Sessions at MoCA\CT: Latinx Musical Identities

Past Performances, Performances

four individuals in their mid-twenties holding string instrument cases.

Latinx Musical Identities

Date: Saturday, October 11  at 7 PM

General Admission: $50

Senior: $40

Student: $40

TICKETS

Get ready for a night that will leave you breathless. Pianist Priscila Navarro and the powerhouse Arx Duo percussionists light up the stage with the explosive sounds of Latin America.

Feel the fire of Afro-Peruvian dance.
Sway to the elegance of Mexico’s Danzón.
Get swept away by the passion of South America’s greatest melodies.

The evening builds to the Westport premiere of Jimmy López’s Perú Negro — a jaw-dropping, high-voltage finale with two pianos and two percussionists.

This concert is a full-body, heart-pounding experience you’ll talk about long after the final note.

Seats are limited and going fast — buy your tickets now before they’re gone!

 

About Priscila Navarro:

Peruvian pianist Priscila Navarro performs solo recitals, chamber works, and a large selection of concerti with orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America. Her talent has been widely recognized and she has been awarded the first prize at several international competitions, including the Liszt-Garritson International Competition in Baltimore, Maryland, Beethoven Sonata Competition in Tennessee, Chopin International Competition of Texas, Artist Series of Sarasota, Imola City Awards, Italy, and the Heida Hermanns International Music Competition.

Priscila made her Carnegie Hall solo recital debut in 2013 and will return there twice in 2022. She received a Special Bach prize at the International City of Vigo Competition in Spain, where she was one of five finalists from over 400 participating pianists, with a jury presided by Martha Argerich. As a chamber musician, Priscila regularly performs with a wide variety of musicians. She performed in several cities in Peru with violist Jodi Levitz, viola professor at the University of Miami. Priscila forms a piano duet with Dr. Michael Baron. Their first album is set to release in December with the MSR Classics label, with a Carnegie Hall premiere concert in March 2022.

Priscila holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in piano performance and pedagogy from the Frost School of Music, where she also completed Masters and Artist Diploma degrees as a student of Santiago Rodriguez and Kevin Kenner. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Florida Gulf Coast University where she studied with Dr. Michael Baron. She began her music studies at the age of 9, in the National Conservatory of Peru with Professor Lydia Hung. 
 

Besides her busy performance career, Priscila is a passionate pedagogue and has been on the jury at several international competitions, including the Chopin International Competition for Latin American pianists, and the Heida Hermanns International Competition. Priscila is the current artistic director for the Parnassus Music Society.Last year, they hosted the first International Piano Competition Parnassus Music, an event born of her initiative to showcase and promote talented Latin American pianists. As a winner of the 2023 auditions, Priscila joined the roster of Astral Artists. This 2024 Priscila joined the faculty at the prestigious piano department of the University of Kansas. 

About Jair Zacarias:

Born in Trujillo, Peru, Jair is a first-year DMA student at Kansas University School of Music. He is the winner of several competitions, including the 2023 Stecher and Horowitz Piano competition and the MTNA Young Artist Competition. Jair has worked with renowned pianists such as Yefim Bronfman, Jon Nakamatsu, Paul Schenly, and
Jerome Lowenthal. He has participated in festivals in the United States, Brazil, and Peru, including the Bowdoin International Music Festival and Pianofest in the Hamptons. Jair completed a master’s degree at Indiana University where he studied with Emile Naumoff, and a bachelor’s degree at Florida Gulf Coast University under the guidance of Dr. Michael Baron.

About Arx Duo:
Arx Duo is a globally renowned percussion chamber music ensemble dedicated to expanding percussion repertoire through new creations, inspiring young artists, and captivating audiences worldwide. With premiere performances across the globe, cross-continental workshops, and collaborations with diverse composers and artists, Arx Duo brings vibrant new works to life, captivating communities everywhere. Arx Duo has performed in diverse venues, ranging from a parking lot in West Africa to the prestigious Royal Albert Concert Hall in London, and many more. Their focus lies in bringing grand, new works to life, and are passionate about connecting with audiences worldwide with the ever-evolving creation of new music. With a repertoire that spans from established masters to cutting-edge composers, arx duo has collaborated closely with renowned artists such as Jonathan Bailey Holland, Ted Hearne, Steven Mackey, Juri Seo, and numerous others. They have also shared the stage with distinguished performers and chamber ensembles including the Dover String Quartet, Aeolus String Quartet, Bergamot String Quartet, Amy Yang, Henry Kramer, The Percussion Collective, Jason Treuting, and many more.  Arx Duo has been fortunate enough to perform premiere concerti as soloists with Symphony Tacoma, Mission Hills Symphony, Missoula Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, Louisville Symphony, and more including being featured at Artosphere Music Festival with a double concerto from composer Nick Diberardino, written for the duo. The name “arx duo” comes from the artists’ desire to forge new connections and artistic pathways or “arcs” within the genre, expanding the opportunities for their music to reach new audiences. The group has recently been awarded a Chamber Music America Grant to commission Grammy Award Winning Composer, Pascal Le Boeuf, and is generously supported by 4Culture in Seattle, providing affordable community events and activities throughout the city, bringing our audience into an interactive environment of creation. 

 

MoCA CT Health & Safety Policy

Click here for the most up-to-date health and safety guidelines.

Refund & Weather Policy

Tickets are transferable to another concert of your choice or other individuals. If a concert is cancelled due to weather conditions, tickets will be valid for the rescheduled date. Please consider the price of unused tickets as a donation. No refunds will be issued.

 

 

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