Brazilian composer to work with OMA
Brazilian composer Raimundo Penaforte has been commissioned by the OMA Foundation and Arizona Friends of Chamber Music to compose an original piece for OMA middle school orchestral students. The first step in this process will be Penaforte’s visit to Vail Middle School in late April to work with 7th and 8th grade students under the tutelage of orchestral teacher Ann Williams. Penaforte will observe, conduct, and conference with Mrs. Williams and the students prior to writing this original composition. The composition will be premiered at the 2009 OMA Showcase. Deepest gratitude is expressed to Dr. Marilyn Heins, the mastermind behind this commissioned project, and Jean-Paul Bierny, the President of the Arizona Friends of Chamber Music who championed the project from its inception.
Raimundo Penaforte is one of the most creative and captivating Brazilian musicians of his generation. Inspired by a broad range of musical genres that span classical, Latin, Jazz and traditional folkloric music from his native Brazil, Penaforte has appeared nationally and internationally as a composer, conductor and performer. His works have been featured at concerts in Europe, Canada, Japan, Brazil and the United States at such venues as Lincoln Center, The White House and The Kennedy Center.
As an instrumentalist Penaforte has collaborated with notable musical artists such as Latin music star Ruben Blades, folk icon Richie Havens, jazz luminary Maynard Ferguson, klesmer clarinetist Giora Feidman, and Brazilian pianist Dom Salvador among many others. Born in the city of Recife in Pernambuco, Brazil, Penaforte has studied at Hardin-Summons University, New York University and The Juilliard School. His life and work were featured in a documentary film produced for Brazilian television in 2000 titled “Oque o Raimundo Quer” (“What Raimundo Wants”). He currently resides in New York City where, in addition to his work as a composer and performer, he is a Teaching Artist for the Third Street Music School.

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