Current UofM students violinist, Allison Lovera, and pianist, David Córdoba will perform a concert on April 22nd at 2 PM CST as a part of a series by The National Arts Club featuring outstanding young Black and Latino musicians. This concert series is also part of a partnership with the Sphinx Organization, which is a national social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.
The event is free, but if so inclined audience members can make donations, which will be split 50-50 between the performers and the National Arts Club Artist Fellows program. The NAC Artist fellows program works to help further the careers of up-and-coming artists.
The concert will be held via Zoom, just click the link here and register for the event to receive the Zoom link.
The Venezuelan Violinist Allison Lovera has been described as a passionate and sensitive Violinist and instructor. A Graduate from the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Ms. Lovera was part of Almita and Roland Vamos Violin Studio. Winner of the first prize at the Maurice Hasson National Violin Competition, Excellence Award from the Young Aragueno Artist Competition, Winner of the Solo Competition 2017 at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, one of the five finalist in the SAI Competition in Chautauqua Music Festival 2017, Farwell Trust Award of Musicians Club of women 2018, Luminarts Cultural Foundation String fellowship Award 2018, Semi-finalist at Sphinx Competition 2018 and 2019, and Winner of the Rudi E. Sheidt School of Music Concerto Competition 2020.
Ms. Lovera made her soloist debut at the age of 13 years old with the Aragua Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela. After this, she had performed as soloist with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, Teresa Carreño Symphony Orchestra, Los Llanos Symphony Orchestra in Venezuela, and the CCPA Symphony Orchestra in Chicago. In addition, she had performed multiple solo recitals around Venezuela, Costa Rica and the Chicago area in important venues like the Simon Bolivar Hall, EMAI Center for the Arts, Chicago Cultural Center Preston Bradley hall, the Steinway Piano gallery in Hinsdale, and Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University.
Allison Lovera is currently working on an Artist Diploma at the University of Memphis ‘Rudi E. Scheidt’ School of Music. In addition, she is a member of Sphinx Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra, a fellow with Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Sinfonietta, a member of Civic Orchestra of Chicago and is teaching online/in person violin lessons. She also works as an english/spanish translator, is an amateur photographer, likes to read, watch movies and go to the beach.
Born in Medellin, Colombia, David Córdoba has performed at different venues in Latin America and the United States. He was recently invited to open the 2021 season of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra playing the Beethoven Concerto No.2 for Piano and Orchestra, under the baton of Robert Moody. His interest in Latin American contemporary music has led him to premiere chamber music works in festivals such as the XII Festival MUSICAHORA 2015 (La Serena – Chile) and the I Congress of Research and Musical Creation 2016 (Zipaquirá – Colombia).
Córdoba has won awards in several competitions such as the WCM International Piano Competition – Northern Ireland (Finalist – 4th place), Memphis International Piano Competition (Honorable Mention), and the Colombian National Singing Competition – Collaborative Piano Category (1st place). David is also a dedicated voice and flute accompanist. Highlight performances include a recital with Vincent Lucas (Principal Flutist – Orchestre de Paris) in the seminar Medellin entre la Flauta 2016.
Under the guidance and affection of Teresita Gomez, David earned a Bachelor of Music with Honors at the University of Antioquia (Colombia). Córdoba also received a Master in Piano Performance with Dr. Cathal Breslin and Dr. Jonathan Tsay at the University of Memphis, and he is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Musical Arts in the same institution.