphony Orchestra” of Parma, and for more than ten years, served as a soloist and director of chamber groups performing in such illustrious locations as Gewandhaus of Lipsia, Schausspielhaus of Berlin, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. In the role of chief assistant, Garetti has collaborated with the Public Theater of Bologna, the “G. Verdi” Theater of Trieste, and the “La Fenice” Theater of Venice. Since 1999, she has presided as chief assistant at the “Carlo Felice” Theater of Genova and was recently awarded the position of “Premier Violon Solo” in the Orchestra National du Capitol de Toulouse.
Garetti's diverse repertoire of contemporary music has led her to perform as a soloist at such prestigious international venues as Settembre Musica at Lingotto's hall in Turin, Ircam in Paris, Instituto Nacional de las Artes y la Musica in Madrid, as the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and “Ciaykowsky” hall in Moscow. She has toured in Japan, China, Austria, and the United States achieving public and critical success.
Recently, Garetti was awarded the “Minerva Prize,” which recognizes women working in the fields of knowledge who serve as models of professional skill and moral values. Garetti plays the “Nachez” Stradivarius of 1709, which is donated by the Costa's Family of Genova.
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Bio: Mark Neumann (Viola) A native of Edmonton, Canada, Mark Neumann is the professor of viola at the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. He studied violin since the age of four, leading to undergraduate studies in violin at the University of Victoria and to graduate studies in viola at the University of Victoria, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and at The Juilliard School in New York, where he earned his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 1995. He has been the recipient of numerous awards including several Canada Council Project Grants, several British Columbia Cultural Arts Awards, the Winspear Foundation Grant, and the Canadian Aldeburgh Foundation Scholarship, as well as being the first prize winner in the Strings division at the British Columbia Competitive Music Festival and a two-time winner of the University of Victoria Concerto Competition. At Juilliard he held the Richard R. Levien Scholarship and the John and Eva Post Scholarship, gave frequent performances throughout the New York City area under the auspices of the Maxwell and Muriel Gluck Fellowship program, and was a member of the Inja String Quartet coached by Robert Mann and Felix Galimir. His principal viola teachers have included such eminent violists as Karen Tuttle, Robert Vernon and Jaroslav Karlovsky.
Dr. Neumann has pursued a versatile performing career including solo appearances with the Calgary Philharmonic, Victoria Symphony and Thunder Bay Symphony orchestras in Canada and the Straubing Collegium Musicum in Germany, frequent chamber music performances at the music festivals of Banff, Victoria, Sarasota and Aldeburgh (England), chamber music recordings for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and Deutschland-Funk in Germany, as well as holding positions with the Victoria Symphony and Montreal Symphony orchestras. As a member of the Montreal Symphony from 1993 to 1997 he performed on numerous recordings for the Decca-London label and participated in frequent tours to Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Dr. Neumann served as Assistant Principal Viola of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998-99, and accepted the position of viola professor at Texas Tech University in Lubbock in 1999. In addition to his activities at Texas Tech, he performed as Principal Viola of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra and was active as a performer and clinician throughout Texas as well as in New Mexico and Canada. During the summers of 2002 – 2005 he performed and taught as a member of the faculty of the Festival de Inverno at Vale Veneto, Brazil. In August 2002, Dr. Neumann began his current appointment as professor of viola at the University of Georgia, where he maintains a highly active schedule as a performer, teacher and clinician, and collaborates regularly in performance with members of the UGA music faculty and with the ARCO Chamber Orchestra. Since arriving at UGA, he has given numerous recitals and masterclasses in Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, and various states throughout the USA, as well as being a featured performer at the 2007 International Viola Congress in Adelaide, Australia. His first solo CD recording, “Romantic Showpieces for Viola”, is scheduled for public release in 2008.
