Alpena Community Concert Association will present its final concert of the 2010-11 season on March 3 at 7:30 p.m. in the Alpena High School Auditorium. The featured performer will be the renowned Italian pianist, Cristiana Pegoraro.
Remaining a concert artist favorite since her first Alpena performance, Pegoraro will return to the Alpena stage for the third time. Never before has the association welcomed an artist three times, but the decision of the ACCA Board was unanimous.
Pegoraro graduated with honors from the Conservatory of Terni, Italy (her birth city), at 16 years of age. She continued her studies in Vienna and Berlin, before winning "Best of the Year" Classical Music Award for her natural talent, personality, mastery of phrasing and expressive maturity.
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The New York Times defined her as "an artist of the highest caliber" following her 1996 debut at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall.
Pegoraro has performed consistently since childhood as a soloist and with orchestras for some of the most important organizations and concert halls in Europe, the United States, South America, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. Her tours in the Gulf countries have made her the first Italian female pianist to perform classical concerts in Bahrain, Yemen and Oman.
She has performed for the president of Italy, the president of the U.N. General Assembly and the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. In 2008, she was the only European representative at the United Nations in New York and performed in the hall of the General Assembly.
Fact Box
Italian pianist
Cristiana Pegoraro
Thursday, March 3
7:30 p.m.
AHS Auditorium
Pegoraro's television and radio broadcasts have included Italy, Scotland, Germany, Portugal, USA, Australia and Japan. Her discography counts 22 CDs, including three albums of her own original compositions. She regularly presents master classes at universities and colleges in the United States and other countries.
In addition, this artist supports various international organizations such as UNICEF, Amnesty International and World Food Program and Emergency in their humanitarian efforts.
In 2005, at her 10th concert at Lincoln Center, she received the "World Peace Award" for her effort in advancing peace in the world.
As an international star, critically acclaimed as one of the finest interpreters of Latin American composers, Pegoraro continues to seduce her audiences with her talent, translating a simple, musical score into authentic poetry. Described as pushing the piano to its limits and obtaining her goal without compromise, Pegoraro's musical passion leaves her listeners breathless.
As a kickoff to the next season (2011-12), ACCA will be offering this three-concert series for a discounted price of $45. This season membership will be available at the concert and continue through May 15.
Membership brochues that preview the coming season will also be available at the March 3 concert.
While admission to the Community Concert series is traditionally by membership only, there will be limited, single tickets available at the door on the night of the performance for $20. For additional information, about Alpena Community Concert Association or season memberships, contact Nancy Hammond at 356-8749 or David Usher at 471-9182.