PC faculty recital set for Oct. 29
Saxophonist Matthew Castner, Presbyterian College music faculty, and pianist Claudio Olivera present a program entitled “Duality,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in Edmunds Hall.
The program will explore the power of contrast and the flexibility of the saxophone.
Opening with jazz saxophonist/composer Andy Scott’s “Three Letter Word,” the program also features works by John Fitz Rogers, Michael Djupstrom and Lars-Erik Larsson.
The performance is free and open to the public.
Castner is currently a DMA Candidate at the University of South Carolina, where he serves as an instructor in the Music History Department. He also holds adjunct faculty positions at South Carolina State University and PC, teaching applied saxophone and clarinet lessons. Previously, he was the saxophone teaching assistant for Dr. Clifford Leaman.
Recent performance highlights include a trip to Moscow, Russia, to perform James Whitbourn’s “Son of God Mass” with the Ex Oriente Lux Chamber Choir, a collaborative performance with inmates at the Lee Correctional Institute, and a saxophone quartet tour of Helsinki, Finland. He is also a regular performer at North American Saxophone Alliance conferences, as well as the International Saxophone Symposium.
Olivera, a Venezuelan artist, received his first piano classes when he was 8 years old and had his debut as a soloist with orchestra at the age of 12. In 1996 he attended the “Interlochen Arts Camp” in Michigan, where he received the “Van Cliburn Award” for his outstanding piano performance.
He has participated in several national and international competitions, obtaining numerous prizes. He has played with every major orchestra in his country. He has also performed multiple recitals in various cities in Venezuela, Germany, Chile, the U.S., Spain and France.