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Bio: David Starkweather (cello) David Starkweather was declared by Pierre Fournier to be "one of the best cellists of his generation." Starkweather was awarded a certificate of merit as semifinalist in the 1986 Tchaikovsky Competition. Since 1983 he has been professor of cello at the University of Georgia School of Music in Athens ( http://www.uga.edu/music/cello ). He has performed and taught at festivals in Korea, Brazil, and the United States, and has also performed in Canada and Europe. Growing up near San Francisco, Starkweather attended the Eastman School of Music. This was followed by graduate studies with cellist Bernard Greenhouse at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, earning a doctorate degree in 1983. In 1985 Starkweather spent six months in Switzerland for intensive work with Pierre Fournier, earning the famous French cellist's accolade given above. A review in Atlanta praised "the sensitive phrasing and Starkweather's obvious technical facility." A CD of cello sonatas by Shostakovich and Rachmaninov with pianist Evgeny Rivkin was released by Mark Records, New York, and another CD with Rivkin featuring sonatas by Beethoven, Brahms, and Britten was released in 2002 (available at http://www .cdbaby.com/cd/dstarkweather1). Starkweather's publications include various articles in American String Teacher and Strings magazines and an edition of two Locatelli sonatas published by Artaria Editions, Wellington, New Zealand. His cello is a Jean Baptiste Vuillaume from c.1830. http://www.uga.edu/music/cello
Bio: Claudio Merlo (cello) Born in Tortona in 1968, Claudio Merlo began his cello studies under the guidance of Maestro Marco Perini and graduated in 1988 with highest honors. His advanced training took place at the Fondazione “W. Stauffer” in Cremona under Maestro Rocco Filippini. He has participated in numerous musical exhibitions, both as a soloist and chamber musician, in Italy and abroad. As part of a cello / piano duo, Merlo has had the opportunity to perform with some of the most important concert associations of Italy (Amici della Musica di Arezzo, Teatro S.Filippo di Torino, Amici della Musica di Trapanim, Les Junes Concertistes-Aosta, l'Ora della Musica-Reggio Emilia). This duo also performed in Czechoslovakia in 1989 to great critical and public acclaim. As cellist of the Aries String Quartet, Merlo took part in numerous concerts both in Italy and abroad ( Spain , France ), culminating with a recital at the Auditorium Nazionale di Madrid. Merlo also performs with the Trio di Alessandria, which was invited to perform a series of coincerts at the University of Georgia in April 2003, including a performance of A. Casella's Triple Concerto in Hodgson Hall accompanied by the UGA Symphony Orchestra. Merlo maintains an active orchestral career as the Principal Cellist of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Savona, and has worked often with the Orchestra Sinfonica dell'Emilia Romagna “A.Toscanini.” Merlo is the Cello Professor of the Conservatorio “A.Vivaldi” in Alessandria . His instrument is a 1954 Gaetano Gadda.
Bio: Milton Masciadri (Double bass) Milton Masciadri has delighted audiences in three continents with a combination of virtuosism and lyric interpretations on the double bass. The third generation of double bass players, Born in Montevideo - Uruguay he began his studies with his father. By the age 17, he was already Co-principal Bassist with the Porto Alegre Symphony in Brazil, and at the age of 19, he joined the faculty of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (Brazil). He completed his Masters and Doctorate Degrees with work under Gary Karr, Julius Levine and Lawrence Wolfe.
As a frequent recitalist and soloist with major symphony orchestras, Milton Masciadri has appeared in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, United States, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, England, Mexico, Greece, Eastern Europe and Central America. During the summers he teaches at several international music festivals and double bass conventions in the United States, South America and Europe. He has performed chamber music and in duo with such artists as George Bolet, Robert Mc Duffie, Aldo Parisot , Sidney Harth, Gary Karr, Francesco Petracchi, etc.
Masciadri's enthusiasm for enlarging the repertoire of the double bass has led him to publish and premiere works of many contemporary American and South American composers and to make notable contributions of his own with numerous transcriptions and arrangements.
As well as maintaining an active schedule of concerts and master classes, Milton Masciadri is currently on the faculty of the University of Georgia, and is a "Academico" of the Philharmonic Academy of Bologna - Italy, oldest music school in Europe.
Some of 2004-05 Masciadri's solo performances included Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Diego, Atlanta, Austria, Italy, Germany, Romania, Greece, Kazakhstan, Russia, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Spain, Korea, Japan, France and Argentina. Masciadri will appear as major judge in several International competitions in Europe, USA and South America.
