PAST NEWSLETTERS
Fall 2023
Dear Friends and Piano Lovers,
Hello and Happy Fall!
I can’t believe it’s almost November! A lot has happened since my last newsletter…
Over the summer, I recorded my debut solo album featuring music by Jennifer Margaret Barker, Faina Lushtak, and Caroline Shaw. Stay tuned for news about its release!
This semester has been off to a busy start. I just joined the piano faculty at the University of Virginia, in addition to still teaching at Catholic University and in my private studio. UVA is wonderful so far, and as a bonus I get to enjoy the beautiful colors of Charlottesville in the fall.
In October, I gave a concert for the Friday Music Series at Georgetown University. I spoke to the audience about the pieces and composers. Before the concert at Georgetown, I spoke to Dr. Anthony DelDonna’s class “Live Music in Context” about my program and about new music performance and advocacy.
I also performed a solo concert for FNAR - Friday Nights at Redeemer - in Bethesda, MD in October, in a more cabaret-like setting. It was a fun change from my normal concerts, with blue jeans, drinks (for the audience!), and an open mic beforehand.
In November I’ll attend the VA Music Teachers Association state conference for the first time, where I will also perform in the Teachers Concert.
Thursday, November 30, 2023, 7:30pm
Solo piano recital
Peebles Theater
Christopher Newport University
Newport News, VA
Master class for CNU piano students, time TBA
*This performance is supported in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts Touring Assistance Program.
Spring 2024 includes concerts, masterclasses, workshops in:
Newport News, VA
Fredericksburg, VA
Fairfax City, VA
Washington, DC
Frederick, MD
Have a wonderful fall and I hope to see you soon!
Francesca
Spring 2023
Dear Friends and Piano Lovers,
Hello and Happy 2023!
I've been preparing a program of solo piano music by living women composers Jennifer Margaret Barker, Faina Lushtak, and Caroline Shaw, and I'm excited to share it with you! I have concerts in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey this spring, and it would be wonderful to see you at one of them.
The Washington Piano Society returns this May!
I was recently named to the 2023-2024 Performing Artist Touring Roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts! This program helps provide quality arts programming around the entire state of Virginia.
Best wishes for a great 2023!
Hope to see you at one of my performances or around town!
Francesca
2022 News
Dear Friends,
Happy November! I hope you found some time for rest and relaxation over the summer. I spent my summer performing with flutist Robert Cart, learning new solo piano music, and visiting with family and friends.
Spring/Summer
In April, I organized a benefit concert event to help Ukrainian war victims on behalf of the Rome School of Music, Drama, & Art at Catholic University in Washington, DC. Faculty and students from Music, Drama, and Art all participated to create a meaningful program. Here's an article about the concert from the Catholic Standard.
Robert Cart and I performed a flute and piano concert in Paris, France in May, and I was delighted to be back in one of my favorite cities. We presented a very fun program of new music featuring works by Luis Barroso, Lili Boulanger, Sergi Casanelles, Valerie Coleman, and David Ludwig.
Fall/Winter
This fall, I updated my private piano studio webpage and some wonderful new students have joined the studio. I still have some openings left in my schedule, so if you or someone you know is interested in piano lessons, in-person or online, let me know! We recently had our first in-person group class, and have several more scheduled throughout the school year. You can follow the studio on Instagram and Facebook!
I am so excited that I have been accepted to the 2023-2024 Performing Artists Touring Roster of the Virginia Commission for the Arts! This program helps bring high-quality programming to the entire state of Virginia through grants to presenters who book roster artists.
Winter/Spring
Starting in February 2023, I will be presenting an exciting solo program featuring music by living women composers Jennifer Margaret Barker, Faina Lushtak, and Caroline Shaw. I will be performing at the Church of the Epiphany and Ward Recital Hall in Washington, DC, the Van Vleck House & Gardens in Montclair, NJ, the Grace Concert Series in Richmond, VA, the Meet the Artists Series in Reston, VA, and the Davies Concert Series in Temple Hills, MD. I would love to see you at one of these events!
