Program
Ricardo Matosinhos
Os Contos do Oboé, Op. 73
Manuel Pedro Ferreira
Saudade
Anne Victorino d’Almeida
Sonatina Breve para Oboé e Piano
António Fragoso
Suite Romantique
Eurico Carrapatoso
Três Peças Atlânticas
Biographies
Dr. Courtney Miller is the oboe professor at the University of Iowa where she teaches private oboe lessons, reed classes, master classes and chamber music. Prior to her position at the University of Iowa, Dr. Miller served on faculty at Boston College and Ashland University.
Dr. Miller made her solo debut with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra at age 17, and continues to be a devoted performer traveling throughout the United States and abroad as a solo, chamber, and orchestral musician. Her recent album Modern Fairy Tales, released on Centaur Records, is available on iTunes, Amazon and Spotify. Fanfare Magazine hails Courtney Miller as “a performer of considerable skill, with an unfailingly lovely sound, abundant technical ability, and a special gift for turning notes into poetry.” In addition to her solo pursuits, she is a core member of the prestigious international chamber ensemble Virtuoso Soloists of New York.
As an orchestral musician, Dr. Miller served as the English hornist with the Quad City Symphony for two seasons. She performs frequently with numerous orchestras around the country including Orchestra Iowa (IA), Portland Symphony (ME), the Jacksonville Symphony (FL), the Atlantic Symphony (MA), the Akron Symphony (OH), the Canton Symphony (OH), the Toledo Symphony (OH), the Erie Philharmonic (PA), the Cleveland Opera (OH), the Cleveland Pops (OH), the Wheeling Symphony (WV), the Youngstown Symphony (OH), and the Tallahassee Symphony (FL).
Professor Miller earned a Bachelor of Music from Florida State University, a Master of Music from Cleveland Institute of Music and a Doctor of Musical Arts from Boston University. Her teachers include John Ferrillo, John Mack, and Eric Ohlsson. She has published in the Double Reed Journal and is a frequent performer and presenter at the International Double Reed Society conferences. This fall she is a featured artist of the Brazilian Double Reed Society at their first International ABPD Conference. Dr. Miller has also presented papers at the College Music Society’s Northeast Regional Conference. In the summers, Dr. Miller teaches and performs as faculty at the Nuevo Mundo Festival in Aruba.
Dr. Courtney Miller is a Lorée Artist.
Dr. Réne Lecuona has been praised by critics in Germany, the UK, and the US for her chamber music interpretations and solo performances: “The imagery of the music is perfectly conveyed by Vogel and Lecuona in an inspired performance… this is chamber music at its best” (www.klassik.com); “As throughout the entire album, Lecuona’s performance is magnificent…” (David Murray, Bass World); “Lecuona’s interpretation of Mozart was outstanding…” (Daily Iowan). Dr. Lecuona has performed throughout South America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the United States. She made her Carnegie Hall debut in Weill Recital Hall with mezzo-soprano Katherine Eberle, and in Goodman Hall at Lincoln Center with soprano Rachel Joselson. Her playing has been featured on many compact discs, including a recording of the music of Margaret Brouwer (CRI label), which won the 2000 Contemporary Art Music Burton Award. She can be heard on Centaur Records, Innova Recordings, Capstone Records, Cybele Recording, Albany Records, and Composers Recordings International.
Dr. Lecuona is professor of piano at The University of Iowa. A devoted teacher, Réne has prepared students for admission and scholarship in performance programs at prestigious institutions such as the New England Conservatory, the University of Michigan, Florida State University, the Manhattan School of Music, the Eastman School of Music, Northwestern University, Peabody Conservatory, and Aspen Music Festival. Her former students hold teaching posts in Germany and Brazil as well as in the US.
Réne Lecuona earned a doctor of musical arts degree in piano performance and was awarded a performer’s certificate at the Eastman School of Music. She received undergraduate and master's degrees at the Indiana University School of Music. Her major teachers have included Menahem Pressler of the Beaux Arts Trio, the late György Sebök, Edward Auer, Shigeo Neriki, and Rebecca Penneys. Réne was raised in Corning, New York and studied piano for many years with Laurie Conrad of Ithaca, New York. She lives in Coralville, Iowa with her husband Andrew and their son Sebastian.