Milton Masciadri performs on a 300 year old Testore double bass; appears in the International Who's Who in Music and solo recordings on DMR, ACA & Fondazione labels. In 1998 he was designated "Unesco Artis for Peace" and holds the Medal of Honor for Academic Achievements and services to the people of Brazil awarded by the Federal System of Universities in Brazil.
Bio: Paolo Borsarelli (Double bass) In 1986 he graduated with top marks and received the "Cuneo" prize for the best diploma at the Turin Conservatory, where he studied with Enzo Ferraris. Right after the diploma, he won the 1st prize at the “City of Genova” competition. He then studied for three years with Ludwig Streicher at the Musik-Hochschule in Vienna, with the financial support of the Musical Association De Sono scholarship awards.
From 1984 to 1986 he took part as principal double bass to three European tournées of the Orchestre des Jeunes de la Mediterranée.
He also played as principal doublebassist with the Teatro Comunale di Firenze - Maggio Musicale di Firenze under the direction of Zubin Mehta, with the orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano conducted by Daniele Gatti and from 2008 with the Orchestra Mozart conducted by Claudio Abbado.From 1992 to 1994 he played as principal double bass in the International Symphony Orchestra, founded and conducted by Lorin Maazel and resident in Israel. There, he was invited to play during the chamber music seasons with S. Ashkenasi, T. Zimmermann, D. Geringas, B. Canino, F. Helmersonn and others soloists of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.
He regularly works as super-soloist double bass with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse (France), with Michel Plasson as conductor, with whom he performed several european tours (Berlin, Kholn, Paris, Orange, Zurich) and recorded for Radio Classique and for EMI and Virgin record companies.
Since January 2003, he has been invited to play with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra as solo double bass, under the direction of Claudio Abbado and Daniel Harding. He regularly performs throughout Europe, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and he took part in many CD recordings (Deutsche Grammophon). He was chosen by the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to play the “solo” of S. Prokofiev “Lieutenant Kijé”under the direction of Claudio Abbado in Ferrara in 2004.
Claudio Abbado invited him to join the Lucerne Festival Orchestra with whom he recently performed in Lucerne (KKL), London (BBC Proms), New York (Carnegie Hall) and Wien (Musikverein).
He played with the chamber orchestra of “I Solisti di Pavia”, soloist and conductor Enrico Dindo, and with the “Orchestra da Camera di Mantova”, where he played as a soloist.
In addition to the orchestral experience, he is extremely active in chamber music and he gave concerts in important festivals and regular
seasons in Europe, Russia, Israel, Japan, South Korea, South-Pacific, Central and South America.In January 2003 he held a master class at the XII° Double Bass Symposium of the University of Georgia (USA), were he played in a recital.
He is doublebass Professor at the Conservatorio of Cuneo.
Bio: Ellie Jenkins (Horn) A native of coastal Georgia , Ellie Jenkins joined the faculty at the University of West Georgia in 2002. She performs regularly with numerous organizations in the north Georgia area, including the Rome and Carroll Symphony Orchestras, the Roman Festival Brass, and the Chamber Players of the South. She has also appeared with the Chattaznooga Symphony Orchestra, and toured Taiwan with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra in 2004. Prior to returning to Georgia, Jenkins lived in Wisconsin for 11 years, where she was an active freelance horn player and teacher, performing with many ensembles, including the Green Bay Symphony, Rockford Symphony, Dubuque Symphony, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Matrix Brass, and the Northern Lights Chamber Winds. She has served on the faculties of Northern Arizona University , the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. Jenkins has appeared as a soloist on many occasions, including several performances of Schumann's Konzertstuck , and last January was one of the featured soloists in Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 . Dr. Jenkins received her DMA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and other degrees from the University of Wisonsin-Milwaukee and the University of Miami . Her primary teachers are Douglas Hill, Barry Benjamin, Robert Elworthy, and Maribeth Crawford.
