Illinois, USA - Northern Illinois University Steelband, under the direction of Liam Teague and Cliff Alexis, presents its Spring 2014 concert on Sunday April 13th 2014, at 3:00 p.m. (CST) in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, NIU School of Music, DeKalb, Illinois.
The event will commemorate the ensemble’s 40th year of existence and will be a celebration of the past, present and future.
The special guest artiste will be Panamanian violinist Graciela “Chelín” Núńez, one of Panama City’s most active performers. Nunez began violin studies in Panama City, under the tutelage of distinguished Panamanian teachers and earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music in violin performance at the University of Kansas (Lawrence), graduating with honors (1996). She subsequently earned a Masters of Music in violin performance and pedagogy in 2006, from Northern Illinois University (NIU), thanks to a prestigious Fulbright scholarship, awarded by Harvard University. Graciela Nunez is currently the principal Second Violin in the Panama National Symphony Orchestra.
In keeping with the NIU Steelband’s mantra of highlighting the beauty, versatility and profundity of the steelpan, an eclectic mix of music will be performed, including, Pan 2000 composed by Cliff Alexis. This was one of the pieces (in addition to Robert Chappell’s Wood ‘n Steel) that helped to secure 2nd place for the NIU Steelband at the 2000 World Steelband Music Festival in Trinidad. The audience will also be treated to Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2, which was arranged for the steelpan studio (steelpan majors) by graduate student Josanne Francis. Bach Talk, a new work for steelpan and violin by Illinois composer Jan Bach, will receive its premiere performance by Liam Teague and Graciela Nunez.
The band will be joined by a number of NIU faculty members and alumni, and is excited to celebrate this momentous occasion.
The concert will be streamed live on the web at www.niu.edu/music
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