A soprano, a percussionist, a cellist and a pianist will take the spotlight this weekend for the 45th annual University of Arizona President’s Concert.
The quartet of student musicians landed a spot on the lineup after winning the competitive concerto competition. How big of a deal is it? Past winners have gone on to professional careers on stages around the country.
Here’s the 411 on this weekend’s concert.
What: University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music’s 45th Annual President’s Concert.
Featuring: Arizona Symphony Orchestra under the baton of director Thomas Cockrell and doctoral student conductors András Derecskei and Juan Montoya.
When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, and Saturday, Feb 3.
Where: Crowder Hall at the Fred Fox School of Music, North Park Avenue and East Speedway.
Cost: $10, $7 for UA employees and seniors and $5 for students at the door or in advance by calling 621-1162.
The soloists and what they’ll perform:
- Soprano Emily Garcia, a junior who has been studying voice since she was 12 and played violin for eight years before that. She’s performed in several UA Opera Theater productions. She will perform Giacomo Puccini’s “Mi chiamano Mimí” from his opera “La bohème.”
- Percussionist Michael Pratt on vibraphone. A doctoral student and graduate teaching assistant, Pratt has landed several awards and grants in support of his research and professional development including the Daveen Fox Fellowship. He has performed with a number of orchestras including Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Belmont University Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra and the new music ensemble Pulse. He will perform the first movement of Emmanuel Séjourné’s Concerto for Vibraphone and String Orchestra.
- Cellist and doctoral student Juan Mejía is a native of Colombia, where he studied music at the Universidad Javeriana before moving to the United States when he was 17. He went through the preparatory program at Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He will perform the first movement of Joseph Haydn’s Concerto for Violoncello in C major.
- Pianist and master’s student Tyler Ramos, who earned his undergrad degree at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, is a five-time winner of the Hawai’i State Music Teachers National Association competition. This weekend, he will perform the first movement of Frédéric Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 in E minor.
Also on the program:
Verdi’s Prelude to “Les Vêpres Siciliennes.”
Respighi’s “Fontane di Roma.”
