The Con Fuoco Trio — University of Kansas School of Music faculty artists Robert Walzel, clarinet; Boris Vayner, viola; and Ohio State professor of piano, Steven Glaser — will present Robert Schumann's Märchenerzählungen ("Fairy Tales"), Leo Smit's Trio, James Scott Balentine's Asking a Shadow to Dance, and Mozart's Trio in E-flat Major, K. 498.
This event is free and open to the public. No ticket required.
Livestream broadcast begins at 8 p.m.
Originally from Novosibirsk, Russia, Boris Vayner has enjoyed a diverse career in music as a violist, educator and conductor. A member of the Grammy-nominated St. Petersburg String Quartet since 2005, he has intensively toured throughout North America, South America, Europe and Asia. Vayner has collaborated with such internationally renowned artists as Leon Fleisher, Michael Tree, Peter Donohoe, Anton Nel, David Shifrin and Misha Dichter. He is also a member of the St. Petersburg Piano Quartet that debuted in New York in 2014. Vayner joined the faculty of the University of Kansas School of Music in 2017; he formerly served as an adjunct faculty and a member of the quartet-in-residence at the Wichita State University. He has presented master classes at numerous educational institutions in the US and around the world, and has served on the faculty of many international summer festivals. Vayner holds bachelor’s degrees from Novosibirsk Music College and Novosibirsk State University (majoring in mathematics), and master’s degrees in viola performance from the St. Petersburg Conservatory and the New England Conservatory. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Missouri–Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance.
Performing extensively in essentially all mediums featuring clarinet and saxophone, Robert Walzel is hailed by critics as a “remarkable clarinet virtuoso” possessing “great finesse,” a “rich, warm, focused tone” and “effortless technique.” Since 2010, he has served as dean of the University of Kansas School of Music. Featured in performances throughout the United States and around the world, Walzel has performed in over 25 countries and presented master classes and lectures at several of the world’s leading music schools. Partnering with pianist Steven Glaser as the Con Fuoco Duo, a collaboration extending 30 years, Walzel has toured as an Artistic Ambassador for the United States Information Agency (Department of State). A proponent of jazz and other culturally influenced music, he has premiered and recorded several new works written for him. He is featured on multiple recording labels including Albany, Navona, Con Fuoco Digital, and Mark Records. For eleven years Walzel served on the faculty at Texas Tech University and as principal clarinetist of the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Previous administrative leadership positions include those at Sam Houston State University in Texas and at the University of Utah. A past president of the International Clarinet Association, he currently serves as a commissioner on the Commission on Accreditation for the National Association of Schools of Music.
Many School of Music performances will be held in Hughes Hall Auditorium while construction to Weigel Hall is underway. Hughes Auditorium accommodates a smaller audience and allows entry only during applause. Please plan ahead.
Note that the accessible entrance is located at the North end of the building. For evening and weekend performances, the closest parking is in Arps Garage.
A new home for the School of Music
The transformative Ohio State Arts District project includes a renovated and expanded School of Music. This new facility is an investment in our future performers, music educators, conductors and scholars. To learn more, visit go.osu.edu/artsdistrict.
