A musical milestone unfolds in Cagayan de Oro this November with two of the most sought after classical musicians render a special performance at the Liceo de Cagayan University.
“Duetto” highlights real-life couple violinist Juan Luis Muñoz, and pianist Mariel Ilusorio on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 starting 8:00 pm at Liceo’s Rodelsa Hall.
DUETTO Poster
Ms, Illusorio is a winner of National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA), and continued her studies at the Juilliard School in New York and the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. She proceeded to Germany for further studies under the eminent piano pedagogue, Prof. Arie Vardi in Hannover.
Ms. Illusorio won the 14th Rina Sala Gallo International Competition in Barcelona, the East Friesland Piano Prize 1999 in Germany, the Grand Prize in the Carlo Soliva International Piano Competition in Italy.
With her passion for chamber music, she is a member of the Pianist of the Pacific Trio and the Dorian Foundation; and has performed in many concerts abroad. She collaborates with the finest musicians in Germany; was a scholar of the Villa Musica Chamber Music Academy and was appointed the accompanist for the State Academy of Music Hanover.
In the course of her career, Ms. Illusorio found herself in Grahamstown, South Africa where she met her husband and musical partner, violinist Juan Luis Muñoz.
Together, they spread the gift of music by teaching young students. They also started a concert series titled “Juan, Mariel and Friends” aimed at keeping classical music alive in the Eastern Cape through performances, teaching and outreach projects.
Ms. Illusorio’s other half, the highly-acclaimed Chilean violinist-conductor, Juan Luis Muñoz has been based South Africa for the past 25 years, playing an active and vital role in the country’s musical life. He studied with Prof. Fernando Ansaldi and Prof. Sergio Prieto at the Catholic University of Santiago, Chile, where he was concertmaster of the University’s Symphony Orchestra. He toured Chile, Argentina and Peru and soloist and concertmaster of Pro Musica Orchestra.
In South Africa, he was the principal violinist of CAPAB Orchestra, Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra, Johannesburg Music Initiative, Free State Symphony Orchestra, the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra, and conductor of Cape Town Baroque Ensemble which he founded. He also developed the Franschhoek Mountain Chamber Music Festival into one of the most important annual music events in South Africa. At present, he is the senior lecturer in Violin and Viola at the Rhodes University.
To reserve seats for the concert, call (088) 8584093 to 95 local 109 (Office of Cultural Affairs) or 09989612102 and look for Mr. Sheldon Frias.