UVic Faculty Concert Series: Stories Within the Notes

Event Description

UVic Associate Professor and cellist Pamela Highbaugh Aloni, and guest pianist Futaba Niekawa present an evening of vivid storytelling through music, with works by Beethoven, Janáček, Mendelssohn and Prokofiev.

From Beethoven's spirited 12 Variations on a Theme from Judas Maccabeus, to Janáček's enchanting fairy tale-inspired piece, Pohadka, and Prokofiev's dynamic Sonata in C Major, Op. 119, each composition invites the audience on a unique narrative journey. Highbaugh Aloni and Niekawa, will bring these stories to life with passion and finesse.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Praised for her "meltingly beautiful solos" and "depth and insight," cellist Pamela Highbaugh Aloni has been an Associate Professor at UVic since 1991 where she teaches cello, chamber music, and string pedagogy. She is a founding member of the award-winning Lafayette String Quartet which performed together for 37 years before taking their final bow in August of 2023. Highlights with the LSQ include a Beethoven cycle, a Shostakovich Cycle, and the commissioning of new quartets by women composers. Pamela, a dedicated teacher and performer, has concertized widely and plays on an 1850 George Craske cello.

Japanese pianist Futaba Niekawa is known for her expressive artistry as a soloist and collaborative pianist across genres. She has performed internationally, released five recordings, and collaborated with renowned musicians, including members of the Metropolitan Opera and Chicago Symphony Orchestras. She has also been a collaborative pianist at prestigious institutions like the Banff Centre and Meadowmount School of Music, and as part of duo526 with violinist Kerry DuWors, has received praise from Gramophone Magazine. Niekawa is currently a Lecturer at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music and holds a Doctorate from the Eastman School of Music.

Tickets: Pay What You Can $12-$35