Keene State Faculty Artists Perform Eclectic Concert

KEENE, N.H., 1/24/07 - Take a musical trip around the world and through time with pieces ranging from Mozart to Gnattali to Keene State College’s Christopher Swist at the KSC Faculty Artists’ Recital on Friday, February 16, at 7:30 p.m. in the Alumni Recital Hall of the Redfern Arts Center on Brickyard Pond. Tickets are $7 for the general public and $5 for KSC students, senior citizens, and youth ages 17 or younger. Call the box office at 603-358-2168.

George Loring (piano), Sussan Henkel (oboe), and guest Julie Armstrong (flute) will perform early- to mid-20th century English composer Madeleine Dring’s Trio for Flute, Oboe and Piano. Christopher Swist (marimba) will premiere his Prelude for Marimba (2007) and also perform Marimba Etude #2 “Progression.”

José Manuel Lezcano (guitar) and guest flutist Sergio Palotelli will perform Sonata for Flute and Guitar, a three-movement work by Radames Gnattali that blends the neo-classical and jazz genres. Gnattali was one of Brazil’s most important and popular composers. Lezcano will also perform Francisco Tarrega’s Gran Jota Aragonesa, a folk theme with elaborate variations such as drum effects, harmonics, and fast scales.

Pamela Stevens (mezzo-soprano) will sing “Va, laisse couler mes larmes” from Werther, by Massenet. Diane Cushing (soprano) will solo in Lehar’s well- known “Vilia” from The Merry Widow. Cushing and Stevens will perform the duets “Barcarolle” from Les Contes d’Hoffmann, by Offenbach; “Dome epais” from Lakme, by Delibes; and “Sull’aria” from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro.

George Loring, is an artist-in-residence with Keene State’s Department of Music, where he teaches piano performance, accompanying, piano pedagogy, class piano, piano ensemble, and music theory. He also fulfills extensive accompaniment duties.

Sussan Henkel has been a member of the KSC faculty for more than 15 years and performs regularly with the Keene Chamber Orchestra, Raylynmor Opera Company, and other New England musical groups. Julie Armstrong graduated from Keene State with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education, and she is currently Director of Bands in Charlestown, New Hampshire. She plays first flute with the Keene Chamber Orchestra and is a longtime member of the Fireside Winds.

Christopher Swist teaches percussion at Keene State, is a composer, and also performs with the New Britain Symphony, Waterbury Symphony, Steel Sunrise, Drumspeak, Lehninger-Swist Duo, Dance Connecticut, and Seven Angels Theater.

José Manuel Lezcano is a professor of music at Keene State. His guitar studies were with Aaron Shearer and Christopher Berg. Cuban composer/guitarist Leo Brouwer called him “un guitarrista magnifico.”

Sergio Pallottelli regularly performs as soloist and chamber musician throughout the United States, Europe, South America, and Australia. He teaches master classes annually in Lima, Peru; Quito, Ecuador; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Monterchi, Italy; as well as throughout the U.S.

Diane Cushing presently teaches voice and conducts the KSC Choir. She is the founder and director of The Greater Gardner Youth Choir and The Mount Wachusett Community Choir of Gardner.

Pamela Stevens teaches voice at Keene State and in her private studio in Hancock. She has been a frequent soloist with many local organizations, including the Monadnock Chorus and Orchestra, Keene Chorale, Keene State Oratorio Society, among others.

Located off Wyman Way, the Redfern Arts Center is accessible to people with disabilities. To request accommodations for a disability, please call the box office, 603-358-2168, at least two weeks before the recital.