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Kenya King
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Perimeter College
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CLARKSTON, Ga.—When Vicente Della Tonia, Jr. studied for his doctoral degree in musical arts, it wasn’t uncommon for him and other students at the University of South Carolina to participate in masterclasses with musicians who’d achieved high recognition in the music industry.
Yet, he fondly remembers the adrenaline rush that he received while attending one particular masterclass in the fall of 2013, when he observed a singer who was performing for renowned soprano Mary Dunleavy from the Metropolitan Opera Company.
“Mary’s musical analysis was so profoundly insightful that I still recall her artistic perspective on the piece we performed,” Della Tonia recalled.
“The depth of her work with the singer reached such a remarkable musical level that it left a lasting impression on me. The entire experience was so inspiring that I can still vividly recall each moment.”
It’s this kind of experience that Della Tonia set out to create for music students at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College when, in 2018, he organized the college’s first-ever PianoFest. The event went on hiatus until 2022 and returned again this year with much excitement.
This year’s event wrapped up on Saturday, Sept. 27, after a week-long celebration of music, artistry and community that featured international pianists in daily performances along with masterclasses for piano students throughout metro Atlanta.
Della Tonia, an associate professor of piano and coordinator of keyboard studies at the college, is also an award-winning, internationally known recording artist who kicked off PianoFest with a performance that included compositions from the elegance of Haydn, the poetry of Chopin, the fire of Liszt and the vibrant rhythms of Lecuona.
Music professor Vicente Della Tonia, Jr. (left) created PianoFest for students, community.
“Our third PianoFest delivered so many enriching moments, not only for Perimeter College students, but also for participants from across the greater Atlanta community and from abroad” he reflected, noting the festival’s unique ability to bring people together through music.
Della Tonia stressed that one of the biggest values of PianoFest is that it offers one-on-one instruction from masterful pianists—at no cost to participants. The quality of the guest pianists, who all performed recitals, are another high point for the piano festival. Guest artists and clinicians included Hungarian pianist Éva Polgár, as well as Rosângela Y. Sebba and Jeri-Mae G. Astolfi—Brazilian- and Canadian-born musicians both of whom also teach at U.S. universities.
“I strive to bring in highly accomplished professionals who are not only dedicated teachers but also active in the industry,” Della Tonia said.
“This way, Perimeter and other students can clearly see the connection between their college experience and future careers.
“Students need to see themselves in those experiences—to relate to the journey and envision the possibilities that lie ahead.”
The culminating event for PianoFest sparked the same type of excitement for Della Tonia as when he attended masterclasses as a student. During the final evening of the festival, students who earlier in the week took part in the masterclasses, had the opportunity to perform once more on the college’s Cole Auditorium stage.
“It was an exhilarating and deeply rewarding way to conclude a week dedicated to fostering musical excellence, celebrating the vibrancy of our community and witnessing the students’ growth,” Della Tonia said.
Story by Kysa Anderson Daniels
Photo by Bill Roa