Ladies Musical Club: Works for Oboe & Piano | Songs of Finland
Free
- Gail Perstein, oboe
- Asta Vaičekonis, piano
- Tiina Ritalahti, soprano
- Joan Lundquist, piano
Alan Richardson — French Suite for Oboe and Piano ("I. Rendezvous," "II. Les Peupliers," "IV. Causerie," & "V. Les Moulins")
Yrjö Kilpinen — Suvilaulu, Op. 54, No. 3
Yrjö Kilpinen — Rakastunut, Op. 19, No. 3
Toivo Kuula — Purjein kuutamolla, Op. 31a, No. 1
Toivo Kuula — Sinipiika, Op. 23, No. 1
Jean Sibelius — Kaiutar, Op. 72, No. 4
Toivo Kuula — Paimenet, Op. 29a, No. 3
Oskar Merikanto — Pai, pai, paitaressu, Op. 2, No. 1
Oskar Merikanto — Ma elän, Op. 71, No. 1
About Gail Perstein, oboe
Gail Perstein has a Bachelor of Science from Springfield College, a Bachelor of Music from PLU, a Master of Music from UW (both in oboe performance) and a Master of Arts in Historical Musicology, also from UW. She splits her time between teaching oboe privately, performing on oboe/English horn, and performing early music. She played in both early and classical music groups at PLU and UW, and continues performing in various settings, ranging from Tacoma Opera to local church services. Ms. Perstein performed for many years with her own medieval group, Chansonnier, using period instruments. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Ladies Musical Club of Seattle for 22 years and chair of the Frances Walton Competition Committee for 23 years.
About Asta Vaičekonis, piano
Asta Vaičekonis holds her MM in Piano Performance from the University of Washington and her Bachelor's degree from the Lithuanian Academy of Music. Asta was granted a diploma for best accompaniment in the International Competition of Chamber Music in Kaliningrad (Königsberg), Russia (1992). She was a soloist with the Port Angeles Symphony Orchestra (2002), performed in the University of Washington Summer Arts Festival (2001, 2003), the Bach Fest (2001, 2002) in Lake Chelan, Washington, accompanist for Ladies Musical Club of Seattle's Awards Tours (2000, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018), and the Bumbershoot Festival (1999) in Seattle. Asta served as an accompanist and coach in the Summer Chamber Music Seminars in Berlin, Germany (1992, 1993), and has performed with the Chamber Dance Company. She has played many recitals and chamber music programs in various cities of the United States, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany, Russia, and Israel, and made several recordings for the Lithuanian Radio and Television (1993). She was the first solo pianist to play in Seattle’s own Benaroya Hall. Asta is on the piano faculty at Music Works Northwest, has been staff accompanist at Western Washington University, and is currently on the faculty at Seattle Pacific University.
https://spu.edu/academics/college-of-arts-sciences/music/about/faculty-staff-directory/faculty-source/vaicekonis-astaAbout Tiina Ritalahti, soprano
Soprano, Tiina Ritalahti holds degrees in music and vocal performance from the University of Washington. She has performed throughout Washington with Northwest Opera in Schools Etcetera (NOISE), Puget Sound Opera, Ladies Musical Club, and Puget Sound Concert Opera as well as being a featured soloist for the Finlandia Foundation. She has sung such roles as the First Spirit and Pamina in Mozart’s 'The Magic Flute', Despina in 'Cosi fan tutte', Lisa in Bellini’s 'La sonnambula', Änchen in 'Der Freischütz' by Weber, Cis in Britten’s 'Albert Herring', and Olympia in Offenbach’s 'The Tales of Hoffman'. Further she has performed in multiple operas by Menotti: 'Lucy in The Telephone', Monica in 'The Medium', and Laetitia in 'The Old Maid and the Thief'. Her passion for singing also extends to art song repertoire, which she performs regularly in recitals around Western Washington. Tiina has created unique breathing classes for young singers that combine her knowledge and experience as a massage therapist, certified yoga teacher and singer.
About Joan Lundquist, piano
Joan Lundquist has served as a collaborative pianist for Seattle area musicians and organizations for 30 years. Since moving to the area from Humboldt State University in northern California, where she was staff accompanist, Joan has worked with the Northwest Boychoir, Seattle Choral Company, has taught at Seattle University and Northwest University, and has worked with several area private music teachers. Currently, Ms. Lundquist is the Director of Music at Immanuel Lutheran Church in downtown Seattle and rehearsal accompanist for the Seattle Choral Company.