Bio: Luigi Abenante (Horn) Luigi Abenante completed his studies under Professor Giacomo Zoppi's guidance at the “A. Vivaldi” Conservatory in Alessandria where in 1978 he obtained his diploma with the highest grades and Honors. The same year performed in Turin with the Symphony Orchestra of the National Television Corporation RAI and also won the competition for first horn held by the Aidem Orchestra of Florence
From 1979 to 1983 he was first horn at Genova's Carlo Felice Theatre and subsequently until 1994 for the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra. From 1995 to 1999 he was principal Horn of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Turin and from 1998 to 2002 with the singer Paolo Conte's orchestra. Presently he is first horn in the “Camerata Ducale” Orchestra.
The intense orchestral activity and the numerous tours have brought him to play in the most prestigious concert halls in Europe such as the Musikverein in Vienna, Barbican Centre in London, Philharmonic in Berlin and Monaco, Alte Oper Frankfurt, Musik Halle Hamburg, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Olympia Paris with the RAI Orchestras and Teatro Reggio Turin, The Italian Chamber Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Mantova, the Orchestra of Padova in the Veneto province, the Svizzera Italian Orchestra, the Nice Philharmonic Orchestra and directors and soloists such as Carlo Maria Giulini, James Levine, Rafael Frubek De Burgos, Nello Santi, Riccardo Muti, Kurt Sanderling, Luciano Pavarotti, Jose' Carreras, Placido Domingo, Maximilian Vengherov, Salvatore Accardo, Uto Ughi, Vladimir Spivakov, Igor Oistrakh, Shlomo Minz, Misha Maisky etc.
Since 1979 he has been the Horn Professor at the “A. Vivaldi” Conservatory in Alessandria . Italy
Bio: Tony McCutchen (percussion) Tony McCutchen has served as the Percussion Coordinator at the University of Georgia School of Music since 1979. He is director of the UGA Steel Band “Tropical Breeze,” the UGA Percussion Ensemble, and the UGA Salsa Band. Prior to his appointment at UGA, he served as Assistant Band Director/Percussion Instructor at Auburn University and as Associate Director of Bands at the University of Mississippi. He has performed at PASIC, IAJE, MENC, MTNA, World Saxophone Congress, CMS and GMEA conventions as well as various PAS “Days of Percussion”. Dr. McCutchen is a Fulbright Scholar, having taught and done research for a period of six months in Brazil . He served on the faculty of the annual International Music Festival of the Federal University of Santa Maria (Brazil) for a period of ten years. He has presented clinics and performances in various parts of the United States, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Italy and Taiwan. As an arranger, Tony has various scores published by Arrangers' Publishing Company, Hal Leonard Publishing Company, Band Music Press and MalletWorks Music. He is an Artist - Clinician for Ludwig/Musser Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, and Innovative Percussion. He hosted the 1994 Percussive Arts Society International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, which set an attendance record of over 4,500. Dr. McCutchen performs regularly on drumset with Prime Time Jazz, plus jazz vibes, steel drum and orchestral percussion in various professional settings. Tony has degrees from Auburn University (B.S.), East Carolina University (M.M.) , and the University of North Texas (D.M.A.). He and his wife Susie have four children.
Bio: Mario Tesio (percussion) Mario Tesio was born in Pavia in 1953. He studied percussion at the Milan Conservatory and Musicology at the Bologna University. Since 1980, he has played regularly with the orchestras of RAI (Italian Radio Television) in Milan, Turin, Naples, and with SSR (Italian Suisse Radio) in Lugano, and has also performed as percussion soloist at the Teatro alla Scala (Milan, 1979). Showing a keen interest in 20th-century music, Tesio has often performed pieces by Donatoni, Boulez, Petrassi, Bussotti, Corghi, Clementi, and Berio, and has been part of a contemporary chamber ensemble. In 1989, Tesio was appointed Professor of Percussion Instruments at the Alessandria Consevatory. His music criticism has appeared in a number of newspapers and musicological journals.
