March 7, 1997
SDSU professors set to tour Latin American countries as U.S. music ambassadors
CONTACT: Rosemary Gladden, 594-2585
Traveling as United States music ambassadors, two SDSU professors will
depart on March 30 for a month-long tour to seven Latin American countries
not often frequented by American artists.
Clarinetist Marian Liebowitz and pianist Karen Follingstad, both professors
of music at SDSU, will travel under the auspices of American embassies
and present concerts, master classes and lectures/recitals at Latin American
conservatories, theatres and universities. They will also perform at embassies.
The Liebowitz/Follingstad duo was one of nine duos chosen from 44 finalists
nationwide in the 1997 Artistic Ambassador program of the United States
Information Agency and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Winners travel to different regions of the world bringing music, primarily
American repertoire, to participating countries.
Liebowitz and Follingstad will open their tour on March 30 in Costa Rica.
From there, they will travel to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama,
Nicaragua and Venezuela. The duo returns on April 29 and performs a "Welcome
Home" concert at SDSU's Smith Recital Hall on May 4. Prior to their
departure, they are scheduled for a performance on March 16 in Poway's
Lutheran Church of the Incarnation.
Liebowitz has been an SDSU music professor and coordinator of the University's
Woodwind Department since 1984. She is executive director and clarinetist
of the Arioso Wind Quintet, SDSU's ensemble-in-residence which is in demand
for concerts and recordings throughout the country. Liebowitz' success
in the music business prompted her to begin the Adams Project, SDSU's professional
training program for students which has provided aspiring musicians with
soloist and ensemble performing opportunities throughout the San Diego
community. At SDSU, she also teaches "Professional Orientation for
Performers," an innovative course which addresses the fundamentals
of marketing for musicians. During the Artistic Ambassador tour, Liebowitz
will also offer career development training for emerging artists in the
countries that the duo visits.
Follingstad has been a member of SDSU's piano faculty since 1984. As a
solo recitalist, she has performed extensively throughout Europe and North
America and recorded for German and Norwegian radio. An experienced collaborative
pianist, she has played duo recitals with violinists Andres Cardenes and
William Preucil, as well as the New York Philharmonic Principal Violinist
Cynthia Phelps. Follingstad has also appeared at numerous music festivals,
including Kent/Blossom Music, La Jolla SummerFest, the Bear Valley Music
Festival and the Marin Music Fest.
This year's Artistic Ambassador competition was open to duos of piano and
clarinet, flute, oboe or French horn. Due to a cancellation of future funding,
this is the last year the Artistic Ambassador program will exist.
end
A detailed itinerary of their tour schedule is available . If you would
like a copy, please call Rosemary Gladden at 594-2585.