Featuring a Solo Recital with World-Renowned Cellist Francesco Mastromatteo, Master Class for Cellists and Chamber Groups, Love Concert benefitting iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas)

Austin, Texas - Classical Music for the World (CMFW) proudly announces its 2018 Spring Festival Season with the title, “Welcome All”: Celebrating Refugee Families, which includes an Artists’ Concert Series “Virtuoso Lonely Romance,” a cello solo recital with world-renowned cellist Francesco Mastromatteo; a Master Class for cello solos and chamber music groups; and a Love Concert benefiting iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas) with welcome-drum introduction and songs performed by refugee students from Doss Elementary School. Admissions to all events are free and receptions follow each of the performances.

Artists’ Concert Series

CMFW Artists’ Concert Series “Virtuoso Lonely Romance” highlights the romantic nature of cello, performed by CMFW Artistic Director, Francesco Mastromatteo. The concert takes place on Saturday, April 14, at 4 p.m. at Oak Hill United Methodist Church, 7815 Hwy. 290, Austin, TX 78736.

“The sonatas by Hindemith, Ligeti, Ysaÿe, or the Capricci by Piatti are actually invitations to look inward to our loneliness in order to define who we are and, therefore, move toward others ready to accept them completely after we have accepted who we are,” Mastromatteo said. “Virtuosity in these works and in the cello voice is truly the ability to discover and express Virtue, and ultimately, to discover and live… Love.”

Classical Music For the World's Artists’ Concert Series presents solo and chamber music concerts featuring distinguished local and international artists. Like all of our events, these family-friendly, professional-level concerts are free of charge. Through our concert series, attendees are afforded the thrilling experience of hearing beautiful classical music performed by artistic masters.

Love Concert

On Saturday, April 21, at 7 p.m., the festival features a Love Concert with the CMFW Orchestra, a performance by refugee students from Doss Elementary School, and guest speakers Felora Derakhshani, Chair of UN Association-Austin Chapter and Simone Talma Flowers, Executive Director of iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas). The concert takes place at Oak Hill United Methodist Church, 7815 Highway 290 West, Austin, Texas 78736.

CMFW Love Concerts raise money to help people in need in Austin and around the world. All donations go directly to the charities, projects, and organizations we have committed to help. This year, all donations will benefit iACT (Interfaith Action of Central Texas) for helping refugees.

The refugee students will perform West African Welcome Drums and sing West Afghan songs. The CMFW Orchestra will feature the CMFW Young Music Ambassadors as soloists in the Concerto for Two Violins and Cello in D Minor by Vivaldi and CMFW Artistic Director and world-renowned cellist Francesco Mastromatteo will also perform in the Concerto for Cello in C Major by Haydn. Also, Dr. Eugene Gratovich, the Associate Concertmaster of Austin Symphony Orchestra will be featured as the event’s Concertmaster.

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About Classical Music for the World (CMFW)

CMFW believes beautiful music has the power to heal. With this philosophy, we make every effort to make classical music accessible to all in our community, providing programs for free, or with an affordable fee. Our quality programs reflect the holistic character of beautiful music, creating a healing atmosphere and global harmony on earth. www.classicalmusicfortheworld.org

About Francesco Mastromatteo

Described as a "virtuosic and passionate musician" by the Dallas Morning News, the Italian-born cellist, Francesco Mastromatteo, performs regularly in Italy and the U.S. He is the artistic director of Associazione Amici della Musica “G. Paisiello” in Lucera and a Professor of Chamber Music at the Conservatory “U. Giordano” in Foggia – Residency of Rodi GarganicoI. He also has served as CMFW Artistic Director since 2010. Following a natural love for various artistic paths, Francesco attained a Masters Degree with honors in Literature and History of Arts from the Università “Aldo Moro” in Bari. He later attained his Doctoral degree in Cello Performance at University of Texas in Austin. He also holds a Masters Degree and an Artist Certificate from Southern Methodist University.

Francesco published a volume on Italian composer Umberto Giordano for Bastogi Editrice and an extensive article on Kodàly Solo Sonata op.8 for the International Journal of Musicology. Please visit www.francescomastromatteo.it and www.amicimusicapaisiello.com for more information.