Student soloists to perform with SFA’s Orchestra of the Pines

The Stephen F. Austin State University 2012-2013 Concerto/Aria Competition winners will be guest soloists when the Orchestra of the Pines presents “Taking Center Stage” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

Gilmer graduate student Leslie Laney, soprano, Vila Nova Gaia, Portugal, graduate student Bruno Ribeiro, piano, and Longview freshman John Tadlock, marimba, will perform with the Orchestra of the Pines.

In addition to the three solo works, the orchestra will perform its first Dmitry Shostakovich symphony under Music Director Gene H. Moon.

“The performance of Shostakovich’s Ninth Symphony will cap weekend concerts of the composer’s chamber works performed by SFA faculty and guests from the St. Petersburg String Quartet,” Moon said.

Ribeiro began his musical studies at age 6 at Vilar do Paraiso’s Music Academy and continued at Escola Superior de Musica e das Artes do Espetaculo as part of Filipe Sa’s studio where he earned an honors degree in piano performance. From 2006 to 2008, he studied at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University where he obtained a master’s degree in chamber music. He was selected to participate in the Cape Town Youth Music Festival, performing with the Cape Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2007, he won the Lionel Bowman prize at Stellenbosch University. Ribeiro has worked as a teacher and accompanist at various institutions in Portugal. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in piano performance at SFA where he studies with James Pitts.

Tadlock began his percussion studies at 12 under the direction of Don Lawler at Spring Hill ISD. He received four first division ratings for solos at the Texas State Solo and Ensemble Competition between 2009 and 2012. He was a member of the East Texas Symphonic Band from 2009 to 2012 and a member of the All-State Symphonic Band from 2010 through 2012.

Laney graduated Suma Cum Laude from SFA in 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in music education and a minor in history. She is pursuing a master’s degree in choral conducting. She was president of Mu Phi Epsilon from 2010-2011, a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda in 2011. She was a finalist in the 2007 and 2012 National Association of Teachers Singing Competition.

Laney was the recipient of the Ledbetter Dean’s Award in Music and the Baumgaurtner Award in 2011, and she was a soprano soloist in SFA’s production of Handel’s “Messiah” in 2010. She performed operatic roles as La Ciesca in “Gianni Schicchi,” Mrs. Hayes in “Susanna,” the Mother in “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” and Rosalinde in “Die Fledermaus.” She is currently cast as Anna Maurrant in SFA’s upcoming production of “Street Scene.” She is teaching voice lessons through SFA, and once she has graduated, plans to teach choir at the junior high or high school level.

The concert is a joint presentation of the SFA College of Fine Arts, School of Music and Orchestra Series. It is sponsored in part by Nacogdoches Memorial Hospital and the Wedgeworth-Wright Endowment for the Arts.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $5 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, go to www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.