Best wishes!
Francesca
Spring 2022
Dear Friends,
Happy Spring! It is so wonderful to be able to perform live and in-person again, and I wanted to let you know about some upcoming concerts I'm doing:
Flutist Robert Cart and I are performing this week in Fairfax, VA, next week in Paris, France (!!!), and again in June in Washington, DC. Robert and I met last summer as colleagues in the Contemporary Ensemble at the Atlantic Music Festival in Maine. We're presenting a really fun program of new music featuring works by Luis Barroso, Lili Boulanger, Sergi Casanelles, Valerie Coleman, and David Ludwig.
On a more serious note, I am heartbroken about what is happening in Ukraine. On behalf of the Rome School of Music, Drama, & Art at Catholic University, I'm organizing a benefit concert to help Ukraine war victims. This concert will take place on April 25, 2022 and will feature students and faculty and include an art exhibit and auction. If you've been looking for a way to help, please consider attending this important event.
Wishing you a wonderful spring season, and hope to see you soon!
Francesca
Fall 2021
Hello Friends and fellow music lovers!
After over a year of basically no live music, things have been heating back up since the summer!
For six weeks, I was part of the Atlantic Music Festival Contemporary Ensemble in Waterville, ME. We gave weekly concerts, and premiered over 50 new works. We met some fabulous young composers, and got to work with very established ones, too! Of course, I also managed to squeeze in a couple lobster rolls on my days off, and see some of the beautiful Maine coast.
I was honored to be invited to give a piano recital as part of District New Music Coalition's Spring Concert Series here in DC. The concert premiered on YouTube and featured music by Jennifer Barker, Faina Lushtak, William Kenlon, and a premiere of a new work by Lynn Dixon. Watch it here!
Great Noise Ensemble was featured at this year's New Music DC conference as the Spotlight performance. It was great to be back playing with this group, and performing in the GW Corcoran School was wonderful.
Composer Jennifer Margaret Barker won the Delaware Master Artist Fellowship, and as part of her award, she is presenting a concert of her music at the University of Delaware on Friday, Oct 29th at 8pm. I'm really looking forward to playing two of her solo piano pieces for it. In-person and livestream.
On November 10th I will be performing a solo recital of old and new piano music for the concert series Music at Midday at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. Looking forward to visiting my alma mater, good friends, and good food!
Thursday Dec 2nd at 7:30pm, Great Noise Ensemble presents "The Art of Present Day Music", a concert of new music including Nebal Maysaud’s solo piano work The Arrogance of Time and Louis Andriessen’s Zilver. This will be my first time performing at the club-like venue AMP by Strathmore at Pike & Rose, and I can't wait!
My final performance of 2021 will be as part of the interdisciplinary concert Tango Nuevo: Astor Piazzolla at 100, at Catholic University celebrating the composer Astor Piazzolla, who was born in 1921. If you don't know his music, you're in for a treat!
Have a wonderful autumn!
Francesca
June 2021
Hello Friends!
What a year it's been. I hope that you survived and maybe even thrived in some ways during this time.
I haven't shared my piano news in over a year, so I wanted to give a quick summary of many great things that have happened.
So far in 2021...
-
I have 2 upcoming online performances scheduled for June 24 and 25 - one with the Victoria International Arts Festival in Malta, and the other a solo piano concert for District New Music Coalition featuring the premiere of a brand new work! More info
-
I am thrilled to announce that I’ll be in residence this summer at the Atlantic Music Festival as a Contemporary Ensemble fellow! I can't wait to work with so many incredible musicians and artist faculty. If you find yourself up in Waterville, Maine, come by, say hi, and catch a concert! June 28 - August 8
-
I'm working on a new CD recording! This album will celebrate the many brave women who moved to the US from other countries and made a life here. It will feature music by Jennifer Margaret Barker and Faina Lushtak.
