Jonathan Tortolano to present solo cello concert Aug. 29

Jonathan Tortolano will give a concert of music for solo cello on Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 12:15 p.m. in the Chapel at Saint Michael’s College.  A native of Underhill, he is a resident in Toronto and holds dual citizenship with the United States and Canada.

Tortolano is Professor of Cello at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Associate Principal Cellist of Pittsburgh Opera and a member of the Gould String Quartet at Niagara on the Lake Festival.  His career has included orchestral positions and solo engagements in Spain, Portugal, Brazil, South Korea, Japan, China, Italy, France as well as L’Orchestre Symphonique in Quebec and substitute in the Cleveland Orchestra.

The program includes two very different compositions for cello: The Fifth Suite, BWV 1011 by Bach and the first American performance of Psaume pour Violoncelle Seul, opus 5 by Canadian composer Antoine Ouellette.

A Ph.D. biologist, composer and musicologist, Ouellette has composed over 60 works.  Although diagnosed with autism, Ouellette wrote a landmark book, Musique Autiste.  It is acclaimed for its wisdom on how to live with autism, but still be widely acknowledged for his creativity.  He combines Native Canadian bird calls with Gregorian Chant and contemporary techniques.

Jonathan Tortolano is the son of William Tortolano — emeritus professor of music and organist emeritus for the College. William Tortolano has been at the College for more than five decades and also still directs a Gregorian Chant Schola hosted at Saint Michael’s.

The concert is free and open to the public.