German violinist Viviane Hagner and Bulgarianborn
percussionist Svet Stoyanov gave lectures and
demonstrated their art to students of the Department of
Music in May.
The Munich-born Hagner, known for her highly intelligent
musicality and passionate artistry, is a star violin
soloist and chamber musician. For the lecture, she gave
one-on-one instructions to three students on works by
Prokofiev, Lalo and Dvorak.
She noted that the first thing a professional performer
must do is understand the style and character of the work
to be perform, and more importantly the feelings and
emotions that composer wants to convey to the audience.
Performer can present a piece of music perfectly only
when he or she fully understands it and becomes part of it.
Hagner made her international debut at the age of 12.
A year later she participated in the legendary joint concert
of the Israel and Berlin Philharmonics, conducted by
Zubin Mehta in Tel Aviv.
Prof. Stoyanov, director of percussion studies and professor
of percussion at the Frost School of Music, Universty
of Miami, noted in his lecture that percussion students
should be more sensitive and demanding in regards
to rhythm compared to students of other instruments.
Slight differences in beat placement can vary the style
of a percussion performance. One can play the notes with
perfect precision, but a slight off-beat may give the audience
a different feel, he said.
Prof. Stoyanov stressed that it is important for percussionist
students to have a good grasp of the sense of time
between musical notes and beat placement.
Prof. Stoyanov is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild
International Competition. He made his New York City
debut at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall as a cosoloist.
He has performed as a soloist with the Chicago,
Seattle, American Symphony Orchestras and The New
York Pops.