Pianist Eliud Nevarez visits TAMIU

On Sunday April 3, 2012, the College of Arts and Sciences presented Piano Guest Recital, Eliud Nevarez in a musical exchange with Dr. Fritz Gechter. The Mexican pianist presented his pieces at the Texas A&M International University Recital Hall from 3 to 5 p.m. which was free to the public. On Monday April 2, 2012, Nevarez offered  master classes on campus for all music students.

Eliud Nevarez started in Guadalajara, Mexico as a musical instructor where he had studied. Furthermore, he obtained a Bachelor and Master of Music in Sam Houston State University. Nevarez continued his education at the University of Texas at Austin from 1990 to 1995. In 1998, he obtained the Inez Powell and Pi Mu Alpha Prizes from SHSU. Some of the places where he has presented his pieces of work are in Mexico and in the U.S. such as the Calderon Theatre, The City Theater, Ex-Convento del Carmen, Aula Magna, and many more. The pianist has offered master classes in the School of Music at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas in the year of 2008. Within the same year, he recorded various piano works for Mexican composers which include Jose Rolon, Domingo Lobato, and Hermilio Hernandez. He currently works as a music professor at the University of Coahuila.

Eliud Nevarez played for the local audience and offered the TAMIU students a different way of learning piano. Just as students have their international exchange, Dr. Gechter and Nevarez exchanged their musical knowledge. Nevarez was visiting Laredo this semester, and in exchange Dr. Gechter will go next fall semester to Mexico and show Nevarez's students his ability to play instruments and knowledge about music. This is a way for many students to know different types of music and know musicians from around the world.

During the recital, there was something that caught the attention of many spectators. The pianist, Eliud Nevarez, knew every song from memory, as many pianists, but he was not using his guided notebook where the melodies are written.  He started with a Sonata in C-sharp-minor, R.20 by Padre Antonio Soler, and continued with Sonata No.13 in E-flat-major Op. 27, No.1 by Ludwig Van Beethoven. After a brief 10 minute intermission, Nevarez played various melodies from Sonata No.2 in B-flat-minor, Op. 35 by Frederic Chopin, and finalized his performance with Once Piezas Breves Antonales by Domingo Lobato.

For more information contact Dr. Fritz Gechter at 956-326-2639

(Sandy Lugo may be contacted at sandylugoespinoza@dusty.tamiu.edu)