From March 21 to 23, the VCUarts Department of Music will proudly host the international Experiencing Villa-Lobos festival for the second time.
The celebration showcases musicians and scholars from across the globe, coming together to honor the prolific and influential Brazilian composer Heitor Villa-Lobos. In addition to performances of Villa-Lobos’ work, the festival will also feature discussions and paper presentations that offer a nuanced perspective and appreciation of his life and music.
Concerts are open to the public, with a mix of free and ticketed events. Festival registration is required for presentations, masterclasses and discussions. See the full list of concert performances and presentations.
VCUarts first hosted the festival in 2008, and many of the artists who attended a decade ago will return to Richmond for this special event—including Mexican string quartet Cuarteto Latinoamericano and Brazilian pianist Sonia Rubinsky. Other guest performers this year include harpist Colleen Potter Thorburn and the Governor’s School for the Arts Orchestra, in addition to the VCU Symphony, VCU Commonwealth Singers and Vox Concordia (formerly VCU Women’s Choir).
Grayson Wagstaff, director of the Latin American Music Center at the Catholic University of America, will deliver the keynote address. The festival is organized by John Patykula, assistant chair of music and area coordinator of guitar.
Villa-Lobos wrote approximately 1,000 compositions across his more than 50-year career. His work, heavily influenced by Brazilian folk music, popularized the nation’s choro genre internationally. As a teacher, Villa-Lobos revolutionized music education in his home country and founded the Conservatório Nacional de Canto Orfeônico (National Conservatory for Choral Singing).
Learn more about the festival at the VCUarts Calendar.
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