from WCR Center for the Arts
WCR Center for the Arts is hosting an Italian Mandolin Serenade on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m., at its event venue at 140 N. 5th St., in downtown Reading. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available on the WCR website (https://www.wcrcenter.org/eventcalendar) and at the door. One free student ticket is included with the purchase of every adult ticket.
Sunday afternoon will be filled with the sounds of Italy and will feature virtuosic world musicians Carlo Aonzo on mandolin and René Izquierdo on classical guitar for the first half of the program. After intermission, they will be backed by our very own Reading Mandolin Orchestra and Friends.
Carlo Aonzo, a world-famous Italian mandolin performer and teacher at the Conservatories of Music “N. Piccinni” in Bari (Italy), was born and grew up in Savona, where he started playing under his father’s guidance in the “Circolo Mandolinistico G. Verdi.”
Graduating with honors from the conservatory in Padua (1993), he has played for several prestigious institutions like the Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala in Milan (Italy), Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Nashville Chamber Orchestra (USA), McGill Chamber Orchestra in Montreal (Canada), Philharmonia of San Petersburg (Russia), Minsk Chamber Soloist (Belarus), and Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival (Germany).
Among his several awards are the first prize at the Concorso Internazionale “Pitzianti” in Venice (1993), including the “Vivaldi” special mention, and first prize at the Walnut Valley National Mandolin Contest in Winfield Kansas (1997).
Carlo’s deep interest in outreach activities focused on his instrument is witnessed by his countless collaborations with mandolin orchestras around the world, namely New York, Seattle, Portland, Providence, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Denver, Milwaukee, Atlanta, Montreal, Milan, Genoa, Lugano, Kochi, Nagoya, Osaka, Sendai, Wuppertal, Berlin, London, San Petersburg, and Saigon.
Cuban-born René Izquierdo has “unforgettable versatility, sensitivity, and sublime musicianship” (Classical Guitar Magazine) He is one of the world’s classical guitar virtuosos. a unique artist and passionate educator whose career has been dedicated to inspiring individuals and connecting communities. Whether performing on stage, devotedly mentoring his students, fundraising, or leading community outreach, René’s multi-faceted approach endeavors to continue creating experiences that enrich people’s lives.
He is celebrated for his ability to weave an unparalleled technical command of his instrument with his gift of storytelling, accomplishing an intimate musical experience with his audience.
The Reading Mandolin Orchestra and Friends will provide accompaniment to the soloists and also perform classic Italian favorites. Founded in 2017, the RMO is dedicated to promoting the tradition of the mandolin orchestra and providing opportunities for musicians in Reading and the surrounding area to play together. Like most mandolin orchestras, the RMO consists of mandolins, mandolas, mandocellos (cousins to the violin, viola, and cello), guitar, and bass, with occasional percussion and other featured instruments.
WCR has a commitment to provide diverse offerings of world music to all Berks Countians. The WCR is honored to host two soloists of such high esteem.
This concert is made possible by the generous support of Russo’s Gourmet Foods and Market and Lehigh Valley Mandolins. A special thank you to Trinity Lutheran for making its parking lot available to concert attendees.
To learn more about the WCR Center for the Arts 20th anniversary season’s sponsorship, donations, and volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.wcrcenter.org/.
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Source: bctv