On Sunday April 27, 2014 accordionist and bandoneonist Peter Soave will perform with our Michigan Accordion Society Members Michele Ramo (8 string guitar/violin/mandolin) and Heidi Hepler (singer/actress)in Ann Arbor at the KerryTown Concert House at 4:00 PM for one show. This show is expected to sell out quickly as KerryTown only holds 100 seats. Plan on buying tickets early.
Recognized worldwide as a master of the bandoneon and concert accordion, Peter Soave has established himself as the leading soloist of his generation. The hallmark of his performances is his unique combination of commanding stage presence and the excitement of his vibrant virtuosity.
Of Italian descent, Peter Soave’s earliest memories are of music played on an accordion. By age three, he was certain of his life’s work. He began music studies at five, and quickly gravitated towards classical music.
From sixteen, he started entering international competitions and eventually won first place four times, confirming his reputation as a virtuoso of the highest order: Grand Prix in Neu Isenberg, West Germany; Klingenthal Wettbewerb in East Germany; Coupe Mondiale in Folkstone, England; and the Trophée Mondiale in Arrezano, Italy.
In 1987, Peter Soave was the inaugural recipient of “Voce d’Oro,” the international award honoring those who have given prominence to the accordion in the world of modern music. Deeply inspired by the music of Argentinean composer Astor Piazzolla, Mr. Soave’s impassioned musicianship motivated him to include the characteristic bandoneon in his performances.
Soave’s engagements include performances as a soloist and with orchestras and chamber ensembles throughout North and South America, Asia, Middle East, Europe, and Russia.
He has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Brooklyn Philharmonic, Zagreb Philharmonic, Windsor Symphony, Flint Symphony, San Salvador Philharmonic, Belgrade Philharmonic, Lubbock Symphony, Bellevue Philharmonic, Walla Walla Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, Williamsport Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica Gran Mariscal de Ayacucho and The Zagreb Soloists.
Soave collaborated with conductors such as James Levine, Neeme Jarvi, Thomas Wilkins, Robert Spano, Leone Mageira, Hermann Michael, Duilio Dobrin, and Guillermo Figueroa. For the only North America appearance in 1999 of the “Three Tenors,” Soave performed as the featured bandoneonist. He has also appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
In 2007, Soave premiered Astor Piazzolla’s oratorio “El Pueblo Joven”, written for symphony orchestra, voice recitative, soprano, bandoneon, choir, and percussion, with the Radio Romania Chamber Orchestra, Romania.
Peter Soave has had numerous compositions written for him by the Venezuela’s foremost composer, Aldemaro Romero: “Piazzollana-Homage à Piazzolla” for bandoneon and full orchestra; “Suite de Castelfidardo” for bandoneon and string orchestra; “Soavecito” for accordion and string orchestra; and “Tango Furioso” for bandoneon and string quartet. Romero’s “Five Paleontological Mysteries,” for accordion and string quartet, received its American premiere in Detroit in February 2008 and its European premiere in Italy in July 2008.
Peter Soave’s discography includes a solo album “Pride and Passion,” “Five Tango Sensations” with The Rucner String Quartet, a double CD “Undertango 2,” and “Peter Soave & Symphony Orchestra,” featuring the music of Astor Piazzolla and Carmine Coppola. His recording awards include the Detroit Music Award for Best Classical Recording in 2001 and Best Classical Instrumentalist in 2003. Eager to harmonize nature and music, Soave founded the Peter Soave Music Academy in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy in 2010, welcoming music lovers to convene and share.
Michéle (pronounced “Me-kel-ay) Ramo was born in the Italian Mediterranean fishing town of Mazara Del Vallo, Italy – on the coast of Sicily. He grew up in a small village of 300. His playgrounds were vast grape-vineyards, rocky hillsides and olive orchards. Michéleplayed guitar with the barbers in the little town square and hid his school books in the fields of ancient volcanic caves because he only wanted to ‘play music’ – not go to school! At age 13 he entered a music conservatory where he began violin studies.
By 17 he had his first professional contract with the Italian State Opera House “Teatro Massimo” in Palermo. At age 23, after five years in various Italian state symphony orchestras, Michéle made musical shockwaves within his circles by quitting and moving to the United States to pursue his work as a composer and instrumentalist in jazz. His first stop: New York City. Unable to speak English and soon out of money, he went to Detroit where he knew a friend from his hometown.
For the next twelve years Detroit was his home where he was befriended by Jazz greats such as trumpeter Marcus Belgrave; pianists Harold McKinney, Ken Cox and Teddy Harris Jr.; and drummers Roy Brooks and Lawrence G. Williams. It was here he continued on the guitar and put the violin away for ten years.
Ramo has performed at Jazz Festivals such as: The North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland), Molde Jazz (Norway), Fano Jazz (Italy) Montreal Jazz (Canada) Ottawa Jazz (Canada), Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Freiburg (Germany), Paris, Ile Del Re, Souillac, (France), Montreux-Detroit Jazz (USA), Cork Jazz (Ireland), Barcelona, Madrid (Spain), Republica de Andorra, International Jazz Guitar Festival (Wales, U.K.), Burlington Jazz, Arkansas Jazz (USA), Athens, Corfu, Corintos, Patras (Greece) and many more.
Singer, lyricist and actress Heidi Hepler, grew up in the Midwest outside of Detroit in Livonia, Michigan. At the age of nine she began singing in her church choir and studying cello. Always involved in school plays and vocal groups, Heidi would eventually meet and begin advanced vocal training with New York lyric coloratura soprano – Marjorie Gordon, who, lucky for Heidi, had moved to Detroit when her husband, the great violist Nathan Gordon became first violist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Heidi spent time in Los Angeles where she worked with the renowned vocal coach Seth Riggs. Theater and voice studies were continued with the University of Michigan Opera Theater at Interlochen National Arts & Music School. A former Miss Michigan who represented the state at the Miss America pageant, Heidi’s musical theater/light opera, regional theater and summer stock include the roles of Marietta in “Naughty Marietta”, Lauretta in “The Music Master”, Fiona in “Brigadoon”, Julie Jordan in “Carousel”, Luisa in “The Fantastiks”, Miss Fancy – Sly Fox’, Veronica – ‘Veronica’s Room’, Eve -‘Apple Tree’, Belinda in “Dido & Aeneas”. She has sung with various opera/opertta groups including The Michigan Opera Theater, Piccolo Opera Company and the Comic Opera Guild of Ann Arbor.
Heidi Hepler is known for her lively spirit and beautiful voice as she combines the theater background and love of languages into her exquisite song
interpretations.
Kerrytown Concert House is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
For further information: peter@petersoave.com
