Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota invites the public to attend an upcoming concert with visiting violinist from the National University of Music in Peru, professor Carla Loayza Álvarez on Saturday, Jan. 17 at 3 p.m. in the Figuilo Recital Hall at Saint Mary’s Performance Center on the university’s Winona Campus.
A distinguished educator and violinist, Álvarez holds a master’s degree in Music Education from the University of La Rioja (UNIR) and a bachelor’s degree in Violin Performance Pedagogy from the National Conservatory of Music. She began her musical studies in Trujillo at the age of 5 and was a soloist with the Vivaldi Chamber Orchestra at the age of 14. As an instrumentalist, she has been part of various professional orchestras, including National Symphony Orchestra (OSN), University of Lima Philharmonic Orchestra, Prolírica Orchestra, Romanza Orchestra, among others.
Alongside her performing career, she has dedicated a significant portion of her time to teaching, creating, and directing children’s and youth orchestras in various schools and managing projects such as the Miraflores Center at Sinfonía por el Perú, where she has conducted orchestras and choirs at the preschool and school levels. She has also taught violin at PUCP and has been teaching violin for 18 years in the Extension Courses at her alma mater.
Saint Mary’s student string ensembles will join Álvarez in performing a sample of pieces as part of the Jan. 17 concert, following a student workshop led by Álvarez earlier in the week.
This event is hosted by the Saint Mary’s Arts Co-Curricular. Admission is free and open to the public.