-
I was awarded a We Are One Community grant from the Casa Italiana Sociocultural Center of Washington, DC
-
I gave the first Music On the 8ths concert as part of a new online series featuring Tulane University (Newcomb college) alumnae
-
And coming in October 2021, I'm looking forward to playing a concert of music by Jennifer Margaret Barker with other incredible musicians at the University of Delaware!
Back in 2020...
-
I finished my Daily Dose of Piano after 100 days - what an amazing journey that was! I met so many people virtually, composers, audience members, other musicians - it was a challenge for me as a musician, but also so inspiring to connect with so many people around the world.
-
I became an MTNA Nationally Certified Teacher of Music.
-
I was awarded an Emergency Relief & Recovery Grant from ArtsFairfax, a local arts organization.
Please feel free to drop me a note and say hi, join one of the YouTube premiere concert live chats, or even attend one of my live performances coming up in the next season. It would be so great to see you! I wish you and yours wellness and serenity.
Have a wonderful summer!
Francesca
Daily Dose of Piano - April 5, 2020
Dear Friends,
I hope this email finds you well.
During this difficult period, I find myself spending more and more time at the piano. I've created an online series, Daily Dose of Piano, where each day I am posting a piano video to share some music with the world. I hope they bring you a little bit of joy and a moment of peace.
Wishing you and yours health and serenity.
xo
Francesca
Get your Daily Dose HERE!
Spring 2020
HELLO FRIENDS!
I hope this email finds you healthy and well. Life has changed quickly for everyone in a short time, but hopefully it's also a chance for people to slow down and make time for things they enjoy, like reading, music, gardening, art, spring cleaning, cooking, family time, and quiet. I am having fun reconnecting with old friends via video chat. Many of you have reached out asking about my family in Italy - so far everyone is healthy, and staying home. I wish the same for you and yours.
PERFORMANCES
I am rediscovering Chopin's nocturnes, and I played one (pictured above) for the March 8 concert of the Washington Piano Society. The nocturnes are some of my favorite pieces in the piano repertoire.
I have no live concerts coming up - everything has been canceled or postponed for now. We hope to reschedule the presentation of Pierrot Lunaire (orig. March 22) maybe for early May, and I'll keep you posted on that! In the meantime, I hope to make some recordings and share them with you in the upcoming weeks.
ONLINE PIANO LESSONS
I now offer online piano lessons, and I have openings in my schedule if you or someone you know would like to sign up! All you need is a piano or a keyboard, and a laptop, tablet or smartphone. It's easy!
INSTAGRAM GIVEAWAY!
WIN a free 30-minute online piano lesson with me!
Click on the link below. To enter, you must: 1. Like and share the Instagram post to your Instagram story, and don’t forget to tag me! 2. Follow me. 3. Tag a friend in the comments who’d enjoy online piano lessons. 🎼 Contest ends Thursday March 19 at 11:59pm EST. Winner will be announced Friday March 20th!
Best wishes and hope to see you in person sooner rather than later,
Francesca
November 2019
Hello Friends and Happy November!
The 2019-2020 concert season features another performance of
Schoenberg's Pierrot Lunaire, plus several performances with the Polaris Piano Trio, including a concert with chocolates created especially for our musical selections!
Earlier this year, the Polaris Piano Trio was selected to perform on the Montpelier Classical Recital Series for the 2019-20 season! The free performance takes place tomorrow, Sunday November 17, at 3pm in Laurel, MD.
The Polaris Piano Trio is thrilled to be performing at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington, DC for the Bulgarian Music Society on Friday, November 22 at 7pm. Join us after this free concert for a wine & cheese reception.
The Polaris Piano Trio performs for the Odeon Chamber Music Series' 20th anniversary season! Our program, Haydn & the Three Bs, may surprise you because it doesn't include Bach, Beethoven OR Brahms!
Sunday, January 12, 2020 at 4pm in McLean, VA
The Fairfax Old Town Hall Concert Series hosts the Polaris Piano Trio in an innovative concert where a local chocolatier will offer original chocolate creations based on our musical program. Sunday, January 31, 2020 at 8pm.
