Sigma Alpha Iota

PAN PIPES sPRIng 2014 saI-natIOnal.ORg 12 saI phIlanthropIes, Inc. O n Sunday, Nov. 17, People-to- People Director and soprano Dr. Liana Valente treated an appreciative audience of concert goers at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church to a program of songs and performance pieces written by composers from across the globe. is Composers Voice Concert, a project of Vox Novus, was made possible in part by a Professional Development/Education Grant from SAI Philanthropies, Inc. Liana was joined on this exciting concert by SAI Inter-American Music Awards Director Sara Bong, an accomplished and talented pianist and collaborator. Together they performed the tour de force performance piece, "Let's Talk," a commission to NJ composer William Vollinger co-written by Liana, selections from Derek Healey's Five Edward omas Songs, and songs by Knoxville Alumnae Chapter member Judy Strubhar Ross -- a lovely setting of "When I Way One And Twenty," the beautiful "Golden Hair," and the powerful "Oneness (e White Herron)," with words and music by Judy. Featured on this concert was a collection of 15 one-minute compositions written specifically for Liana by composers from around the world. Late in 2013, Liana put out a call for songs under the auspices of Vox Novus 15 Minutes of Fame project; this call read, in part: e concept of these compositions revolves around Dr. Valente singing and playing the pieces. e call is for scores that incorporate humor, poignancy, satire, and/or other surprises into the compositions. ese pieces may ask for the performer to "break the fourth wall" and interact directly with audience members. Performance pieces are highly sought! While traditional vocal production is preferred, some use of Sprechstimme and non-traditional phonation can be used. 15 Minutes of Fame: Liana Valente Soprano and Piano premiered in Lakeland, FL, for the Tuesday Music Club (an affiliate chapter of the National Federation of Music Clubs), and was performed in Washington DC at Catholic University. e November 17 performance marked the NYC premiere of this collection. A review of the concert can be found at: voxnovus.com/ nm421/issue/13-11-29.htm. Video from this concert can be viewed on the Vox Novus website at: voxnovus.com/composersvoice/ program/13-11-17.htm Liana is grateful for the support of SAI as she continues to bring new music to audiences around the country and abroad. She is currently working with South Carolina composer Joel Weiss on a song cycle of poems by Canadian poet Virna Sheard that will culminate in a multi-media performance with Maryland visual artist Terry C. Pellmar. e premiere is scheduled to take place in the Washington, DC Metro area during the spring of 2015. You can contact Liana at liana@ omegatower.com for more information. SAI Sister Makes NYC Recital Debut Above, with Inter-American Music Awards Director Sara Bong at the piano, People-to-People Director Dr. Liana Valente explains why she is late to the concert in the opening of "Let's Talk." Below, Liana in performance.

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