Program Notes
Under Her Influence
I included Clara Schumann in my recital to acknowledge the powerful pianist and composer she was in her own right. She was one of the first female composer “rediscovered” and added to our understanding of western classical music history. In her time, she was a well-known and celebrated pianist and composer. She was lost to music history due to the male focused narrative.
Nadia Boulanger was a composer, keyboardist, and then a professor of composers. An accomplished keyboardist (piano and organ), from a family rooted in the Paris Conservatory. influenced generations of musicians, some who are currently composing. Francis Poulenc was a friend of Nadia Boulanger and Darius Milhaud was her student. In this performance you will hear how these compositions were composed under her influence. She was not on the fringes as a female composer, but at the center of French composition during her time, and was very much an influence of Les Six.
Clara Schumann - Piano Trio in G Minor, Op 17:
Most of Clara’s published works were songs and short character pieces. A The Piano Trio in G Minor is a complex and beautifully written chamber work that shows her mastery both of counterpoint and of the long melodic line. The sonata-form first movement is filled with Romantic ardor, from its urgent lyrical themes tinged with longing, to its vigorous contrapuntal development section, to its brief, driving coda.
Nadia Boulanger - Trois Pieces for Cello and Piano
I - Modere
The mysterious opening movement starts with a trickling effect from the piano, before a softly muted cello enters. The delicate nature of this movement shows fragility in Boulanger’s writing, that many of her contemporaries longed for. The use of the cello’s higher range create sufficient tension, as the piano presses on with the sparkling effect. The syncopated sections between the two instruments shows the influence of Debussy and Faure’s on a young Boulanger.
II - Sans vitesse et a l’aise
The rich middle range of the cello is exploited through this movement, with the warm timbres practically melting off of the instrument. This movement ends quietly.
III - Vite et nerveusement
The frantic finale is the most energetic of the three pieces. Boulanger’s bold use of the piano in its supporting role of the cello shines through in this movement. The big leaps from the cello paired with the largely chordal accompaniment from the piano creates waves of sound. The lyrical central section plays on the cello’s timbre once more, as all of its range is explored in a short space of time. The vigorous opening sequence returns and leads this piece to its epic conclusion.
Francis Poulenc - Flute Sonata
Poulenc was born in 1899, the son of wealthy parents and grew up on an estate outside of Paris. He showed early promise as a pianist and composer, first noticed by the legendary music teacher Nadia Boulanger. Francis Poulenc remained a friend of Nadia Boulanger. He respected her as a composer and musician. In 1957, he, wrote Vive Nadia (Chanson en hommage a Nadia Boulanger) in 1957 as an homage to her
The sonata reflects Poulenc’s contrasting moods of melancholy and joy; the first movement is appropriately titled Allegro malinconico and the mood is mournful. But the melancholy is intermittent and offset by a middle section in better humor. Note at the outset the little rhythmic pattern of four 32nd notes followed by a quarter note; this pattern is repeated again and again, giving the music a flowing character.
The slow movement is an extended song for the flute - slow in tempo but more introspective than depressed. The third movement is completely lively and spirited, with references to the main theme of the first movement and its rhythmic figure.
Darius Milhaud - Scaramouche, Suite for Piano, Op. 165
The opening movement, 'Vif', is a spirited samba, showcasing Milhaud’s skill in weaving together complex contrapuntal textures over polyrhythmic accompaniments. The central movement, 'Modéré, is lyrical and highlights Milhaud's melodic creativity within the harmonic framework of the piece.
The final movement, 'Brazileira', is perhaps one of the most rhythmically daring, a rambunctious musical romp underpinned by Brazilian influences Milhaud absorbed during his time in Rio de Janeiro. It is here that one can observe the composer's use of extended chords and his flirtation with atonality, pushing the boundaries of harmony but always remaining rooted in tonality.
Artist Biographies
Tonya Pacetti-Perkins is a pianist with years of experience collaborating with instrumentalists and vocalist in the San Antonio Area in her youth. She started studying piano at the age of 7 with Thelma Gonzalez Landon at the Lackland Music Academy in San Antonio, Texas. In 1997, she was inspired by the piece Miràge which was composed by Elisenda Fábregas and commissioned by the San Antonio International Piano Composition, Following this inspiration, she auditioned and became part of Dr. Fábregas' studio at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1998, where she focused on expanding her piano repertoire and technique. During her studies she was recognized by the Piano Area for her accompaniment efforts.
After years of focusing on her corporate career, and family, she has returned to her piano studies, and is currently the first student in the UTSA collaborative piano performance certificate program. Tonya is studying under Dr. Tracy Cowden and Dr. Jeong-Eun Lee as they define a program for the San Antonio area rooted in the Eastman School of Music tradition and the teachings of Dr. Jean Barr. Tonya is excited to bring a fresh perspective to collaborative piano and highlighting the works of underrepresented composers.
