Central Michigan University

International flavor: CMU faculty pianist to perform abroad

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Topics in this story: Arts and entertainment, Arts and events, College of Communication and Fine Arts, Creative endeavors, Research, School of Music

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Media Contact(s):

Lindsay Allen
989-774-7327

Program Contact(s):

Alexandra Mascolo-David
989-774-1964

Portuguese audiences will soon be treated to the research and talents of a Central Michigan University faculty pianist.

Portugal native Alexandra Mascolo-David, a professor of piano in CMU's School of Music, will perform April 21 at the prestigious Teatro Sao Luiz in Lisbon. The solo recital will formally mark the Portuguese release of Mascolo-David's two acclaimed volumes of Francisco Mignone's "Valsas Brasileiras" (Brazilian waltzes), which were released in the U.S. in 2001 and 2007.

A winner of CMU's President's and Provost's awards for Outstanding Research and Creative Activity, Mascolo-David will spend three weeks in Portugal educating and entertaining audiences and reaching out to students.

"During this trip, I also will be teaching master classes at different conservatories throughout the country, with the intent to recruit primarily graduate students to CMU's School of Music," she said. "I also will give a presentation on the music of Francisco Mignone at Bulhosa Bookstore, one of the most prominent bookstores in Lisbon."

Prior to departing for Portugal, Mascolo-David will perform an all-Brazilian concert March 29 at the University of Wyoming as part of the Belle Donne Piano Duo with former CMU faculty member Rúbia Santos. The duo also will present a lecture and recital April 1 at the competitive-entry Music Teachers National Association Conference in Denver.

Closer to home, Mascolo-David will perform at 8 p.m. March 18 in the Staples Family Concert Hall in CMU's Music Building. She will perform four of Mignone's Brazilian waltzes during the first half of the concert and also will be joined by vocalist Amy Petrongelli, a Harrison senior, on five songs by Portuguese composer Francisco de Lacerda. The concert's second half will showcase the work of Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, including several tangos. Collaborating on the Piazzolla pieces will be CMU School of Music faculty members Takeshi Abo on violin, Brad DeRoche on guitar and James Fiste on cello, along with philosophy faculty member Gary Fuller on keyboard/accordion.

Tickets for the CMU concert cost $3 for students and senior citizens and $5 for all others and can be purchased at the Central Box Office on the lower level of the Bovee University Center, by calling 989-774-3000 or 888-CMU-0111 or by visiting http://centralboxoffice.cmich.edu.

In addition to being a feature of the March 18 concert, Mignone's work also is the subject of Mascolo-David's research. Her current research will lead to Mascolo-David recording his four Brazilian fantasies for piano and orchestra with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra. The CMU Research Excellence Fund-supported project will be released on the CMU School of Music's White Pine Music label in 2009.

To learn more about Mascolo-David and her work, visit http://www.mascolo-david.com.