About the Show
Pianist Sophia Subbayya Vastek and guitarist/composer Giovanni Piacentini, in a double bill program, will celebrate the release of their forthcoming albums. Joined by tabla player Anirban Roy Chowdhury and vocalist Megan Schubert, Sophia will perform raga-based works by Michael Harrison from “Histories”, her album being released on innova Recordings, as well as music by John Cage. Giovanni will present works from “CHIAROSCURO”, his forthcoming album on the PARMA label, including miniature works performed by a bevy of local NYC musicians. Giovanni will also perform his solo guitar suite, which approaches the classical guitar through the use of electronics.
About the Artists
Sophia Subbayya Vastek
Sophia Subbayya Vastek is an active pianist/keyboardist, improviser, and organizer who has performed in South Africa and Mexico, and at venues such as the Kennedy Center, the United States State Department, the Canadian Embassy, Polish Cultural Institute, and The Apollo Theatre. She has also been presented by The NoiseGate Festival, Queens New Music Festival, Artscape, and Arts Letters & Numbers. Sophia is a co-founder of Music of Reality, an interdisciplinary concert series that connects the world of scientific discovery and research with musicians and artists, and she is also one half of Tilted Arc, an electroacoustic duo with electronic musician and multi-instrumentalist Sam Torres. Sophia’s debut album is due out May 26, 2017 on innova Recordings, featuring music by Michael Harrison, John Cage, and Donnacha Dennehy, produced by multiple Grammy-winning engineer Adam Abeshouse. She is also releasing an EP with electronic musician and composer David Ibbett on April 28.
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Giovanni Piacentini
Giovanni Piacentini is a composer whose body of work is as diverse as his cultural background. Born in Mexico City to an Italian doctor, an opera lover, and a Mexican figurative painter, he was exposed to a wide array of artistic expressions that helped shape his musical vision. After an immersive two years in school and in the New York City composition circle, Giovanni earned his M.A. in Composition from Manhattan School of Music, graduating with honors. He edited works for guitar commissioned by Sharon Isbin and David Starobin. He assisted his mentor, Dr. Danielpour, with premieres including a piano concerto with the Vienna Philharmonic and a large scale Oratorio with the Pacific Symphony. During this time, Giovanni wrote his first symphonic work, “Animus”, which was performed under the baton of Dr. David Gilbert. Performing with the school’s choir at Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic and at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C was a highlight of his time at MSM. Since then, Giovanni has been very active as a composer receiving commissions from a variety of ensembles including the harp duo, “Duo Scorpio” in NYC, the Irish violin and viola duet “Collailm Duo”, the concert series “Music of Reality” in Boston, MA, and the “Mexiam” festival at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco, CA. He continues to explore ways of pushing the boundaries of both the classical guitar, by incorporating subtle electronic elements to the natural acoustic sound, and artistically by creating “modular pieces” which combine elements of information architecture to composition.
