LOS ANGELES–The USC Alumni Club of Central California – Fresno is pleased to host internationally acclaimed pianist, Vatche Mankerian for a concert of piano music on Sunday, May 16, 2010 at the Fresno Art Museum, 2233 North First Street, Fresno, California. The concert will begin promptly at 5:00 p.m. and will be followed by a reception with the artist.
The Romantic Art of Piano features the music of such renowned composers as Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Busoni and noted Armenian composer, Arno Babajanian. Mankerian will bring to life their celebrated compositions with his inimitable style as well as his lively and interesting commentary about the composers and their musical works.
Mankerian has thrilled audiences around the world, performing in major cities on four continents. A prize winner in several international piano competitions, he made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1995. He holds both a Bachelor and Master of Music from the USC Thornton School of Music, and is currently working towards his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at USC Thornton, studying with Professor Stewart Gordon. In 2006, Mankerian was appointed Program Manager of the USC Institute of Armenian Studies which is housed in the USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer has described Mankerian as “a bold and vibrant performer.” This was echoed by the Los Angeles Times in noting that “Mankerian perform[s] with quiet poetry… there [is] nothing assembly-line about the reading.”
“The USC campus is always alive with such wonderful programs,” said Mike Angelos, President of the USC Alumni Club of Central California – Fresno. “We are thrilled to be able to bring some of that energy to the Trojans and friends here in the Fresno area.”
For more information about The Romantic Art of Piano, or to purchase tickets, visit http://alumni.usc.edu/romanticpiano.
The USC College of Letters, Arts & Sciences is the university’s primary center for research and education in the basic sciences, humanities and social sciences. The largest of USC’s 19 academic schools, USC College is home to more than 30 academic departments and more than 20 Ph.D. programs. Committed to excellence in undergraduate education, College faculty members teach 10,000 undergraduate students at USC, including 6,000 undergraduates who can choose from among 140 majors and minors. USC College is also the home of more than two dozens research centers and institutes.
About the USC Alumni Association
With more than 300,000 members worldwide, the USC Alumni Association’s mission is to support the overall advancement of the University of Southern California. In support of this mission, the USC Alumni Association strives to engage all alumni for life, build a culture of philanthropy among the Trojan Family, and be a representative voice for all USC alumni. With more than 100 affiliated alumni clubs, alumnae support groups and multi-cultural alumni organizations, the USC Alumni Association distributes more than one million dollars each year in scholarships for USC students, annually hosts more than 250 events and programs around the world, and provides benefits and services to all USC alumni. For more information, please visit http://alumni.usc.edu/.
About the USC Alumni Club of Central California – Fresno
USC Alumni Clubs provide stimulating, enriching and exciting alumni activities to keep members of the Trojan Family connected to USC, lifelong and worldwide. By organizing programs including faculty presentations, cultural events, career networking forums, and activities to recharge your Trojan spirit, Alumni Clubs provides a lifetime of opportunities to keep your connection to USC. The USC Alumni Club of Central California – Fresno provides programming and engagement opportunities to the 700+ USC Alumni and friends that reside in the area and is lead by President, Mike Angelos. More information about the club and upcoming events can be found at http://alumni.usc.edu/groups/us/fresno.html.