No, this is not a misprint! I am performing Schoenberg's expressionist masterpiece Pierrot Lunaire again! The Washington International Piano Series and the Catholic University of America present an interdisciplinary showcase of this 20th-century expressionist masterpiece on Sunday, March 22, 2020.
Pre-concert lecture at 3:15pm
Concert at 4pm
April 2019
Hi Everyone! Two months have flown by since my last newsletter and I have so much to share with you!
A world premiere this Saturday 4/13, my return to New Music Delaware as a guest artist, a sold-out Pierrot concert (in the pouring rain!), Polaris Piano Trio performances, and the first WoCo (women composers) festival in DC!
This Saturday April 13 at 8pm is the world premiere of Armando Bayolo’s Los Caprichos performed by Great Noise Ensemble. This chamber work is based on a set of prints by Francisco Goya published in 1799 that criticized, commented on and often poked fun of the “civilized” 18th-century Spanish society. Armando’s piece has a little bit of everything, including some very unconventional instruments, and a few familiar tunes.
I’m thrilled to be returning as a guest artist to New Music Delaware next month! This concert celebrates the music of composer Daniel Dorff. I will be performing The Seven Chakras with saxophonist Todd Groves on Sunday, May 5th at 8pm.
Pierrot Lunaire
It was a whirlwind two months learning and rehearsing Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire with the great musicians from Balance Campaign, plus guests conductor William Kenlon and soprano Hilary Park. We played to a full house at Baltimore’s beautiful and historic Peabody Library for their In the Stacks series.
Polaris Piano Trio recently performed at the Arts Club of Washington! We’re having a blast learning David Baker’s "Dance in Congo Square" with its infectious Calypso tune. Hear it live during our April and May concerts in a variety of venues near DC!
I attended the WoCo Launch Festival in March. This amazing festival brought together women performers and composers and featured fantastic panel discussions, concerts, and a chance to meet new music performers, composers and fans. I also ran into my friend and colleague, soprano Shari Feldman.
I wish you all a wonderful springtime season, and hope to catch up with you at one of my upcoming concerts or just out and about!
February 2019
NEW MUSIC, NEW WEBSITE, & MORE!
Hello Friends!
Lots of exciting things have been happening and I'm thrilled to share them with you!
I totally redesigned my website, and I'd love for you to check it out! The new website focuses on what's important to me as a musician - live performance, playing music I love and that inspires me, and playing and commissioning new music.
I just joined the Polaris Piano Trio with violinist Laura Kobayashi and cellist Kenneth Law, and our first concert is this Friday February 15th at the Arts Club of Washington! This is my first time being a member of a small ensemble, and it's awesome. Polaris is committed to performing works by women and composers of African descent, so chances are, if you come to one of our concerts, you're going to hear something you haven't heard before!
February 16th I'm back with Great Noise Ensemble for the 2nd in their 4-part series Four Freedoms. The theme is Freedom to Worship, and the concert features music by Armando Bayolo, Carlos Carrillo, David Lang, and Peri Mauer. GNE is in a new residency at Westmoreland Congregational UCC in Bethesda, MD.
March 21st I'm performing Pierrot Lunaire Op.21 by Arnold Schoenberg as a guest artist with Balance Campaign, the current ensemble-in-residence with the DC New Music Coalition. If you've ever taken a 20th-century music history course, or just like listening to weird German atonal music from 100 years ago, you've probably heard this piece before. This concert is part of the Peabody "In the Stacks" series in Baltimore, MD.
So what is "new music" anyway? New music is a term being used now to describe music written by today's composers, often schooled in the classical tradition yet not bound by conventional limitations of style, genre or expectations. It can resemble more traditional classical music, or can be a wild mix of different sounds and unorthodox instruments combined in ways you haven't heard before. It's flexible.
I hope this letter finds you well, and that I can catch up with you at one of my upcoming concerts or just out and about! You can read about these concerts and more on my website!
Thanks and Happy February!
Francesca