Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • FALL 2017 • PAN PIPES 15 distinguished cousin, Giacomo Puccini, whose music she already knew, and who would influence her greatly in the coming years. On returning to the U.S., Adelina studied piano in Los Angeles with Josephine Heintz Geritz, who had studied with several prominent European teachers including Alexander Raab. Geritz worked with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and trained many professional pianists and composers. Aer her graduation from the University of New Mexico in Music and becoming a member of SAI, she felt that she wanted to master her art. It seemed that with her Italian heritage, and with family in Lucca, Italy would be the most obvious place. Adelina debated whether to follow in Giacomo's footsteps and study at the Milan Conservatory, or study at the Conservatory of St. Cecelia in Rome. She discovered that one of the greatest contrapuntalists and masters in all Europe, Maestro Cesare Dobici, was teaching in Rome at St. Cecelia. Aer several years of very intense study at the Conservatory of St. Cecelia, Adelina Puccini was given the title of Maestro di Composizione (Maestro of Composition), and was remarkably, the only woman studying in the Conservatory's composition program. While in Rome, she met her future husband, Nicolai Timofeyew, a Russian tenor who was a voice student. Since Adelina had also studied voice in Rome, she immediately recognized Nicolai's training and talent. ey fell in love and married. His career eventually took him to such places as South America and the United States. National Artists Corporation represented Nicolai and also such notable talents as Beverly Sills, Jan Pierce, and Marilyn Horn. ey toured South America together for seven years, and they both performed at many of the prestigious opera houses which were very popular at the time. Aer their return from South America, Adelina taught at the College of St. Mary of the Springs in Ohio, and also conducted the St. Mary's choir and the Notre Dame Men's choir combined. Upon the birth of their child, Ekaterina, they returned to New Mexico to be closer to her family, and Adelina taught at the University of New Mexico as well as privately, composing when time allowed. Adelina has always loved composition — the telling of stories with music. But now, as the versatile artist that she is, she is branching out her love of storytelling in a different way — through her books. She hopes to capture in words what she has always felt in her heart with music. Adelina is grateful to SAI for its early and continued support of her professional life. Ekaterina Puccini Timofeyew is a writer but hails from the Entertainment Industry and has worked as a Film Producer, Development Executive, eatrical Director and Actress, as well as a Concert Promoter for all styles of music. She is the mother of a very bright, talented and active 7 year old boy, Misha. Above, Puccini blows out the candle on her birthday cake. At left, Adelina is included in Richard McCord's The Other State: New Mexico, USA, a fiction and non-fiction short story compilation that made The New York Times best-seller list. She is featured in a chapter titled "The Maestro," and it gives a brief and colorful description of her life. A LIFE IN MUSIC

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