Faculty Recital to Feature Singer Cristescu

Members of Westmont’s talented music faculty will perform the works of Frédéric Chopin, Johann Pachelbel and Camille Saint-Saens on Friday, March 1, at 8 p.m. in Deane Chapel. The Spring Faculty Recital is free and open to the public. For more information, please call (805) 565-6040.

Performers include: Emil Cristescu (voice), Andrea Di Maggio (flute), Paula Hatley (piano), Steve Hodson (organ), Bridget Hough (piano), Egle Januleviciute (piano), Mandee Sikich (piano), Celeste Tavera (voice), and Laurence E. Young (bass clarinet).

The diverse program includes a performance by Hatley and Cristescu, who’s originally from Romania, performing “La ci darem la mano” by Don Giovanni, “Ballad Echo” by Paul Jelescu and “Rejoicing” by Pascal Bentoiu.

After living in Italy, Germany and Switzerland, Cristescu moved to the United States and graduated from the University of Arizona, earning a master’s degree from Indiana University and a doctorate from UC Santa Barbara. He has won numerous competitions, honors and grants, including the Igor Gorin Memorial Award, the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, the Leni Fe Bland competition at Academy of the West in Montecito, the Ellen Faull Gordon Vocal Competition and the Metropolitan Opera Voice Competition.

Hatley, a graduate of the University of Arkansas, has worked as a vocal studio accompanist and as a member of various chamber ensembles, including the Santa Barbara Children’s Chorus and the Santa Barbara Master Chorale.