Lutoslawski: Dance Preludes

Schumann: Fantasy Pieces

Kovács: Hommage à Kodály

Krommer: Concerto for Two Clarinets

  Appointed to the National Symphony Orchestra by Maestro Leonard Slatkin in 1999, Paul Cigan has enjoyed a career as orchestral musician, teacher, soloist and chamber musician. Prior to the NSO, Mr. Cigan held principal posts with the Virginia Symphony, Colorado Symphony and San Antonio Symphony. During his tenure in the Washington, DC area, Mr. Cigan can be heard performing regularly as principal clarinetist of the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, and 21st Century Consort as well as recorded performances with each ensemble on the Naxos, Bridge and Dorian labels. Recent activities included performing as soloist with the Baton Rouge Symphony, in the clarinet section with the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra and premiering Don Crockett’s “Dance Concerto” with the 21st Century Consort. As a member of the National Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Cigan has appeared as concert soloist and given master classes and chamber music performances across the United States as part of the Orchestra’s residency program. A dedicated teacher, Mr. Cigan is currently on the faculties of the University of Maryland College Park and the Catholic University of America, a returning coach with the National Orchestral Institute and will be a faculty member at the ARIA Institute at Mount Holyoke College the summer of 2015.

  Clarinetist Theresa Cigan earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Temple University’s Esther Boyer College of Music as a student of Anthony Gigliotti of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has since performed with several orchestras throughout the country, including the San Antonio Symphony, the Colorado Symphony, the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Opera. Currently, she is an active local freelancer and teacher, having performed with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra and the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra. Ms. Cigan is also in her fourth season as Principal Clarinet of Opera on the James in Lynchburg, VA.

  MYRIAM AVALOS‘ performances and master classes throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia have earned her critical acclaim as a soloist, chamber musician, clinician and pedagogue. At the age of three, she gave her first public performance, made her orchestra debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Peru at twelve, and was awarded full scholarships to the Eastman School of Music and the Peabody Conservatory.

  Ms. Avalos holds a Doctoral degree in Chamber Music .  She is a collaborative pianist at the Kennedy Center and the National Symphony Orchestra,  maintains a private studio in Northern Virginia, and is a faculty member and performing artist at the Apple Hill Center for Chamber Music Summer Festival.  Appearances and broadcasts include the Phillips Collection, Kennedy Center, Dumbarton Concert Series, Purcell Room in London, Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm, Voice of the OAS, San Antonio Festival, WGMS Radio, Teatro Municipal de Lima and two State Department-sponsored tours of China and Brazil.  She has recorded for the MSR Classics label.

  In 2004, Dr. Avalos was conferred the title of Cultural Ambassador by the Government of Peru.