Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas Honors Tania León in Concert March 8

Latin American Herald Tribune

Orchestra Pays Tribute to Cuban-American Composer

By Victor Martin

"NEW YORK – The Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas is paying tribute this week in New York to several outstanding U.S. composers, including Cuban-born Tania Leon. 'I’m very happy,' she told Efe during an interview. Leon’s musical talent, as well as her educational work, has been recognized both within and outside the United States. The POA, founded five years ago by Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra and comprised of young soloists from New York, has prepared a concert with works composed by women which it will give on the March 8 observance of International Woman’s Day.

"Leon, who has taught at Harvard and Yale and in the 1990s was advisor to New York Philharmonic director Kurt Masur, is the composer of 'Kabiosile,' a vibrant, energy-laden piece included in the program and which shows the influence of Cuban rhythms. She said that she was 'very happy' to see that new orchestras were springing up with broad participation by talented young people willing to invest a lot of time and effort in the interpretation of works and 'who show great mental breadth' in their ways of perceiving society. The celebrated musician participated on Tuesday in a presentation ceremony for the concert held at the Society of the Americas in New York. Also on hand at the event was Jade Simmons, who performs the piano portion of 'Kabiosile.'

"Both Simmons and De la Parra, the POA’s artistic director, made very clear their admiration for the work of Leon, an ex-student of Leonard Bernstein, and they emphasized the challenge 'Kabiosile' poses for a pianist or a conductor. De la Parra also recalled that Leon was the co-founder of the American Composers Orchestra Sonidos de las Americas Festivals, and she was the inspiration for her to create her own orchestra and dedicate herself to spreading the music of composers from the Americas. The Mexican conductor said in an interview with Efe that this is the first occasion on which the POA is offering a program where all the pieces are composed by women, although she added that that did not mean there was any underlying demand regarding the presence of women in classical music."  [Full Post] [Tania Justina León (b. 1943) is profiled at AfriClassical.com Her website is: http://www.TaniaLeon.com/]