It was old home week at the Amadeus Chamber Ensemble rehearsal this week—but not what one might expect. Three Venezuelan musicians found themselves in the same rehearsal space in the middle of Knoxville: soprano María Brea, flutist Maria Fernanda Castillo, and violinist Edward Pulgar. And the musical passion was palpable.
The three colleagues share a love of music that began early on.
Maria Brea, star soprano in the Cathedral Concert Series’ upcoming “Mozart! An Operatic Feast,” said her early music education happened at home in the Barrio los Frailes de Catia where she grew up. “My father is a guitarist, Cuatro player, and music teacher,” said Brea, “And my mother has a beautiful voice, so they performed together at family gatherings.” Brea went on to study at the Escuela Superior de Música José Ángel Lamas, the oldest music school in Venezuela. Her vocal pyrotechnics will be on display this Sunday when she is featured singing some of Mozart’s most challenging and stunningly beautiful arias and ensembles.
Edward Pulgar, Associate Concertmaster, owes his musical upbringing to his family as well. His father was a choral director and percussionist; his mother a singer. The pair met in a town choir. Music was always in the Pulgar home, with young Edward playing the drum, his brother the clarinet, his father the Cuatro, and his mom singing (while ironing clothes). When Pulgar was just five, his father gave him a violin for Christmas. “He passed away only three months later,” Pulgar said, “And that’s why I became a fiddle player.” His mother made sure the musical legacy was kept alive. Pulgar came up through Venezuela’s El Sistema music program, an institution brought to the world’s consciousness through its most famous graduate, conductor Gustavo Dudamel (a classmate of Edward’s in both violin and conducting). Pulgar remained in the program until he left Venezuela at age 25. One of Pulgar’s greatest joys regarding this particular concert is the opportunity to share a stand with his wife, violinist Mary Pulgar.
Maria Fernanda Castillo, Principal Flute, says her musical life has been shared between two culturally rich countries, Venezuela and the United States. “I started my musical journey at one of the many wonderful music conservatories in Caracas, the Conservatorio Juan Jose Landaeta,” Castillo said, “And the only musical elementary/high school in Venezuela, the Emil Friedman School.” After high school, Castillo pursued degrees in the U.S., at the University of Michigan (BM, SM, DMA) and the University of Miami (MM). She returned to Venezuela for a decade to teach in El Sistema and perform as Associate Principal Flute of the Caracas Municipal Symphony Orchestra. Castillo is involved throughout Sunday’s concert, but most notably in “Martern aller Arten” from The Abduction from the Seraglio.
Today, Brea lives in New York and is enjoying an international career, most recently singing Messiah in Carnegie Hall. Pulgar is known to Knoxville audiences as Principal Second Violin of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra. Castillo is Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Tennessee. Her husband, Régulo Stabilito, was recently appointed Music Director of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association.
All three performers are advocates of Latin music. All are first-class musicians. And all are delighted to be part of the rich and varied musical life of Knoxville. In the words of Castillo, “I still try to go back to Venezuela to play and teach as much as I can, but it is a pleasure to call Knoxville my home and to be able to be part of this vibrant cultural community.”
Cathedral Concert Series: “Mozart! An Operatic Feast”
Amadeus Chamber Ensemble, conducted by Brian Salesky
Sunday, February 5, at 6:00 PM
Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 711 S. Northshore Drive
Admission is FREE but Registration Here is Requested
