Consul General of Chicago Heads to Spillville for World Premiere

On September 24, 2011, Consul General of the Czech Republic in Chicago, Dana Huňátová, will attend the performance of duo-pianists Joan DeVee Dixon and Alice Fiedlerová (Czech Republic), who will perform works by Antonín Liehmann and Antonín Dvořák at Saint Wenceslaus Church in Spillville, Iowa. A highlight of the event will be the world premiere of three of Liehmann’s previously unknown manuscripts discovered by Dixon at the museum in Zlonice.

The premiere will take place in the church where Dvořák worshiped and in the village where Dvořákspent the summer of 1893. Also of special note, AntonínLiehmann was Dvorak’s first teacher.  At the age of 12, Dvořák moved to Zlonice for formal schooling and studying of theory with Antonín Liehmann. Under Liehmann’s guidance, Dvořák excelled and mastered the viola, organ, and piano.  

Following the concert at the church, Rev. Donald Hawes will celebrate the Czech Heritage Polka Mass. During the mass, featured organist Joan DeVee Dixon will perform her original work which was commissioned by the Czech Heritage Partnership. The work was written for organ and will be performed on the same 1876 Pfeffer Organ played by Dvořák in 1893. In addition to the organ performance, members of the Spillville and Protivin choirs will sing during the mass.

Other U.S. performances of the Liehmann and Dvořák program with Joan DeVee Dixon and Alice Fiedlerová include:           
 
September 25, at 2 pm, at the Scottish Rite Auditorium, 616 A Ave., NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
 
September 30, at 8 pm, at the Lyric Theatre, 20 East Main Street, Frostburg State University, Frostburg, Maryland

October 2, 2011, at the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, DC, as part of the Mutual Inspirations Festival 2011-Antonín Dvořák.            

BIOGRAPHIES
Alice Fiedlerová is on the faculty of New York University in Prague and the Conservatory of Music in Prague.  She has made a number of recordings for Czech Radio and Czech Television and has performed in Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and USA.  In 2000, Alice Fiedlerova was invited to collaborate on the "In Memory of the Czech Terezín Composers Project" as the featured performer for the opening concert of the project. She also participated as the coach for the Master Classes, which were part of project.  In 2001, Alice Fiedlerova performed with mezzo soprano Olga Černá, whom she accompanied at the Brücken für die Zukunft Festival at Schwerin (Germany), where music by Terezín composers was performed. In cooperation with the Hans Krása Foundation, Fiedlerova performed in several concerts, in which compositions by P. Haas, H. Krása and V. Ullman were featured.Her activities include collaboration with other outstanding soloists including principal flutist of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, Yossi Arnheim, and leader of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, Vadym Borysov.

Dr. Joan DeVee Dixonis Professor of Music and Faculty Advancement Associate for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Frostburg State University in Frostburg, Maryland.  She made her professional debut with the Minnesota Orchestra at the invitation of Sir Neville Marriner. Since that time, she has conducted extensive concert tours of the USA, England, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Israel, Palestine, Japan and the Czech Republic.  Her performances have included The Kennedy Center and Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC; Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and the Temple Church in London; Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford; American Cathedral in Paris; St. Mark’s Cathedral in Venice, Italy; and St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Tokyo, Japan.  Dr. Dixon has released twelve CDs, featuring both piano and organ and is frequently heard on National Public Radio and programs such as Pipedreams.