SONGS AND DANCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Music from Spain, Poland, Germany, USA, Mexico and Argentina

Program:

SPAIN

Quejas o La maja y el Ruiseñor by Enrique Granados (1867-1916)

From The Suite Española Op. 47 by Isaac Albéniz (1860-1909)

V. Asturias

POLAND

Mazurka in A Minor, Op. 17, No 4. by Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

Grand Valse Brillante in A-flat Major, Op. 34, No. 1

GERMANY

Chaconne in D Minor by Johann S. Bach (1685-1750) (arr. Ferruccio Busoni)

USA

Someone to Watch Over Me by George Gershwin (1898-1937) (arr. Keith Jarret)

MEXICO

Two Motions in One Movement by Samuel Zyman (b. 1956)

ARGENTINA

Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992) (arr. Pablo Ziegler)

Danzas Argentinas by Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983)

I. Danza del Viejo Boyero

II. Danza de la Moza Donosa

III. Danza del Gaucho Matrero

Renowned for his superb cantabile tone and exceptional rapport, Mexican pianist Juan Pablo Horcasitas is celebrated as one of the most versatile musicians of his generation. Following his solo debut at Carnegie Hall in New York City in 2009, he has captivated audiences worldwide with his dynamic performances and collaborative spirit. A First Prize winner at the "Manuel de Falla" Piano Competition in Mexico City, he has graced the stage of major concert halls across Mexico, Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South America, and the United States. Recent highlights include critically acclaimed recitals in Belgium, Dubai, Chicago, and Milwaukee.

As a soloist, Mr. Horcasitas has performed with distinguished ensembles, including the Chamber Orchestra of Singapore and the Lebanese Philharmonic Orchestra. He has also been a featured guest with premier Mexican orchestras such as Camerata de Coahuila, Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes, Orquesta Filarmónica de Querétaro, Orquesta del Desierto, and Orquesta de Baja California. His festival appearances span an impressive array of international stages, including the Suolahti International Music Festival in Finland, the Latino Music Festival in Chicago, the Latin American Cultural Week in New York, and the International Festival of Symphonic Music in Algiers.

An accomplished collaborative artist and chamber musician, Mr. Horcasitas has shared the stage with esteemed performers in Caracas, Chicago, New York, and Mexico City. His dedication to cross-disciplinary projects includes serving as a guest conductor at the Mozart Festival in Tepotzotlán in 2006 and as Music Director for Opera Hispánica, where he championed Latin American and Spanish repertoire. His contributions to musical theater include leading the New York City premiere of Héctor Armienta's off-Broadway musical La Llorona in 2012.

Mr. Horcasitas is an ardent advocate for American and Latin American composers. He earned the National Award for Culture and the Arts Scholarship in Mexico with his project, "Carlos Chávez: Early Piano Pieces," and frequently programs works by composers such as Samuel Zyman, José Pablo Moncayo, Manuel M. Ponce, Carlos Chávez, Juan Pablo Contreras, and Leonardo Coral. His dedication to this repertoire earned him the Excellence in Classical Music Award at the Mexican Music Awards in New York City in 2015. Additionally, he has shared his expertise through lecture-recitals, including a notable presentation on Mexican concert music from the 19th to the 21st centuries at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

A passionate educator, Mr. Horcasitas served from 2009 to 2021 as a faculty member at the Filomen M. D'Agostino Greenberg Music School—a pioneering institution for visually impaired students. He has also taught at the Diller Quaile School of Music in New York City and currently holds the position of Private Instruction Coordinator and Piano Faculty at the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music.

Mr. Horcasitas holds the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied under Nina Svetlanova. In Mexico, his teachers included Carmen Carrasco, Alberto Cruzprieto, and María Teresa Frenk. His formal conducting training was guided by Maestro David Jackson at the Metropolitan Opera.

In April 2021, Mr. Horcasitas released his second studio album, Prelude, to widespread acclaim. Recently, he was honored as the guest pianist for the Philomusica Quartet’s 17th season at Wisconsin Lutheran College, further solidifying his reputation as a multifaceted and inspiring artist.

Recent engagements include his debut concert with the Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes in Mexico City and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional of Guatemala.

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