Bio: Kenneth Fischer (Saxophone) Considered to be one of today's leading performers and pedagogues of the saxophone, Kenneth Fischer has served as Professor of Saxophone at the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music since 1979. Fischer was awarded the Doctor of Music Degree With Distinction in Saxophone Performance from the Indiana University School of Music, studying with Dr. Eugene Rousseau. Dr. Fischer has appeared as Soloist, Chamber Musician, and Master Teacher throughout the United States, Canada, the Czech Republic, China, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Japan. Many composers have dedicated works to him including Jindr?ich Feld, Frederick Fox, Lewis Nielson, Roger Vogel, William Davis, Robert Linn, Tommy Joe Anderson, Fisher Tull, Juan Orrego-Salas, John Harbison, Gunther Schuller, and Michael Colgrass. Although an artist performer of all of the saxophones, Kenneth Fischer has become an internationally recognized specialist of the soprano.
Dr. Fischer presented the World Premiere performances of both the CONCERTO for Soprano Saxophone and Wind Orchestra by the American composer Robert Linn and the AMERICAN CONCERTINO for Soprano Saxophone and Chamber Orchestra by the Czech composer Jindr?ich Feld. Fischer has been the recipient of both a National Endowment for the Arts Soloist Recording Grant and a National Endowment for the Arts Consortium Commissioning Grant . Kenneth Fischer's recordings are available internationally on ACA Digital Recordings, Arizona University Recordings, Musicians Showcase Recordings, Centaur Recordings, and Coronet Records. Fischer has served both NASA and the Comite International du Saxophone as President. Kenneth Fischer is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
Bio: Evgeny Rivkin (Piano) Evgeny Rivkin was born in Russia and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he studied with Professor Evgeny Malinin.
He has been the recipient of many major awards, including top prizes in the USSR National Piano Competition in 1977, the Sixth International Tchaikovsky competition in Moscow, the Bayerishe Rundfunk Competition in Munich, 1985, as well as the L. MacMahon International Competition in Lawton, Oklahoma. He has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician in Italy, France, Hungary, Germany, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Yugoslavia, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil and other countries in live performances as well as radio and TV broadcasts, always earning enthusiastic praise for his exciting pianism and sensitive artistry.
Mr. Rivkin has made symphonic appearances and presented solo recitals in many world-famous halls, such as the Great Hall of Moscow Conservatory and Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Great Hall of St. Petersburg Philharmonic Society, Hercules-Saal in Munich, Gewandhaus Hall in Leipzig,, Wagner Hall in Riga, Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest,Weill Carnegie Hall in New York and others.
His repertoire includes all the keyboard concertos of J.S.Bach, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and the piano concertos of Schumann, Liszt, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Brahms, Grieg, etc., and the major solo literature from the Classical and Romantic eras.
Mr. Rivkin has recorded for A-RAM and Melodiya labels in Russia, Sintez records of Latvia, and in the United States, ACA Recordings. “Treat yourself to this fine rendition,”wrote Fanfare magazine about his recording of Tchaikovsky’s G major Piano Sonata and The Seasons, adding that Rivkin brings out the best of this music.
Mr. Rivkin has been a Professor of Piano at the University of Georgia since 1995.
Bio: Marco Vicenzi (Piano) Born in Genoa, Italy, in 1958. Piano degree cum laude at Genoa Conservatory. Upper piano studies under the direction of Maria Tipo at Geneva Conservatoire Superieur, Switzerland. Prix de Virtuosité 1986. Composition degree 1986 at Genoa Conservatory. Master of arts 1986 at Genoa University cum laude. Award in musicology at Dinu Lipatti Foundation in Bucharest, Rumania. 1st Prize for piano at Stresa International Competition (Italy 1977). 1st Prize for piano at Sommerakademie of Mozarteum in Salzburg (Austria 1978). Recitals and concerts in Austria, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Nederlands, Rumania, Switzerland. Soloist with important orchestras. Participant in complete performances of Chopin’s piano works, Beethoven’s piano Sonatas, Mozart’s piano Sonatas and Concertos. Chamber music with flute, violin, cello, string quartet. Performer in 8 CDs: (Lipatti, Wolf-Ferrari, Busoni, Pizzetti, Vieuxtemps, Rota, Respighi, Mozart-Busoni), all produced by Dynamic, Italy. Author of articles and reviews in Italian musical magazines, and papers in the proceedings of musicological congresses about Busoni and Lipatti. Editor of the book Ferruccio Busoni e il pianoforte del Novecento (Lucca 1999). Piano professor at Alessandria Conservatory. Director of Centro Studi Musicali Ferruccio Busoni in Empoli (Busoni’s birth town).
