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October 14, 2003

ULM Holds Duo Piano Concert in Honor of Paolo Fazioli

The University of Louisiana at Monroe School of Visual and Performing Arts will present a concert featuring the two Fazioli Grand Pianos owned by the University tonight in the Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall. The event begins at 7 p.m.

Earlier in the day Paolo Fazioli was guest lecturer in the Recital Hall. Fazioli talked about how he got started making pianos and the beginnings of the Fazioli Company. The Fazioli Company has designed and produced grand and concert-grand pianos in its factory in Sacile, Italy since 1979-the year the company was founded by pianist and engineer Paolo Fazioli.

The Fazioli Company makes only 100 pianos a year. Fazioli says this is because the wood used in the production is scarce. During the lecture he said, "The most important part is the sound board- the heart of the piano- we use spruce to make it. We use many types of wood and each one is specific to each component of the piano. It is not easy (to find the wood) because it comes from one part of the Italian Alps and they only cut the old trees to get it. Not all they cut is appropriate for the sound board- it has special characteristics and that is why we cannot produce many pianos a year."

Tonight there will be a brief social time beginning at 7 p.m. on the Veranda, and the concert begins at 7:30. A student flute choir will entertain guests before the concert and at the reception a student string quartet will play. Immediately following the concert will be a reception with Paolo Fazioli in room 134 of Biedenharn Hall. The event is black tie optional and is $50 per person.

The concert will feature Donald Cornell, Deborah McClung-Guillory, Richard Seiler and Coralie White playing the Concert Fazioli Grand Pianos. Proceeds from the event benefit the ULM School of Visual and Performing Arts.

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