Cellos Take Stage Friday at TAMIU
Concertgoers have long had the pleasure of going to chamber music concerts and seeing a variety of instruments playing together. Rarely does one get the opportunity to see a concert devoted in its entirety to one instrument, but that’s what’s in store at Friday’s “Cello Extravaganza” at the Texas A&M International University Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall at 7 p.m.
Beginning with a Suite for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach performed by Brendan Townsend, assistant professor of cello at TAMIU, the concert will grow exponentially, adding more cellists to a rousing cello choir version of the famous Hungarian Dance No. 5 of Johannes Brahms.
“I have been delighted with the development in quality of cellists in this community recently,” said Townsend, “ and this concert celebrates the best young instrumentalists in the city on one stage.”
Townsend will be joined on stage by his two main cello protégés at TAMIU, Noe Benavides, junior, and Justin Balli, sophomore. Each will perform a duet with Townsend and all three will perform a trio version of Handel’s Grave and Fugue from the D Minor Concerto Grosso Op 3. No. 5.
Also joining the cello trio from TAMIU will be cellists from the Nixon High School Orchestra, Lamar Middle School, Cigarroa High School and the VMT Magnet School.
“We hope that in the near future, a cello choir will meet regularly to work together, and perform some of the wonderful arrangements that are out there for this type of ensemble,” said Townsend.
Townsend is a graduate of the Cork School of Music and the Conservatory of Music in Maastricht, the Netherlands where he studied with renowned cellist Mirel Iancovici.
For more information, contact Townsend at 326.3039 or e-mail btownsend@tamiu.edu.
For a calendar on upcoming arts events, click on tamiu.edu/coas/fpa/coe.shtml
Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at prmis@tamiu.edu