Stella Markou visited 'The U' & Tonight* a soprano in a rare performance

DJ Jay Dee and StL Steve had the pleasure of speaking with Stella Markou in the radio staion on-the-air.
We have an archived copy of this interview.
If interested contact: "The U"

the ASQ {Arianna String Quartet} is joined by soprano Stella Markou in a rare performance of Schoenberg’s romantic Quartet No.2, a piece whose music and words promise a transcendent musical experience this Friday night.

When we asked about her feelings of the ASQ, here is what Stella had to say:

"What's impresses her, and what is great about the 'Arianna String Quartet' is their integrity and their fierce devotion towards being just this (what she's calls) a beast of a quartet and (she means that in the best possible way) they are perfectionistic, they are brutal when it comes to really having musically manifest what is written on the page, they pay attention to detail, they strive and poke at one another in the sense of you know always pushing towards a standard, and it is fascinating to her especially - importantly they have an intellectual and professional collegial respect that enables them to do the task at hand and putting a program together of Romanticism, of Brahms of the classical and linear lines of Mozart and of the pedantic chromaticism and meticulousness of what is Arnold Schoenberg in one program speaks volumes of the tenacity of their art and of themselves as musicians towards that art." (Stella Markou)

(details below)

to hear some of her singing, go to this website for a sample:

http://www.stellamarkou.com/music.html

Stella Markou
(Director of Vocal Studies)

A passionate promoter of new music, Stella Markou has been a featured soloist for the International Computer Music Conference, Heidelberg New Music Festival, SEAMUS Festival, Florida Electro-Acoustic Music Festival, Electronic Music Midwest, and with the Dance New Amsterdam Company, among others. She placed first in both the Doctorate Division of NATS and the Arizona Opera Guild Competition. She is the 2005 recipient of the Arizona Community Foundation/Piper Enrichment Grant. Her work can be found on the SEAMUS record label.

Ms. Markou is a frequent recitalist and lecturer, most recently giving a rare performance of Alberto Ginastera's Cantata para América Mágica as part of the University of Nevada Las Vegas' Guest Artist Series. She has also performed in Master Classes with Shirley Emmons, Cynthia Munzer, Warren Jones, and Bo Skovhus.

Ms. Markou previously held faculty appointments at Pima Community College and the Music Academy of Tucson. She holds degrees from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Cleveland Institute of Music and is currently completing her Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Arizona.

http://www.ariannaquartet.com/

ASQ: Epic Expression
Lee Theater

Presented by the Touhill

W.A. Mozart: Quartet in C Major, K.465 "Dissonant"
Arnold Schoenberg: Quartet No.2 in F sharp minor, Op.10 (1908) with soprano, Stella Markou
Piotr I. Tchaikovsky: Quartet No.1 in D Major

In the second series concert, the acclaimed Arianna String Quartet presents three of the most emotionally charged and moving works in the repertoire. Following Mozart’s revolutionary "Dissonant" Quartet, the ASQ is joined by soprano Stella Markou in a rare performance of Schoenberg’s romantic Quartet No.2, a piece whose music and words promise a transcendent musical experience. Tchaikovsky’s enchanting first quartet, a work known for its utter beauty and unforgettable melodies, closes this transporting concert.

==================================================
on the question to Stella during our interview, about coming out onto the stage as a persona of a Diva, and about ever being nervous or discouraged, she thinks being discouraged is a healthy attitude in a sense of as a musician you never stop learning, there is always a piece of music to be there, and she thinks that is what is wonderful about her craft you really never reach perfection, you are always aiming for the unobtainable"

DJ Jay Dee & Stella Markou

Stella Markou & Stephen in Studio B

we are happy she took time to come visit us and look forward to having her come back again in the near future for she will also be involved with the Ambassadors of Harmony / Friday, December 12 to Sunday, December 14

I really encourage You to come and support an extraordinary group of people!

see ya! I will be there for sure*
:)
StL Steve

EXPLORE – EXPERIENCE – ENGAGE [E3!]
Take advantage of a new way to experience the Touhill and fully immerse yourself into the artistic realm through Explore – Experience – Engage or E3! E3! provides an opportunity to explore by delving into the works being performed in a discussion prior to the performance, experience the performance, and then engage with artists and your fellow art goers in a post-performance party.

We have also created a website exclusively for E3! ticket holders. Add E3! to your performance for just $5 per ticket, or get it included free by becoming a subscriber! Please contact the ticket office to add E3! to your order today.

and checkout the upcoming events at the Touhill