UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Philharmonic Orchestra will present its first concert of the 2017-18 year at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 7, in Eisenhower Auditorium. The program features Antonin Dvořák's eighth symphony and a performance of Franz Liszt's first piano concerto with Philharmonic Concerto Competition student winner Francisco Montero.
The Philharmonic is conducted by Gerardo Edelstein. He is assisted by conducting graduate students Michael Dolan, Assaf Benraf, and Fernanda Lastra.
Tickets are $12 for general admission and $4 for students. Buy tickets in advance for School of Music concerts in Eisenhower Auditorium and save 40 percent. There is no limit on the number. Purchases made the the day of the concert are not eligible. Tickets are available at any Arts Ticket Center location, by phone at 814-863-0255 or 1-800-ARTS-TIX, or online at Penn State Arts Ticket Center.
This concert is available on livestream at the Penn State School of Music.
Program
— An American in Paris - George Gershwin (Michael Dolan, conductor)
— Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat Major, S. 124 - Franz Liszt (Francisco Montero, piano; Assaf Benraf, conductor)
— Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op. 99, B. 16 - Antonin Dvořák
Francisco Montero has performed in some of the most important halls in the United States and internationally, including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center in the US, as well as renowned venues in the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, and Spain.
He presented a recital as a Rising Star guest at the fourth Texas State International Piano Festival and has recorded at WQXR radio for the radio series “The Piano in Spain.” He has also recorded at K-Radio AM 1660, performing pieces by Couperin and Scriabin.
Montero was awarded first prize at the Windsor International Piano Competition in London and first prize at the III Enkor International Piano Competition. Others competition awards include Grand Prize at the New York Artists International Competition; first prize at the New York International Music Concours; second prize at the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition; first prize at the Esteban Sánchez International Competition; first prize, in addition to the special prize, for the best performance of Spanish music at the 19th International Ciutat de Carlet Piano Competition; and second prize at the Pedro Bote International Competition for Young Artists.
Born in Spain, Montero studied in Seville under the tutelage of Ignacio Torner and Tatiana Postnikova. In 2009, he moved to Badajoz to study with one of the most prestigious pianists in Spain, Alexander Kandelaki. He holds a bachelor´s degree in music from the Conservatorio Superior de Música Bonifacio Gil, and a master’s degree from the Juilliard School (NY) where he studied with Julian Martin. He is currently pursuing his doctorate in piano performance at Penn State, studying with Jose Ramon Mendez.
The ninety-member Philharmonic presents five-to-six full concerts per academic year. Off campus, the Philharmonic has performed throughout the northeastern United States, including concerts at New York City's Carnegie Hall, Pittsburgh’s Heinz Hall, Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center and the MENC Eastern Division Conference in Baltimore. In March 2006, the orchestra participated by invitation in the Sixth International Orchestra Festival in Zaragoza, Spain. The Philharmonic’s repertoire from recent years has included works by Brahms, Debussy, Dvorak, Stravinsky, Beethoven, Mahler, Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninoff and Wagner. Enrollment, open to all University Park students, is by audition at the beginning of each semester.