Event Title
Nueve Canciones, by Gisela Hernández Gonzalo
Performer / Ensemble
Orit Amy Eylon (Mezzo Soprano), Blythe Cates (Soprano), Ara Koh (Piano)
Date of Publication
3-26-2021
Document Type
Concert
Abstract / Program Notes
Gisela Hernández Gonzalo (1912−1971) was a Cuban composer. Aware of the political necessity, she established ties with the Castro government in return for recognition of her activities as a music teacher and composer. She was also a member of the nationalistic Grupo Minorista that led a movement to incorporate Afro-Cuban sounds into larger forms of music. Hernández taught music at the Hubert de Blanck Conservatory, and with Olga De Blanck Martín, director of the conservatory, she developed a music education system that made significant changes in Mexican music education. With de Blanck, she also co-founded Ediciones de Blanck publishing and became instrumental in publishing critical editions of Ignacio Cervantes’ music. Hernandez often used Afro-Cuban elements in her compositions including the Nueves Canciones, song collection and the Triptico, song cycle.
Biography
Orit Amy Eylon, Mezzo Soprano, is the Coordinator of the Voice Area and an Associate Professor of Music (Voice) at the University of the Incarnate Word. She received a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin and her MM and BM degrees from Indiana University. Orit has performed several supporting roles with Opera San Antonio, Alamo City Opera, and El Paso Opera including Flora, Third Lady, La Principessa, Inez and Kate Pinkerton in La Traviata, Magic Flute, Il Trovatore, Suor Angelica, and Madame Butterfly to name a few. In addition to opera, Orit has performed extensively as a recitalist in Austria, Germany, Mexico and Asia and presents lecture recitals at various conferences and universities throughout the world. She performed as a soloist for several oratorio works including Handel’s Messiah Verdi’s Requiem and Mozart’s Requiem with the El Paso symphony and Juarez Symphony in Mexico. She has also served several summers as faculty for the Austrian American Mozart Academy in Salzburg, Austria. She is the current past president of the South Texas Chapter president of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, past Governor of the Rio Grande District of the National Association of Teachers of Singing and is a sought-after judge for UIL, ISAS, as well as solo and ensemble contests in New Mexico and Texas and international and regional voice concerto and aria competitions.
Blythe Cates currently serves as a lecturer of voice at Texas State University after terms at the University of Texas at El Paso and the University of the Incarnate Word. Originally from Southern California, Cates received her doctorate in vocal pedagogy at the University of Texas at Austin under Darlene Wiley and Ruth Ann Swenson.
Dr. Ara Koh has been a faculty member at UIW since 2013, teaching Applied Piano Lessons, Intro Aural Skill, coordinating piano seminar and accompanying the Cardinal Chorale. Dr. Koh received a doctoral degree in piano performance from Penn State University, a master’s degree in piano performance from New England Conservatory of Music and a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Long Beach. She is an active performer, both as a soloist and accompanist, and has concertized throughout the United States, Europe and Korea. Most recently she has appeared at the Sejong Art Center in Korea, Taipei National Performing Art Center in Taiwan, Universität für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Austria and Conservatoire Frédéric Chopin in Paris. Prior to teaching at UIW, she taught undergraduate Class Piano for both major and non-major students and Applied Lessons at Penn State University as a teaching assistant. While she was in schools, she won the Fine Art Scholarship as well as the University Concerto Competition, Aspen Festival Scholarship and PSU Graduate Exhibition Competition.
Keywords
Cuban composer, Afro-Cuban
Description
25-minute performance
Nueve Canciones, by Gisela Hernández Gonzalo
Gisela Hernández Gonzalo (1912−1971) was a Cuban composer. Aware of the political necessity, she established ties with the Castro government in return for recognition of her activities as a music teacher and composer. She was also a member of the nationalistic Grupo Minorista that led a movement to incorporate Afro-Cuban sounds into larger forms of music. Hernández taught music at the Hubert de Blanck Conservatory, and with Olga De Blanck Martín, director of the conservatory, she developed a music education system that made significant changes in Mexican music education. With de Blanck, she also co-founded Ediciones de Blanck publishing and became instrumental in publishing critical editions of Ignacio Cervantes’ music. Hernandez often used Afro-Cuban elements in her compositions including the Nueves Canciones, song collection and the Triptico, song cycle.