Prize Winning Pianist Makes Symphony Debut

Pianist Michale Malakouti is set to make his debut with the Redlands Symphony on perhaps the most romantic day of the year - Valentine's Day. Malakouti, a recent grand prize winner of the University of Redlands Concerto Competition, will perform Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in concert on Saturday, Feb. 14, in the University of Redlands Memorial Chapel under the leadership of Maestro Co Nguyen. Doors for the concert open at 7 p.m., with a pre-concert discussion about the performance beginning at 7:15 p.m. The performance will begin at 8 p.m., opening with the overture from Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, Jr., and concluding with Sergei Prokofiev's Romeo & Juliet Suite No. 2. It was Malakouti's winning of the Concerto Competition that won him an invitation to appear as a soloist with the Redlands Symphony. ”This concert – where the Redlands Symphony presents the grand prize winner of the University of Redlands Concerto Competition – is the most visible element of the valuable and unique partnership between the University and the Symphony,” explained Nguyen. “Being able to appear in concert with a major symphony orchestra so early in a young artist’s career is a tremendous opportunity. It’s just one of the ways the Symphony works with the University to promote and support musical excellence among students studying at the University of Redlands’ School of Music.” Currently, Malakouti is completing his Master of Music degree in piano performance at the University, with teacher and performer Louanne Long. He is also a recipient of the Lehigh endowned piano scholarship, a past winner of the President's Honor Recital auditions, and a contestant in the Internal Liszt Competition. In 2013, Malakouti received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Redlands. He began studying music at Riverside Community College with instructors Jasminka Knecht and Judith Johansen. While at RCC, he was the recipient of the Carroll L. and Rose T. Quinn Scholarship and was recognized as the Student of Distinction in Piano. “My true passion is sharing music with others," Malakouti said - and he does this through his performances, teaching and charity work. Single tickets for this performance start at $15 and are available at the door on the night of the performance and online. You may purchase tickets by visiting www.redlandssymphony.com or call the box office at 909-748-8018. [END] Submitted by: Redlands Symphony The Redlands Symphony offers a sweet evening of musical bliss for Valentine’s Day as it presents pianist MICHALE MALAKOUTI performing CHOPIN’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in a concert on Saturday, February 14,, 2015, in Memorial Chapel on the campus of the University of Redlands. Maestro Co Nguyen will conduct. Doors open at 7PM, and a pre-concert talk about the performance will begin at 7:15PM. The performance begins at 8PM. Single tickets starting at $15 are available at the door on the night of the performance. The evening’s program begins with the overture from Die Fledermaus by JOHANN STRAUSS, JR., and concludes with SERGEI PROKOFIEV’S beautiful Romeo & Juliet Suite No. 2. Mr. Malakouti was recently named Grand Prize Winner of the University of Redlands Concerto Competition. As a result of his winning performance, he has been invited to appear as soloist with the Redlands Symphony. ”This concert – where the Redlands Symphony presents the Grand Prize Winner of the University of Redlands Concerto Competition – is the most visible element of the valuable and unique partnership between the University and the Symphony,” explained Maestro Nguyen. “Being able to appear in concert with a major symphony orchestra so early in a young artist’s career is a tremendous opportunity. It’s just one of the ways the Symphony works with the University to promote and support musical excellence among students studying at the University of Redlands’ School of Music.” Mr. Malakouti is presently completing the Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the U of R with distinguished teacher and performer Louanne Long. Malakouti is a recipient of the Lehigh endowed piano scholarship, a past winner of the President’s Honor Recital auditions, and a contestant in the Internal Liszt Competition. In 2013, he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Redlands. A native of Moreno Valley, California, Malakouti began studying music seriously at Riverside Community College with instructors Jasminka Knecht and Judith Johansen. While at RCC, he was the recipient of the Carroll L. and Rose T. Quinn Scholarship and was recognized as the Student of Distinction in Piano. “My true passion is sharing music with others,” says Malakouti. He does this through his performances, teaching and charity work. The sponsor for the January concert is the University of Redlands. Sponsors of the 2014-15 season are Ann and Vaughn Bryan. The Redlands Symphony is a professional, independent nonprofit orchestra. Redlands Symphony offers its Symphony Select card for just $189. A Symphony Select card gives the purchaser six tickets for the best seats available at time of redemption (excluding Golden Circle). Tickets can be used for any combination of concerts, seats and dates throughout the 2014-15 season. Symphony Select seats may also be used for performances of the Riverside County Philharmonic in downtown Riverside. Single tickets are available at the door and online. Subscriptions and the Symphony Select card can be purchased online at www.redlandssymphony.com or by calling the box office at 909-748-8018.