“A Grand Celebration” – The January 26th Concert Premiere of a Steinway Concert Grand Piano at UConn’s Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts –

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the UConn Storrs campus will celebrate the debut of its new Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano with a chamber music concert featuring Angelina Gadeliya, renowned coordinator of keyboard studies and professor of piano in the UConn School of Fine Arts, and the Decoda chamber ensemble, an Affiliate Ensemble of Carnegie Hall, on Sunday, Jan. 26 at 3 pm. The program will include works by Mozart, Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann.

This special performance will be presented at no cost by the Lenard Chamber Music Endowment. Complimentary tickets can be reserved at Jorgensen.UConn.edu.

“We’re so excited to showcase Jorgensen’s new Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano in this concert premiere with Angelina Gadeliya and members of the Decoda Ensemble,” said Rodney Rock, Jorgensen Director. “On behalf of Jorgensen, I want to thank the Campaign for the Grand Honorary Committee and the many generous donors who contributed to this magnificent new concert grand piano. Thanks to support from the Lenard Chamber Music Endowment, we can invite all members of the greater Storrs community and beyond to attend this concert at no cost.  I can’t think of a better way to welcome our new piano and kick off the winter/spring season! “

Jorgensen’s new Concert Grand Piano is part of the goal of establishing UConn as an All-Steinway institution by replacing its inventory of 93 aging pianos, including some that date back to the early 20th century. Previously new upright pianos and a grand piano were obtained for School of Fine Arts practice rooms and a performance room used by 140 music students, and faculty studios for teaching. A new Steinway Concert Grand Piano arrived at Louis J. von der Mehden Recital Hall for performances by students, faculty and visiting artists. Currently, UConn is about 75% of the way to prestigious All-Steinway School status achieved by 190 major universities and prestigious music conservatories.

“There are not that many All-Steinway Schools, even among the top conservatories in the U.S. Acquiring the All-Steinway status will really set UConn apart,” says Gadeliya who oversees the selection of pianos from Steinway & Sons factory in Queens, New York. “Having All-Steinway status will demonstrate to high level music students and faculty that we really value quality and try to provide the best possible opportunities and equipment to our students. This will make them much more competitive on the national and international stage.”

Praised for her “refined and exceptionally phrased and stylized” playing (Telavivcity.com), Gadeliya has received high critical acclaim for her performances as a soloist, recitalist, and chamber musician throughout the United States and across Europe. In 2012, she and colleagues from ACJW, a program of Carnegie Hall, The Julliard School, and the Weill Music Institute in partnership with the NYC Department of Education, formed a new ensemble – Decoda, which became the first ever affiliate ensemble of Carnegie Hall. As assistant professor in residence of piano and director of keyboard studies at UConn Storrs, Gadeliya’s work with Decoda has brought her to the stages of Carnegie Hall and The Juilliard School, as well as to Germany, South Korea, and Abu Dhabi.

Recognized for their virtuosic performances and creative community engagement,

Decoda is comprised of 30 internationally renowned chamber musicians who present annual subscription performances at Carnegie Hall each season. Its work as an ensemble has grown out of this collective training, which focused on developing skills as exemplary performers, dedicated teachers, and passionate advocates for music in communities around the world. 

ABOUT THE LENARD CHAMBER MUSIC SERIES:

The Lenard Chamber Music Series is made possible through the generosity of longtime Jorgensen patrons and CoStars Jean and John Lenard and several donors to the Lenard Endowment. Thanks to the Lenard Endowment, UConn students, non-UConn students and Connecticut youth (under 18) are invited to attend all Jorgensen chamber events for free.

ABOUT JORGENSEN:

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts presents 25-30 diverse performances each season, from nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and ensembles ranging from classical music to world music and dance, classical ballet and contemporary dance, comedy, family programming and contemporary entertainment.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Angelina Gadeliya & Decoda

ARTIST/PUBLICITY PHOTOS:  CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

EVENT SPONSOR:  Lenard Chamber Music Endowment

MEDIA SPONSORS: Classical NEPM, Connecticut Magazine, CT Insider,

Hartford Courant, and WHUS 91.7

TICKETS AND BOX OFFICE INFORMATION:

Tickets for this special concert are complimentary. Please reserve your seats on the Jorgensen website, jorgensen.uconn.edu. (Note: all artists, events, dates, programs policies are subject to change.) 

Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts is located at 2132 Hillside Road on the UConn campus in Storrs. The Box Office is open Mon – Fri, 10 am to 5 pm. For questions and assistance, email jorgensen.tickets@uconn.edu or call 860-486-4226.