Friday, April 20, 2018 — 5:30pm
Music TBA
The Piazzolla da Camera Trio celebrates ten years dedicated to the exclusive performance of the works of modern tango master Astor Piazzolla. Having travelled the world to bring attention to the beauty and bravado of what audiences and critics have celebrated as ‘exquisitely Argentine’ and ‘simply delicious in execution,’ these musicians strive to look beyond the written note, and bring to light the rich colors and sounds of the Buenos Aires cityscape. The Piazzolla da Camera Trio’s recent debut at the prestigious St-Martin-in-the-Fields in London received a standing ovation from a standing-room only audience. In addition to regular appearances in Arizona and New Mexico, the group has performed and taught educational workshops in Thailand.
Carla Kountoupes is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Violin Performance) and Oberlin College (English Literature). Currently, Carla is a member of the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Opera Orchestra, and Santa Fe Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra. An active freelance musician, she has toured and performed in orchestras and chamber ensembles in Central America, Taiwan, Germany, and all over the United States. She performs regularly with the UP Quartet as part of the Chatter Sunday and Cabaret Chamber Music Series. Carla also enjoys performing and recording with Latin, alt-rock and jazz ensembles. A dedicated music educator, Carla holds a Master of Music degree in Music Teaching and has directed public school orchestra programs as a state certified teacher in both Arizona and New Mexico.
Andrew Nickles was born to an Argentine mother and an American father in 1975. He was awarded a Rotary scholarship at eighteen where he studied cello in Belgium. He earned two bachelors degrees from the University of Arizona in French and in Music in 1999, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois in 2003, and continues to arrange, compose for, and direct hundreds of guitar and orchestra students in Tucson, Arizona. His cello endeavors include Broadway productions, symphonic debuts, a private concert for Lady Margaret Thatcher, many appearances with Piazzolla da Camera, and touring with pianist Ian Hobson.
Oscar Macchioni, a native of Argentina, is a Steinway Artist, an accomplished pianist, professor, lecturer, author and adjudicator. Oscar has performed extensively in Argentina, England, Italy, Poland, Turkey, Serbia, Mexico, and the USA. His book The Tango in American Piano Music and his CD Mostly Tangos got rave reviews. He has been praised by critics for his expressive phrasing and the amiable way he presents his programs. He has been a recipient of numerous scholarships and grants including the Smithsonian Institution, the Polish Government, the Organization of American States, and the Texas Commission on the Arts. Dr. Macchioni is an Associate Professor of piano at the University of Texas at El Paso.