TAMIU Hosts Concerto Competition Sunday
The second annual Concerto Competition will be held this Sunday afternoon, April 10 at 2 p.m. at Texas A&M International University’s Center for Fine & Performing Arts.
The winner of the Concerto Competition will perform with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) on Sunday April 17, 2011.
“The chance to perform a concerto accompanied by a professional orchestra as a young musician is a rare treat,” said LPO Music Director Brendan Townsend, “It marks the highest of artistic accomplishment for a Laredo student.”
The competition is open to all young musicians enrolled in courses at TAMIU, Laredo Community College, Laredo or United Independent School Districts, or any other Laredoschool.
The opening of the April 17 concert will include students from area high schools joining with the LPO to perform “Fanfare for the Common Man” by Aaron Copland – a sight and sound not to be missed, Townsend said.
Sunday’s concerto competition is open to the public. It will be held in room 134 of the TAMIU Center for the Fine & Performing Arts beginning at noon.
To enter, musicians must perform a complete work for their instrument and orchestra. Judges will choose one winner who will perform with the LPO in the final concert of the season on April 17 at LCC’s Martinez Fine Arts Center.
Application forms are available at the TAMIU Center for the Fine and Performing Arts outside the main office. Applications are due to assistant professor Townsend, Room 216 C no later than 5 p.m. Thursday, April 7.
Last year the winner of the Concerto Competition was Shi-Yao Huang – an exchange student from Taiwan who was studying music at TAMIU for the year. She was a flute student of TAMIU associate professor Dr. Susan Berdahl.
“Sih-Yao worked incredibly hard on perfecting the “Poem” by Griffess and included it on her Senior Recital just before the competition,” said Dr. Berdahl, “Even with all that preparation, playing with the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra was a whole new world of experience for her.”
The final concert of the LPO season will include the Overture to Hansel and Gretel byHumperdink, Beethoven’s Fourth Symphony, and the world premiere of TAMIU assistant professor of music Dr. David Garcia’s new composition for the LPO, “Connections.”
“Our season has been called “Connections” and throughout the year we have sought to establish new connections with diverse populations,” said Maestro Townsend, “Dr. Garcia’s piece brings out many of the wonderful genres of music that one is likely to find in this wonderful community.”
For additional information, contact Townsend at 326.3039 or email btownsend@tamiu.edu
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu