Music faculty member Nikolasa Tejero was selected to perform recently in the 2010 Spotlight Concert series of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Tejero, who serves as coordinator of clarinet studies and directs the UTC Clarinet Ensemble and UTC Professional Accompanist Tim Hinck were covered in The Charleston Post and Courier Spoleto Festival edition, which stated “Tejero and Hinck… played expressively, with technical and musical mastery.”
Festival planners requested at least one American composer be represented by each artist, in keeping with the overall theme “American Musical Masterpieces Composed over the Last Three Centuries.” Tejero developed a program of American—in the continental sense of the word—music, marrying the festival theme to her interest in folklore’s reference in the music of contemporary Latin American composers. The point of convergence: Leonard Bernstein’s clarinet sonata.
While Bernstein himself was not Latin American, a strong presence of Latin American rhythms is heard in his music. Some of these same rhythmic figures are key elements in the pieces by Latin American composers which Tejero played on her program, including one piece by UTC faculty member, Dr. Mario Abril.
Tejero’s selection to perform at Piccolo Spoleto was an honor, one she sought as a way of introducing herself to a broader audience and as a chance to perform for critical recognition.
Born in Mérida. México, Tejero moved to the United States with her family in 1983. From an early age, she was influenced by the music of her native Yucatán and began her formal music training at the age of twelve.
As a student Tejero received the Outstanding Performer Award at the 1991 International Music Festival in Sydney, Australia. She received her undergraduate degree at UTC and now holds a Master of Music degree in clarinet performance from Baylor University in Texas.
An active performer, Tejero is a frequent recitalist and soloist. She has been the concerto soloist with the Cadek Chamber Orchestra, The Southern Adventist University Orchestra and the UTC Orchestra. She has appeared in Chicago with her trio, Tresillo. She is a member of the Chattanooga Symphony. At UTC, Ms. Tejero is the coordinator of clarinet studies, teaches Introduction to Music, Music theory and directs the UTC Clarinet Ensemble.
Tejero will reprise sections of her Piccolo Spoleto Festival performance in a fall semester recital at UTC. For more information regarding her upcoming performances, please check the calendar of events on the UTC Music Department website.
