Feb. 1 – Rachmaninoff & the Firebird

WILLIS-KNIGHTON MASTERWORKS SERIES

Saturday, February 1, 2020 at 7:30 PM 
RiverView Theater
Michael Butterman, conductor

McTEE  Circuits 
Aleksi Moriarty, video artist
RACHMANINOFF Piano Concerto No. 1
Dominic Muzzi, Wideman Gold Medalist
HOVHANESS  Symphony No. 2 (“Mysterious Mountain”)
Stephen Lias, video artist 
STRAVINSKY  Firebird Suite (1919)

Enjoy Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Concerto No. 1, followed by Stravinsky’s Suite from The Firebird and the transcendent Mysterious Mountain by Alan Hovhaness. Fascinating world-premiere videos, co-commissioned by the SSO, add depth to two of the works on this unique program.

Program Notes
Free pre-concert discussion starts at 6:40 PM

 

CONCERT SPONSOR


About Dominic Muzzi

Hailed for his “mastery, precision, and passion,” pianist Dominic Muzzi began training in the art of classical piano at the age of four, having shown keen aural ability before that age. Shortly thereafter, he began performing locally in his childhood home of central Florida, giving his first public solo recital at the age of 11 in a local music store. By the age of 14, Dominic had earned the American College of Musician’s National Level performance certificate. Presently, Dominic has performed across the United States and Europe, holding over a dozen top prizes in solo piano and concerto competitions. The previous season has been immensely successful for Dominic, having earned the gold medal and first prize in the 68th Wideman International Piano Concerto Competition, as well as first prize at the National finals of the Music Teachers National Association’s Young Artist Competition.

​Dominic was inspired to pursue music professionally in the summer of 2010 while attending a pre-college piano festival at Florida State University. He would go on to complete his undergraduate studies there under the tutelage of Dr. Read Gainsford. Seeking to further his education, Dominic graduated summa cum laude with a Masters of Music in piano from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music in the spring of 2018. He is now enrolled in the doctoral program at Indiana University, studying with internationally acclaimed concert pianist Roberto Plano.

In addition to being a full-time student, Dominic works as an Associate Instructor for Indiana University in the secondary piano program, teaching both group piano and private students. Dominic is also in active demand as a collaborative pianist, with over a decade of professional experience performing with choirs, chamber ensembles, and solo musicians at the highest level of musicianship and facility. He has studied chamber music with renowned artists such as Peter Stumpf, Alex Kerr, and Kevork Mardirossian. He has participated in masterclasses and public lessons by Sergei Babayan, Jerome Lowenthal, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Jon Nakamatsu, and others.

This season, Dominic will debut with the Shreveport Symphony and Symphony New Hampshire, performing the first two piano concerti of Sergei Rachmaninoff. He will also perform two recitals in the Chopin for All concert series, sponsored by the Chopin Foundation of the United States.  www.dominicmuzzi.com