Music students show off skills at free concerts

A free half-hour piano concert will be held at the Leo R. Dowling International Center at noon today. Every Friday, music students have the chance to show off their skills.

“As a student, it’s another opportunity to listen to good music, to take a break, have a light lunch and enjoy a free concert,” International Center Director Sandy Britton said.

Brazilian grad student Daniel Inamorato  performed last Friday as the first musician of the semester. He played both popular and traditional Brazilian music.

“It’s giving people here the opportunity to see what is happening in other countries and cultures,” Inamorato said. “The music has this link. You can always be close to the public and people in the city.”

Classical music is most often played at the concert series. Once a semester the center also tries to bring in a student to play folk music from another country.

“That’s been very well-liked,” Britton said. “For domestic students, the concert series is an opportunity to come to a setting that serves international students but that welcomes everyone. It’s a program we enjoy and plan to continue, and everyone is invited.”

Some of the bigger audiences have had 40 to 45 people attend. About five to 10 people attend regularly.

“The attendance has been down, and we would like to see that go up,” International Center Office Assistant Tish González said.

Inamorato said he is more concerned with the quality of the performance itself rather than the number of audience members.

“I don’t believe the number of people matters,” Inamorato said. “I consider it a concert as if I would play with an orchestra. When we are professionals, we need to do our best.”

Inamorato likes that the concert is free because money issues sometimes keep people from attending concerts.

“We’re really fortunate to have such a good school of music,” González said.

“Sometimes it’s really amazing. It’s a comfortable and intimate setting.”

González said some of the performers have asked to perform again.

After the concert, a light lunch is provided for the audience.

“It gives the performers a chance to meet and greet,” González said. 

Some of the performers have been playing an instrument since they were five, González said. Inamorato has been playing the piano for 20 years and has competed in his native country.

“It’s something that I started so early in life that’s it’s just natural. I started to play piano before I learned to read or write,” Inamorato said. “I play piano because I believe it is something I can’t live without.”

This school year is his first in America.    

“I can see people care about art here,” he said. “If something in the world can make us better people, it’s art.”