Kiko, Sarah, Lucca
FOOTPRINTS FESTIVAL
An immersive sonic experience in Los Angeles' Griffith Park intended to raise environmental awareness, with multiple overlapping performances, a guided meditation, and an engaged discussion on environmental topics.Hosted by Lucca Cidale, Sarah Hsiao, and Kiko Torres-Velasco
Chamber Program: (12pm - 1pm)
Luminous by Anya Lagman
Quenton Blache (cello), Emily Hsu (violin), Kiko Torres-Velasco (piano), Elizabeth Wei (violin)
Suite from a Victorian Kitchen Garden by Paul Reade
Romanza by Michele Mangani
Sarah Hsiao (harp) and Bram Schenck (clarinet)
“Meditation” from Thais by Jules Massenet
Gloria Choi (viola) and Sarah Hsiao (harp)
Afloat by Quenton Blache
Quenton Blache (piano), Evan Llafet (violin), and Kiko Torres-Velasco (piano)
Violin Sonata No. 1, Op. 78, Mvt. 1 by Johannes Brahms
Evan Llafet (violin) and Kiko Torres-Velasco (piano)
“The Flower Duet” from Lakmé by Léo Delibes
Sarah Hsiao (harp)
The Swan by Camille Saint-Saëns
Quenton Blache (cello) and Sarah Hsiao (harp)
Reflections on the Nature of Water (1986) by Jacob Druckman
Crystalline; Fleet; Tranquil; Gently Swelling; Profound; Relentless
Dances of Earth and Fire (1990) by Peter Klatzow
Dominic Grande (marimba)
First Arabesque by Claude Debussy
Sarah Hsiao (harp) / Kiko Torres Velasco (piano)
Meditation: (1pm)
Guided by Kiko Torres Velasco
Performance
Song of the Glade by Max Chan
Quenton Blache (cello), Gloria Choi (viola), Bram Schenck (clarinet), and Elizabeth Wei (violin)
Songs of the Glade is a two-movement piece for clarinet and strings. The first movement represents the awakening of nature and the boundless energy of life, while the second movement portrays a solemn character, mourning the destruction of life caused by human activity.
Discussion
Lucca Cidale is a trumpet player studying at the University of Southern California with roots in Austin, Texas and Brazil. Lucca has performed in Carnegie Hall, the Tanglewood Music Center, Aspen Music Festival, in concerts around Europe and Central America, and, most notably, the parking garages near the Thornton School of Music. He believes that music can turn ordinary moments into extraordinary occasions, which is his aim in hosting the Footprints Festival. Lucca loves hiking, swimming at the beach, and all things music related.
Born and raised in Southern California, Sarah Hsiao began playing the harp at the age of eleven. She was principal harpist of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra for four years, during which she performed biannual concerts at the renowned Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa. She was also principal harpist for Global Harmony Symphony, a community orchestra in which she arranged and performed orchestral classical/pop music for biannual concerts, as well as participated in a TV interview for concert promotion. Sarah is currently studying at University of Southern California with JoAnn Turovsky for her Bachelor of Music in Harp Performance and is an active member of the USC Symphony Orchestra and Student Symphony Orchestra of USC, a student-led organization dedicated to playing beautiful music. She aspires to play in the pop music scene as well as continue her classical endeavors, such as studio work and freelancing.
Kiko Torres-Velasco is a 4th year undergraduate classical pianist at the University of Southern California. Originally from the Bay Area, Kiko spent his early childhood immersed in the music of his culture, whether that be the Folk songs of Mexico or the Afro-Latin rhythms of Puerto Rico. At the age of 7, he moved to the small country town of Placerville and began eagerly studying classical piano. By the age of 10 he had won several regional and state competitions studying under Maryjo Hawley, and by the age of 16 he had played concerti in the Sierra Symphony and the University of Pacific Youth Symphony Orchestra studying under Natsuki Fukasawa. After joining John McCarthy’s studio and being accepted into the Young Artists Guild in 2018, Kiko took a break from competing to focus more on other aspects of music-making. Since beginning his undergraduate studies with professor Antoinette Perry, Kiko has adopted comprehensive meditation practices into his musical studies, and hopes to incorporate his unique holistic approach into the university classical music curriculum.