International Music Festival Night

On Friday, Sept. 17, 2010 the College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Fine and Performing Arts presented the International Chamber Music Festival. The event took place at Texas A&M International University's Center for the Fine and Performing Arts Recital Hall and was free to students and began at 7 p.m. The event was organized by Assistant Professor of Upper Strings, Dr. Yu-Mei Huang, of TAMIU's Department of Music. The festival was designed to present varies styles of musical performances. The International Chamber of Music Festival first began in 2005. Varies styles of chamber music, such as, piano duet, a trio with a vocalist, clarinet and piano, string quintet, and a jazz ensemble performed at the festival.

Pieces performed included "Shepherd on the Rock"(Der Hirt auf dem Felsen) by Franz Schubert, Impromptu No. 5 & No. 7 by Jean Francaix, Acoustic Hits on the Classical Guitar arranged by Dr. Gilberto Soto, "Hungarian Dance" No. 4 for String Quartet by Johannes Brahms and arranged by Michael McLean, "A Night in Tunisia" by John Briks "Dizzie" Gillespie, "Stolen Moments" by Oliver Nelson, "Kickin' the Clouds Away" (for two pianos) by George Gershiwin, and "Scaramouche" (for two pianos) by Darius Milhaud. Guest performers included,

Dr. Xiaohu Zhou, Director of La-ReDo Music Academy and member of the Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, on bassoon, Joe Guerra on drums, Robert López on trumpet, Dr. Kevin Linberg on bass, Ric Cortez on guitar and the Stringendo String Quintet consisting of: Melissa Treviño (violinist), Alma Vázquez (violin), Justin Balli (cellist),  Jesús Jimenez (cellist), and Philip Balli (bassist).

The CFPA was filled with students, family, friends and TAMIU staff. When asked what he thought about the performance, Joel Gomez, senior vocalist major at TAMIU, said, "They were all really, really good." Gomez went on to say, "It was interesting to see Dr. Haung,who is a violinist, not play violin and just play piano."

Dr. Haung commented on the festival's outcome, "This year we are very happy to link our program together in the same with the Art prohibition opening and reception."

When asked whether the festival was a benefit, from a musicians point of view, Gomez said, "It's a benefit because it gives us motivation, it gives us a goal to look forward to that maybe someday we could do that."

For more information you can contact the Department of Fine and Performing Arts at their office in room 208B, by phone at (956) 326-2654, or Dr. Yu-Mei Huang at yhuang@tamiu.edu.