Former TAMIU Faculty Cahill Clark Solos with LPO Sunday at 4 P.M.
On Sunday, March 26 at 4 p.m. the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra presents “Fire the Fiddles” at Texas A&M International University’s Center for the Fine and Performing Arts’ Recital Hall.
Among the featured soloists for the fourth concert in the season is Jennifer Cahill Clark who for many years taught viola and violin in Laredo prior to her recent transfer to San Antonio.
“I am thrilled to be bringing Cahill Clark back ‘home’ to Laredo,” said Brendan Townsend, LPO maestro and music director, “She has contributed so much to the musical development of the city that it is fitting that she should have the opportunity to shine as she will in this week’s concert.”
Cahill Clark will be one of the two soloists performing Bach’s famous “Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B Flat.” The other soloist is Dr. Joel Pagán who was a violin/viola Instructor at Laredo Community College in 2004-2005.
Tickets for the Sunday concert can be purchased at various Wells Fargo locations, TAMIU and LCC business offices or at the door on the day of the concert. Tickets cost $20 for adults, $12 for seniors, and students with ID enter for free.
Clark moved to Laredo in 1995 and taught at Laredo Independent School District’s VMT Magnet School before moving to Laredo Community College. While there she not only taught strings, but lead the very successful “Mariachi Palomino.” She later taught at Texas A&M International University where she was integrally involved in designing the music degree program. In August 2005, she moved to the University of Texas at San Antonio.
“This is an unusual program of music,” Townsend explained, “Usually when you think of orchestral music you imagine lots of violins up front on the stage. This concert has no violins at all!”
Beginning with the “Petite Symphonie” by Charles Gounod for nine instruments, the tone of delicate and melodically inspired music is set immediately. This is followed by the “Bach Brandenburg Concerto,” and rounding out the first half is the luscious and haunting “Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5” for solo soprano and eight cellos.
“The Bachianas piece is simply delightful,” according to soprano soloist Anissa Hartline from Houston, “And since the Bachianas pieces by Villa-Lobos were inspired by Bach, it makes a perfect blend of old and new.”
The second half of the program includes the largest orchestra without violins as Townsend leads the “Serenade No. 2” of Johannes Brahms.
“This was the last “dry run” at orchestral composing for the young Brahms before he plunged into composing his first symphony,” explained Townsend, “Brahms felt the specter of the “Giant” Beethoven looming over him, and wanted to experiment before committing to writing a symphony.”
The resulting work for woodwinds, horns, violas, cellos and basses combines wonderful orchestral color with the intimacy of chamber music and showed the world the great things they could come to expect from the young composer.
“With all these wonderful selections of music, it’s a great way to enjoy a Spring Sunday in Laredo,” Townsend said.
For more information, call Townsend at 326-3039 or e-mail btownsend@tamiu.edu
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