At the invitation of the Mexican Government, the Washington Conservatory Piano Trio will give a series of concerts and master classes in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. On the eve of their departure for Mexico, the Washington Conservatory Piano Trio will perform a concert to include Mozart Piano Trio in C Major, K548, Shostakovich Piano Trio in e minor, op.67, and Brahms Piano Trio in B Major, op.8.

 

The concert is offered on a pay-as-you-can basis. Donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the Washington Conservatory student scholarship fund.

The trio consists of faculty members at the Washington Conservatory: violinist Regino Madrid, cellist Benjamin Wensel, and pianist Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez.

 

Violinist Regino Madrid is currently the Assistant
Concertmaster of "The President's Own" US Marine Chamber Orchestra. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he played as concertmaster of the CIM Orchestra. Mr. Madrid regularly plays with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, National Gallery Orchestra, the National Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Teiber Trio.

 

Cellist Benjamin Wensel is a member of the US Army Orchestra, Strolling Strings, and String Quartet. He received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and Master of Music from Eastman School of Music. He is a former member of ProMusica Chamber Orchestra and Syracuse Symphony, he has performed throughout the US and France and is a founding member of the Tarab Cello Ensemble.

 

Pianist Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez received D.M.A. and M.M. degrees from the University of Texas and a B.M.degree from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. He is a former winner of the VirginiaMusic TeachersAssociation Collegiate Artists Music Competition and has performed extensively as a soloist and chamber music performer in Mexico and U.S., including concerts at the Kennedy Center and Aspen Music Festival. Dr. Hernandez-Valdez is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Shenandoah University.