Elisa Nivon is a dedicated violinist and a member of the National Symphony of Mexico (OSN), also serving as a Suzuki Method violin instructor. Born and raised in Kyoto, Japan. Elisa commenced her musical studies at a young age at the "Talent Education Institute of the Suzuki Method". She earned a bachelor's degree with an honorific mention from the Superior School of Music (ESM - Prof. Vera Silantieval) in Mexico City. Currently, she is pursuing a Masters of Music in
performance under the renowned Dr. Nicole Cherry at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she also serves as her teaching assistant.
Elisa initiated her orchestral career at the age of 10, playing with "Concertino di Kyoto, Jr., "Concertio di Kyoto", Kyoto Jr, Symphony Orchestra." and the "National Symphony Orchestra." She has received several awards, including second place and honorable mention, in Mexican national chamber music competitions as a duo for piano and violin.
Having collaborated with renowned musicians such as Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Vadim Gluzman, Viktoria Mullova, Yuja Wang, Pablo Sainz, and Placindo Domingo. Elisa has performed in prestigious concert halls worldwide, including venues in Mexico, Germany, Austria, China, and Japan. As an active performer, she has received numerous invitation to participate in significant musical projects, including Netfl ix fi lm recordings, popular music collaborations, and TV appearances such as Amazon Original Series "Mozart in the Jungle", Mexican Artistic Channel "Canal 11". and the Rock Festival "Vive Latino" in Mexico City with the Mexican band Zoe
Elisa is also a founding member of the Nevada String Quartet, the resident chamber ensemble of the Mexico State University of the Performing Arts. In addition to her performance career, Elisa is a passionate teacher dedicated to music outreach in underdeveloped towns in Mexico. She owns a violin made by the prize-winning violin maker Erick Ivan Diaz and plays his op.36 Stradivarius model, which belongs to Luis Rivera.
Isaiah Valdez, a 22-year-old native of Harlingen, Texas, embarked on his musical journey at Vernon Middle School, laying the foundation for his passion for music. His formative years were shaped under the guidance of Dr. Tido Janssen at UTRGV, where he honed his skills and developed a deep appreciation for the cello.
Continuing his musical pursuits at the University of Texas at San Antonio, Isaiah had the privilege of studying under esteemed teachers such as Dr. Yi Qun Xu, Holgen Gjoni, and Bonnie Hampton. Engaging in multiple
masterclasses with renowned musicians like Julien Swartz, Brook Speltz, Santiago Cañón Valencia, and Emilio Colon enriched his musical perspective. Actively participating in chamber groups at UTSA, Isaiah showcases his versatility and commitment to musical collaboration. Beyond performance, he finds joy in composing across various genres. His composition, "Silent Cartography," a suite for solo piano, garnered acclaim and awards at UTSA's COLFA Research Conference in 2021.
Isaiah is currently immersed in the Master's program at UTSA in Cello Performance AND Pedagogy, Isaiah aspires to follow in the footsteps of his mentors. His overarching goal is to continue his musical education and ultimately become a distinguished music educator at the university level. Isaiah Valdez's dedication to his craft, coupled with his diverse musical pursuits, paints a vibrant portrait of a promising and aspiring musician on the brink of a promising career.
Eymen Geylan was born in Izmir, Turkey. In 2005, at the age of 12, she began to play the piano at the Conservatory of Dokuz Eylül University. She participated in 3. Pera Piano Festival. She actively studied with Marina Horak, Victor Santiago Asuncion, Zöhrab Adigüzelzade during Pera Piano Festival. In 2011, she moved to Istanbul a year later and got accepted to the Conservatory of Istanbul University. During her education in Istanbul Conservatory, she had performed a workshop with Pablo Galdo and Jose Manuel Gonzalez Fernandez who was a faculty member of Vigo Conservatory in Spain. In 2014, she participated in International Duo Piano Competition, held by 9. Pera Piano Festival and was awarded with the 3rd. prize. In 2016, she moved to the United States and continued her music education at San Antonio College with Dr. Mark Alexander. In 2018, she transferred to the University of Texas at San Antonio and got accepted to Dr. Kasandra Keeling’s studio. She finished her bachelor’s degree in 2021 and continues her master’s degree in the same institution. She participated in Olga Kernâ’s, Anton Nelâ’s, Gabriela Martinez’s masterclasses.
Eymen Geylan performed in many concerts, performed with chamber orchestras and gave many recitals during her education. She actively accompanies to the other
instrumentalists. Eymen Geylan still continues her master’s degree in University of Texas at San Antonio on piano performance emphasis. She performed Liszt Piano Concerto No.2 with South Texas Symphonic Orchestra in February 2024. Eymen Geylan was recently awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student of College of Liberal and Fine Arts in Annual University Life Awards. She is planning to graduate in Spring 2024 and continue her doctoral degree in music.
Acknowledgement
Thank you to Dr. Kasandra Keeling for your continued encouragement to return to my studies over the years. You never allowed me to feel it was too late to continue. Thank you to the Dr. Jeong-Eun Lee and Dr. Tracy Cowden for your insight and for helping me to grow as a pianist and performer. The faculty at the UTSA School of Music has been amazing. I also want to acknowledge the foundation I received from my past piano instructors Thelma Gonzalez Landon, and Dr. Elisenda Fábregas. This allowed me to continue to build. To my friends and family who encouraged me to play again...I love you.