REPERTORY
Favorite repertoire (to perform and teach): Scarlatti, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Busoni and other Italian composers of XX century.
Bio: Maurizio Barboro (Piano) Maurizio Barboro is on the Piano Faculty of the “Vivaldi” State Conservatory in Alessandria. He completed his artistical education at the “Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia” in Rome, under the guidance of nationally renowned pianist and pedagogue Lya De Barberiis.Winner of national piano competitions, since 1980 he has combined an intense career in Italy as well as in the major cultural centres in Europe,Asia and North America.Since 1996 Barboro has been currently “artist in residence” and “permanent soloist” of the “Dumitrescu” Philharmonic Orchestra of Valcea (Romania).In 1999 he made his debut in US,where now he is periodically invited to hold master classes at institutions such as the Boston Conservatory, the Longy School of Music and the Rivers School (MA),Southeastern State University (OK),Clark College Music Dept.(WA).Last 5 years he was a guest soloist with the Berkshire Symphony,Longwood Symphony, Newton Symphony (MA),Clark College Orchestra (WA),The Villages Community Orchestra (FL),appearing in Boston “Jordan Hall”. CD recordings include Shostakovich’s Piano Concertos,the Brahms,Franck,Rachmaninoff, Shostakovich and Kabalevsky Sonatas for Cello and Piano, the complete works for two pianos(eight hands)the works of the Italian contemporary composer Mario Panatero. Barboro is Artistic Director of the “Città di Ovada” International Piano Competition. www.camtmonferrato.it
REPERTORY
1)Free choice program with particular interest on:
Mozart: Sonatas and Variations / Liszt: b minor Sonata / Russian piano works (1900 – 1960)
2) piano practice methodology.
Bio: Silvia Leggio(Piano) Born in Palermo, she studied piano at the Conservatory “V. Bellini” of Palermo achieving her diploma cum laude.
She has improved her technique and performances over time by attending stages held by Maestros Gyorgy Sandor, Bruno Canino, Alexander Lonquich, Paul Badura Skoda.
She has a degree in harpsichord, clavichord and fortepiano at the Conservatory “G. Verdi “ in Milan and she already has performed some concerts as a harpsichordist. She attended proficiency seminaries with the harpsichordists Clemencic (music of ‘500), Dreifus (French music) and Fadini (Scarlatti’s sonatas).
She has performed many concerts as a soloist as well as in chamber ensembles for outstanding Italian musical institutions, such as the Amici della Musica of Palermo, the Accademia Filarmonica of Messina, the Teatro Massimo of Palermo, the Arts Academy of Rome, the Società dei Concerti of Milan, and the Teatro Comunale of Reggio Emilia.
She has been on tour in Egypt, Portugal, Caraibi.
She holds piano proficiency courses during the summer season in Bergolo (Cn) and Palermo.
She is currently teaching piano at the Conservatory A. Vivaldi in Alessandria.REPERTORY
The lessons are based on the pianistic literature of the Classical Period including not only the most important composers like Haydn (sonate and pieces), Mozart (sonate, variations, piano concerts), Beethoven (sonate, variations, piano concerts ), but also the minor ones.
