Oct. 3, 2016

(WASHINGTON, D.C.)World-renowned pianist Santiago Rodriguez will perform a concert of the music of Alberto Ginastera in celebration of the 100th anniversary of classical composer's birth. The concert is presented by the piano division of the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at Catholic University. It will take place on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2016 , in Ward Recital Hall at 4 p.m. In addition to Ginastera's American Preludes, the concert will include works by Thomas Sleeper and Rachmaninov. Hailed by The New York Times and Baltimore Sun as one of the finest pianists in the world, Rodriguez is professor and chair of the Department of Piano Performance at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. Rodriguez was born in Cardenas, Cuba, and began his piano studies at the age of 4. After Fidel Castro seized power in Cuba, he was sent with his younger brother to live in an orphanage in New Orleans run by Catholic Charities. But before sending him to the United States, his mother had hidden money in his belongings along with a note begging the nuns to continue his musical education. Two years after his arrival, he made his concert debut at age 10 performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 27 with the New Orleans Philharmonic. His international career was launched in 1981 when he won the silver medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He has performed with symphony orchestras in London, Berlin, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, New York, Baltimore, Seattle, Indianapolis, and Houston, and with the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington, D.C. Tickets for the concert at Catholic University are $20 for general admission, $10 for senior citizens, or free for Catholic University students, faculty and staff. For more information or tickets, call 202-319-5414 or visit http://piano.cua.edu/wips.cfm .

MEDIA: To schedule an interview or attend this event, contact the Office of Marketing and Communications at cua-public-affairs@cua.edu or 202-319-5600 .