Nazareth College Department of Music presents SOLO CELLO FROM BACH TO ZAJAC, featuring Mimi Hwang

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Mimi Hwang to perform SOLO CELLO FROM BACH TO ZAJAC at Nazareth College on March 21

ROCHESTER, NY (02/27/2014)(readMedia)-- The Nazareth College Department of Music is pleased to present Solo Cello from Bach to Zajac, featuring Mimi Hwang, as part of its 2013-2014 Faculty Recital Series, at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 21, in the Wilmot Recital Hall. The performance will feature works for unaccompanied cello including the premiere of Three Colors for Solo Cello by Nazareth College student composer, Shade Zajac. This event is free and open to the public.

The Solo Cello from Bach to Zajac program will consist of:

• Suite No. 6 by J. S. Bach
• Suite for Solo Cello by the Spanish cellist and composer, Gaspar Cassado
• Three Colors for Solo Cello by Shade Zajac (world premiere)

"Bach wrote six suites for solo cello, which are staples in the cello repertoire," says Hwang of the first piece on her program. "The sixth suite was originally written for the cello piccolo, a five-stringed instrument. It is especially difficult on a standard four-stringed cello, which is missing the highest string. I chose this suite because it tends to not be performed as much as the others. I also love the joy and exuberance in this D major suite."

Zajac – who composed the world premiere Hwang will perform at the end of the evening – is a Nazareth College cello performance major from Ithaca, has studied cello with Hwang for 2-1/2 years, and is one of the winners of the 2013-14 Concerto/Aria Competition.

"Shade is a terrific cellist and is eager to learn all there is to know about music," Hwang enthuses. "I enjoyed hearing some of his other pieces and commissioned him to write this work. Cellists know best how to write for the instrument, and I was curious to see what he would write for me."

Offers Zajac, "When Mimi approached me to write a piece for her solo cello recital, many ideas went through my mind. I knew I wanted to do something different to add diversity to her program and really highlight her beautiful playing. There are several influences in my usual writing, but I took a different approach when composing this piece. I decided to pick a subject that would be ambiguous; I wanted each person who would be involved in the piece (composer, performer, and listener), to have a unique experience. There are three movements in the piece, which are simply put as Color 1 Color 2 and Color 3. I did this instead of labeling each movement with the color that comes to my mind so that those involved would not be influenced by my views. I hope that the listeners will be able to enjoy my work, and the wonderful artistry Mimi will bring to this piece in her own way."

About Mimi Hwang

The daughter of Chinese immigrants, cellist Margery (Mimi) Hwang was born and raised in Los Angeles. She was a founding member of the Franciscan String Quartet, first-prize winner of the Banff International String Quartet Competition, and top prize winner of the Evian International String Quartet Competition. The Quartet performed in concert halls throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, including Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, and Casals Hall in Tokyo. The Quartet held the position of Wardwell Fellows at the Yale School of Music and was Quartet-in-Residence at the Hopkins Center at Dartmouth College, where Hwang was on the faculty of the Department of Music. She has recorded for Verdi Records. She has also performed with the Tokyo, Ying, Colorado, and Ciompi Quartets, as well as Raphael Hillyer, Laurence Lesser, and Michael Tree. She was a member of the Peabody Trio, winners of the Naumberg Chamber Music Award. As a soloist, Hwang has performed with the Beijing Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra. She received her master's degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, a bachelor's degree with distinction at the New England Conservatory of Music, and studied with Bonnie Hampton, Laurence Lesser, Paul Katz, and Eleonore Schoenfeld. She was a founding member of the Cello Divas and Quartos and has appeared in the Aspen, Banff, Norfolk, Roycroft, Skaneateles, and Yellow Barn festivals.

Ms. Hwang is currently a lecturer in Music at Nazareth College, an assistant professor of Chamber Music at the Eastman School of Music, and a founding member and cellist of the Amenda Quartet. She is also Co-Artistic Director of Yellow Barn Music School and Festival's Young Artists Program, a three-week summer chamber music program for talented high school student, held in Putney, Vermont. Ms. Hwang serves on the Board of Trustees of the Rochester Area Community Foundation, where she chairs the Program-Distributions Committee. She also serves as a Trustee of the Arts and Cultural Council for Greater Rochester and lives in Brighton with her two daughters.

About the Nazareth College Department of Music

The Department of Music at Nazareth College integrates intensive studies in music (musicianship and performance), with professional programs and the liberal arts, for a truly unique experience that prepares students for careers in music and equips them with the skills to share the art of music in a variety of capacities.

Each degree program is designed to prepare students not only for careers within the various degree areas, but also for exciting endeavors that will perpetuate and sustain the art of music in local and global communities.

The department is a vibrant community of musicians focused on the art of music, the professional domains of knowledge within the musical career areas, and the relationship of these areas to the liberal arts. For more information, visit: www.naz.edu/music.

About Nazareth College

Nazareth is a coeducational, independent college on a suburban campus just outside Rochester, N.Y. The College challenges students to rise to their potential with a liberal arts and sciences foundation, professional programs, experiential learning, and an innovative curriculum that addresses the current and emerging needs of the world - ranging from economics to physical therapy to environmental science. With more than 40 undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs, a vibrant arts center and a variety of athletics, clubs and organizations, Nazareth prepares students to be successful professionals and engaged citizens. For more information, visit www.naz.edu.

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