(PRINCETON, NJ) -- On February 17, 2022 at 12:15pm the series Westminster Conservatory at Nassau will return to live performance after a hiatus of two years, during which series events were posted on the church website. The recital will take place in the main sanctuary of Nassau Presbyterian Church, 61 Nassau Street in Princeton. Admission is free. All attendees must remain masked and observe social distancing. The recital will feature Kevin Willois, flute and Patricia Tupta Landy, both members of the Westminster Conservatory faculty.
Their program, consistent with the Westminster Conservatory's yearlong emphasis on music from Italy, comprises Benedetto Marcello's Sonata in F arranged for flute and piano, the Barcarola e scherzo, op. 4 for flute and piano by Alfredo Casella, selections from the Six Pieces for Solo Piano by Ottorino Respighi, and music by Nino Rota, including famous movie themes and the Cinque Pezzi Facili per Flauto e Pianoforte.
Flutist Kevin Willois graduated from the Mason Gross School of the Arts with degrees in music performance and music education. He studied flute under Bart Feller and has participated in master classes with James Galway, Paula Robison, and Jean Pierre Rampal. He is an active performer in the New York/New Jersey area, and has performed with the Garden State Symphonic Band, the Edison Symphony, Artemis Chamber Orchestra, Actor's Net, and with the chamber ensembles trio@play and Vento Trio. The latter group was featured at the Fou de Basson conference in Angouleme, France, where Willois played classical and jazz concerts and conducted workshops in jazz improvisation. In the summer of 2014 Willois participated in the 34th annual Music Festival of Londrina, Brazil, both performing and conducting workshops in jazz and flute performances. Mr. Willois currently teaches at Westminster Conservatory and the Peddie School.
In addition to maintaining a private studio, Patricia Tupta Landy currently teaches piano and coaches chamber music for the Honors Music Program at Westminster Conservatory. Her students are frequent laureates in area, state, and regional festivals and competitions. Ms. Landy enjoys performing as a soloist and as a chamber musician in the tri-state area. At Westminster Choir College, she served as an adjunct professor for graduate piano pedagogy internships. She received Steinway & Sons Top Teacher Awards in 2018, 2019, and 2020. She formerly taught piano and performed as a freelance accompanist in the greater Los Angeles area. She also served as a part-time staff accompanist for the Cleveland Institute of Music and taught at the Cleveland Music School Settlement.
The next Westminster Conservatory at Nassau recital will take place on Thursday, March 17. The performers will be Katherine McClure, flute; Kenneth Ellison, clarinet; and Esma Pasic-Filipovic, piano.
This program is made possible in part by the Mercer County Cultural and Heritage Commission through funding from the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.
