Pianist Vanessa Perez To Perform

At Edmond Town Hall, November 21

Venezuelan-American pianist Vanessa Perez, already recognized as a virtuosa of the keyboard, is gifted with an extraordinary interpretative power that captivates audiences.

She began her studies at the age of seven in Caracas, Venezuela. Since the age of eight, she has appeared in solo recitals and with orchestras in concert halls around the world. At the age of eleven, she gave her official debut in Caracas, playing the Grieg Piano Concerto with the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal, conducted by Carolos Riazuelo in front of an audience of 2,500.

A gifted pianist with great talent, technical mastery, and remarkable performance personality, Ms Perez will be the next musician to offer a concert sponsored by Newtown Friends of Music. Ms Perez will be in Newtown on Sunday, November 21, performing at 3 pm at Edmond Town Hall theater.

In the US, Perez studied with Rosalina Sackstein and Ena Bronstein. At the age of 17 she was awarded a full scholarship by the Royal Academy of Music, London, studying with Christopher Elton.

After graduating she continued her studies in Italy at the Accademia Pianistica “Incontri Col Maestro” in Imola with pianists Lazar Berman and Franco Scala. Later on she completed postgraduate studies at Yale University with Hungarian pianist Peter Frankl. Among other musicians who have strongly contributed to her musical growth are Richard Goode, Tamas Vasary, Claude Frank, Boris Berman, Lynn Harrell, Zubin Mehta, Lev Naumov and Dimitri Bashkirov.

Ms Perez combines in her playing a spontaneous freshness and gentle poetic expression. After hearing her perform, legendary pianist Claudio Arrau highly praised Perez, calling her “a pianist whose technique, musicality, and intelligent approach to the music she plays made a profound impression on me. It is not possible to find a young artist today better equipped with all of the necessary qualities that my school of pianists requires from a performer.”

Ms Perez possesses a rare gift: irresistible charisma. Her playing is warm, passionate and colorful, combined with superb technique. The program on November 21 will include works by Brahms, Albéniz, and a number of Chopin Preludes and a Chopin Scherzo.

Single tickets for just this performance are $20. Students K through 12 are admitted free of charge when accompanied by a ticket-holding adult. The box office will open one hour before the start of the concert.

Parking is free behind Edmond Town Hall and the facility is handicap accessible with all seating providing excellent viewing and acoustics. An elevator will take patrons to all three floors of the building.

An informal reception following the concert will offer concert goers the opportunity to meet Ms Perez.

For information regarding this and future events, write to  Newtown Friends of Music at PO Box 295, Newtown CT 06470-0295, or visit NewtownFriendsOfMusic.org to learn more about all the programs, the music, the artists and the annual School Outreach Programs. Reservations, which are strongly recommended, are also available by calling 203-426-6470.