Violin, viola duo 'marcolivia' returns to Virginia Tech
Violinists Marc Ramirez and Olivia Hajioff, who together form the musical duo marcolivia, and faculty member Tracy Cowden, piano, explore a world of captivating music in a recital of folk-based classical works entitled "Enchanted Masterworks." The concert will be held on Sunday, March 18 at 3 p.m. in the Squires Recital Salon on the campus of Virginia Tech.
Included on the concert are the Bartok "Duos for Two Violins," which tell the tales of folk life in Eastern Europe. Marcolivia and Cowden will play arrangements of the best-loved arias from Mozart's "The Magic Flute" in versions for solo piano and string duo. Finally, Beethoven's "Gassenhauer" Trio, which takes its nickname from the popular German folk melody, will be featured in the finale.
Ramirez and Hajioff have concertized extensively throughout the United Sates, Russia, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, England, Canada, Mexico, and Japan. Both have been recipients of a Fulbright fellowship, and prizes from competitions including the BBC Young Musician of the Year, the European Violin Competition, and the Henryk Szerying Violin Competition, among others.
The Baltimore Sun stated, "It was impossible to come away from the concert unimpressed by [their] technical wizardry," and the London times praised them by calling them an "exceptionally talented young duo!"
Cowden, associate professor of piano and vocal coach at Virginia Tech, has appeared as soloist with the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Southwest Virginia, the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Tech Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and in recitals with principal musicians from the Montreal, Vancouver, Boston, and Columbus symphony orchestras. She received a doctorate in musical arts and a master of music degree in piano accompanying and chamber music from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in piano performance form Western Michigan University.
Tickets are $15 general, $10 senior, and $5 student and are available at the Student Centers and Activities Ticket Office on the first floor of Squires Student Center. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling 540 231-5615. Tickets will also be available at the box office beginning one hour prior to the performance.
Free parking is available in the Squires Lot, located at the corner of College Avenue and Otey Street, in the Architecture Annex Lot on Otey Street, and the Perry Street/Prices Fork lots. Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200. Alternative parking is available in the Kent Squire parking garage or the Farmers Market metered parking lot, both located on Draper Road. Additional Downtown Blacksburg parking information can be found online.