The lessons will deal with the specific matter of interpretation, style, technical approach, in considaration also of the problems coming from the mechanical differences between the modern piano and the ancient fortepiano
Bio: Gian Maria Bonino (Piano) Graduated at the Conservatory “G.Verdi” of Milan with Lydia Arcuri and at the Conservatory of Lucerna with the M° Myeczislaw Horszowski. Later on studies harpsichord graduating in 1989 in the Conservatory of Genoa and in January 1999 in the Superior Conservatory of Winterthur (CH). He has played with orchestras like the Orchestra Filarmonica di Torino, the Orchestra of La Scala and Pomeriggi Musicali of Milan, and moreover with the string quartet Atheneum of the Berliner Philharmoniker, with which it has played first absolute executions of Contemporary music for 3rd Italian Radio RAI in February 2005 and at the festival of Contemporary music of Cincinnati (USA). He plays also regularly with the Berliner Philharmoniker Virtuosen, the Philharmonische Kamerata Berlin with the oboist Albrecht Mayer in Luzern festival and Rheingau - festival .Recently he has played like soloist at the Berlin Philharmonie in the opening concert of season 2007 – 2008 in the Berliner Philharmoniker concert season with a Joel Hoffmann’s contemporary piece.
REPERTORY
Bach e figli: repertorio e prassi esecutiva al pianoforte
Chopin: approfondimento tecnico ed esecutivo degli Studi op. 10 ed op.25
Bio: Steve Dancz (Jazz) Steve Dancz began his professional career at the age of fifteen and by his twenty-first birthday was performing extensively in Europe, the Soviet Union, Japan, The People's Republic of China, Africa and South America. He has studied piano with Harold Danko, Tom Ferguson and Monty Alexander. A recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts grant, he has performed and/or recorded with The Chieftains, Eddie Harris, Kevin Mahogany, Joe Lovano, Bill Cosby, Dizzy Gillespie, John Clayton, Clint Holmes, Don Menza, Allen Vizutti, Willie Thomas, Rich Matteson, Gus Mancusco, Martin Taylor, John Pattitucci, Paulino de Costa, Rufus Reid, John Clayton and Clark Terry. He has performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival (Switzerland), the Vienne Jazz Festival (France), The Brussels Conservatory of Music (Belgium), Tocar la Vida (Argentina), and the first World Festival of Sacred Music (India) at the request of His Holiness, the XIV Dalai Lama.
Dancz worked as a record producer and A & R director during the years he was based in Los Angeles and composed and conducted orchestral scores for television ("Designing Women") and motion pictures ("Grim Prairie Tales" starring James Earl Jones). He studied film scoring with master composer Earl Hagen (“Andy of Mayberry,” “I Spy,” “Mod Squad”). Steve has composed and produced numerous original scores for National Geographic Films, many of which have aired internationally as part of the National Geographic "Explorer" television series. Dancz’s most recent work with The Geographic was the PBS Special “Inside Mecca.” Four recent scores, “The Raising of the Hunley,” "The Filmmakers," "Africa's Dinosaur Giants" and "Great White : Deep Trouble" are available on Home Video/DVD from the National Geographic Society. He has just completed scoring the latest season of "THE GIRLS OUTDOORS," a new TV series broadcast on the GAC Network and his most recent film project, "SACRED SITES OF THE DALAI LAMAS," is currently in release with an accompanying soundtrack album available on iTunes.
Mr. Dancz is currently on the faculty of the University of Georgia where he directs the Jazz Studies Program and co-founded the Music Business Program. He can be reached at stevedancz.com.
Bio: Brandon Craswell Brandon Craswell holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in trumpet performance from Indiana University, and has completed coursework toward a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky. Prior to his 2008 appointment to UGA, he coordinated the brass department and directed the jazz ensemble at Minot State University, in Minot, North Dakota.
In demand as an orchestral musician, he has played with the Atlanta, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, and Honolulu Symphonies, including a performance at Carnegie Hall with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. He was also a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago for two seasons, working with “Bud” Herseth, former principal trumpet of the
Chicago Symphony Orchestra for over fifty years. Adept at both classical and jazz, Craswell recently finished a North American tour of the Broadway musical “42nd St.” As a soloist, he has been a featured artist at the Aspen Music Festival, the International Romantic Trumpet Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia, and has an upcoming engagement with pianist Olga Kern at the Porter Center for the Arts in Brevard, North Carolina. Craswell is a New York Trumpet Company performing artist.
