Former Laredoan, Educator and Pianist Hazlerig in TAMIU Concert Tonight

A much-revered former Laredoan, educator and pianist, Sylvia E. Hazlerig, returns to Laredo Thursday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. to present a special Piano Concert performed by TAMIU faculty at Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Center for the Fine and Performing Arts’ (CFPA) Recital Hall.

Admission is free of charge and open to the public. Former students and colleagues of the longtime educator at Laredo Community College and performance member of the Laredo Philharmonic and local theatre groups are especially encouraged to attend.

The concert features some of Hazlerig’s own compositions for piano and chamber groups and is accompanied by insightful commentary. Her compositions will be performed by TAMIU faculty members Dr. Friedrich Gechter, pianist, Dr. Susan Berdahl, flutist and Dr. Xiaohu Zhou, bassoonist.

Among concert highlights will be the presentation of delightful works conceived by Hazlerig to honor her beloved City of Laredo, appropriately based on the musical motive “La-Re –Do” and “8 variations on ‘The Streets of Laredo.’ ”

Hazlerig’s name is synonymous with Laredo music and she dedicated much of her life to furthering it here, especially through her work at LCC as a music instructor, and as a tireless performer with myriad Laredo ensembles including the LPO.

When TAMIU established its full-time four-year music program, she provided strong support although she had retired in Colorado. She generously sponsored faculty recitals and student performances at her Colorado Music House concert series over many years and donated the Zuckerman harpsichord to TAMIU.

“Ever since I donated the Zuckerman harpsichord in 2003, every year TAMIU has invited me to perform and feature my compositions. Each year I look forward to visiting TAMIU and sharing my works with the community that inspired many of the pieces,” explained Hazlerig.

A composer who first revealed her talent at age 13, Hazlerig holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Composition and Theory from the University of North Texas, and a Master of Arts in Music from Central Missouri State University.

She retired from her LCC teaching career in 1997, moved to Colorado and has since relocated to Bellevue, WA where she remains an active performing musician and composer.

Her compositions number around 70 works, mostly chamber music for strings, recorders, winds and brasses, as well as piano and harpsichord solos, a few songs and choral works. Her Trio for recorders was published by BMI, Canada in 1964. She composed the scores for a staged musical production, The Haunted House, at Texas

Tech University in 1967, and a children’s musical, Prince Corky, in Laredo in 1992.

In 2007, she issued a limited edition 13-CD set of all her recorded compositions. Her catalog of works available on the IMSLP website continues to grow, thanks to the work of editor Michel Rondeau.

For additional information, contact Dr. Berdahl at TAMIU, 326.2658, email sberdahl@tamiu.edu  or visit CFPA Offices, suite 216.

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