Leith Ensemble

Programme 

  Tessa Romano, mezzo-soprano & Sanaz Rezai, piano    Clairieres dans le ciel (1913-1914)  Lili Boulanger (1893-1918)  • No. 6: Si tout ceci n’est qu’un pauvre rˆeve  • No. 7: Nous nous aimerons tant  • No. 8: Vous m’avez regard ́e avec toute votre ˆame    Tessa Petersen, violin & Sanaz Rezai, piano    Sonata for Violin and Piano No. 1 in A Major, Op. 13 (1875-1876) - Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)  • I. Allegro molto  • II. Andante  • III. Allegro vivo  • IV. Allegro quasi presto    Interval     Tessa Petersen, violin & Heleen du Plessis, cello & Sanaz Rezai, piano    La Valse (1919-1920)  Maurice Ravel (1875-1937)     Trio No. 1, Op. 32 in D Minor (1894)  Anton Arensky (1861-1906)  • I. Allegro moderato  • II. Scherzo: Allegro molto  • III. Elegia: Adagio  • IV. Finale: Allegro non troppo     

Bios 

  Sanaz Rezai    Born in Tehran, Iran, Dr. Sanaz Rezai began studying piano in Vienna, at the age of seven. By the age of ten, she competed at the international level where she was awarded numerous prizes.    After immigrating to the United States, Dr. Rezai completed her Bachelor of Science in Piano Performance at California State University, Fullerton, graduating cum laude and with honors.     At CSU Fullerton, she was awarded the undergraduate pianist award, won first place in the Grossmont Community Concert Association Competition, and received the Fenstermaker Scholarship through the Musical Merits Foundation of Greater San Diego.     Dr. Rezai went on to complete both her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts at UCLA in piano performance. Her dissertation topic was Maurice Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit within the context of Orientalism during Impressionism.     While at UCLA, she taught German language courses for the German department, as well as piano instruction for composition and performance students and music appreciation courses in the Music department.     Dr. Rezai has had the privilege to work closely and perform the works of prominent UCLA faculty composers including Mark Carlson and Richard Danielpour. She has taken part in many music festivals, offered solo recitals, and performed as a soloist with orchestras and wind ensembles.     Dr. Rezai worked at UCLA as a collaborative pianist and taught group piano courses. Her areas of interest include piano pedagogy, collaborative piano, and the interdisciplinary studies of art and music history.     Dr. Rezai had the privilege to study with Jane Bastien, Gloria Cheng, Eduardo Delgado, George Katz, Vitaly Margulis, Ingrid Pachner, and Walter Ponce.   Recently Dr. Rezai moved with her family to Dunedin, New Zealand where she is enjoying the lovely music scene, delicious cinnamon scrolls, and beautiful nature.     Heleen Du Plessis    Known as an inspiring and passionate cellist and teacher, Dr du Plessis performs as soloist with orchestras and in duo- or chamber music recitals and CD record- ings with various top instrumentalists.     At the University of Otago, Heleen holds the position of Senior Lecturer of Performance and teaches Cello, Chamber Music, Pedagogy of Music Performance and Performance, Health, and Well-being. She is the principal cellist of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra and director of Cellists of Otago.     Highlights of her performances include the Saint-Saens Cello concerto with the Dunedin Symphony orchestra and a Chamber Music New Zealand regional tour with marimba virtuoso Yoshiko Tsuruta.     Her CD from the project ‘Cello for Africa’ was nominated for the International Listeners’ Choice Award, and described as “embodying the highest standard of artistry and genuine attempt to build a meaningful cross-cultural dialogue” (Violoncello Foundation, USA). “Earnest emotive string colour with every phrase, always 5 traversing a glorious pathway direct from the heart to the fingers”, has been hailed as the “hallmark of du Plessis’ delivery” (Otago Daily Times).     Tessa Petersen    Tessa Petersen is the Senior Lecturer in Violin at the University of Otago and Concertmaster of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra. A top graduate of Otago University, she pursued postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Music, London, under a prestigious British Commonwealth Scholarship, following which she went into a career as performer and teacher based in the UK and then the USA, before returning to New Zealand in 2006.     Equally at home performing classical and contemporary repertoire, Tessa actively promotes and collaborates with New Zealand composers.   Her Ode CD Release-The Mozart Fellowship features works by New Zealand composers for solo violin and violin/piano. In the Ode CD Father and Son she featured in works by Anthony Ritchie.     In 2020, Brighter Than Blue (Rattle CD), released by acclaimed NZ guitarist Matthew Marshall, features Tessa in Suite for Violin & Guitar by Kenneth Young.     In 2021 Tessa won the Best Music award in the Dunedin Fringe Festival for her premiere of Entrances for solo violin and tape by Jeremy Mayall, based on the poetry of Cilla McQueen.     Tessa Romano    Dr. Tessa Romano is Senior Lecturer of Voice at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. They hold a DMA from the University of Colorado Boulder, an MM from the University of Michigan, and an AB in Music and Italian from Princeton University.     Dr. Romano has held opera fellowships at Aspen Opera Center and CU New Opera Workshop. They have performed with the Syracuse Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonic and American Handel Society.     Past awards include first place in the Florida Grieg Voice Competition, Winner of the Art of Art Song Competition, and Winner of the Franco-American Vocal Academy’s Grand Concours Prize.     Dr. Romano is Co-Vice President of the New Zealand Association of Teachers of Singing and a Board Member of the New York Singing Teachers’ Association.