Bio: Stephen Valdez (History of Rock) Stephen Valdez, Associate Professor, received his D.M.A. in music history from the University of Oregon (1992) and his M.M in music history (1984) and B.M.Ed. (1977) from New Mexico State University. He joined the University of Georgia in 1997 after having taught courses in music history at the University of Oregon. Dr. Valdez teaches the history of rock music, the history of jazz, the music of the late Renaissance and Baroque periods, and survey courses in music history. His research interests include the evolution of lead guitar solos in rock, the music of the Beatles, and performance practice in rock. He is the author of A History of Rock Music, 3rd edition (2004) and is currently the chair of the Department of Musicology/Ethnomusicology.
Stephen Valdez, Associate Professor, received his D.M.A. in music history from the University of Oregon (1992) and his M.M in music history (1984) and B.M.Ed. (1977) from New Mexico State University. He joined the University of Georgia in 1997 after having taught courses in music history at the University of Oregon. Dr. Valdez teaches the history of rock music, the history of jazz, the music of the late Renaissance and Baroque periods, and survey courses in music history. His research interests include the evolution of lead guitar solos in rock, the music of the Beatles, and performance practice in rock. He is the author of A History of Rock Music, 3rd edition (2004) and is currently the chair of the Department of Musicology/Ethnomusicology.
Bio: Riccardo Ristori (Voice) Riccardo Ristori graduated in piano and bassoon at the Genovese Conservatorio “N.Paganini” and then he started singing studies under the guide of M. Tristano Illersberg, coming to graduating in 1988. He went on with his vocal specialization with M_ Guglielmo Gazzani, who made him study the bel canto repertoire. He won several national and international competitions, like “Tito Schipa” in Lecce, “Mattia Battistini” in Rieti and “Laboratorio Lirico” in Alessandria. He sang in Italy with: Teatro dell’Opera Giocosa-Savona, Arturo Toscanini Orchestra-Parma,Teatro Pergolesi-Jesi, Teatro Comunale-Bologna, Tetaro Regio-Parma, Teatro Bellini, Catania, Teatro Massimo-Palermo, Teatro Comunale-Modena, Teatro Giordano-Foggia, Teatro Comunale-Cagliari, Teatro Donizetti-Bergamo, Teatro Ponchielli-Cremona, Teatro Grande-Brescia, Teatro Carlo Felice-Genova, Teatro Cilea-Reggio Calabria, Festival Pucciniano-Torre del Lago, Festival della Valle d’Itria-MartinaFranca,Politeama Greco-Lecce, Teatro Olimpico-Vicenza.He performed abroad in Holland, Switzerland, Giordania, Iraq, Malta, Tunisia, Denmark, Germany, Bulgaria, Albania. Principate of Monaco and Finland. In 1997 he is Pallante in Handel’s “Agrippina” under the conduction of Jean Claude Malgoire at Massimo in Palermo, and Gelsomino in Giordano’s “Madame Sans-GÈne” wirh Mirella Freni at Bellini in Catania and at Comunale in Modena, where a recording has been made. In Fabruary 2000 he played the role of Claudio in a reprise of the Palermitan production of Handel’s “Agrippina” at Politeama Greco in Lecce. In May 2000 he played one of the main roles in the restoration of Paer’s “Camilla o il sotterraneo” at the Teatro Regio in Parma. In July 2000 he sang Segeste in Handel’s “Arminio” with “Il Complesso Barocco” conducted by Alan Curtis at Festival Barocco”in Solothurn and in Siena for “Settimane Musicali Senesi”, where the opera has been recorded for Virgin Records. In April 2001 he sang in the absolute first performance of Sylvano Bussotti’s composition “Concerti Grossi all’Ara degli Ulivi” with O.R.L at Teatro Valle of Rome and September 2001 at Santa Maria della Piet‡ in Venice. From 1992 he collaborates with “Alessandro Stradella Consort” and he is a member of “Concento Ecclesiastico” too. He is an appreciated interpreter of sacred music and Italian, French and German chamber repertoire. He has at his credit several recordings for Bongiovanni, Agor‡, Nuova Era, Dynamic, Callisto and Virgin. In 2007 he sang the first performance of the opera “Teneke” of Fabio Vacchi at the Teatro alla Scala of Milano.