Red River Trio spends spring break touring the Midwest

Marti Elshaug

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-26-2013

Abstract

Red River Trio spends spring break touring the Midwest

The University of North Dakota 's Red River Trio, a violin-cello-piano ensemble, spent their spring break sharing the gift of music with others across the country.

The trio, comprising Vinicius Sant'Anna (violin), Fernando Vargas (cello), and Keith Teepen (piano), traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio, and performed at New Hope Community Church on March 10, and then headed to Greencastle, Ind., for a March 12 performance at DePauw University at the Gobin United Methodist Church. The next day they drove back to Cincinnati to perform at Deupree House (a retirement community).

"It was a lot of driving, but the performances and the experiences made it all worth it!" Teepen said. "It was a great opportunity to share music with people in different parts of the country, and really special for me because a lot of my family and friends are from Ohio and Indiana."

They finished their tour back in North Dakota, in Bismarck, where they performed at the Belle Mehus Auditorium as guest artists for a Bismarck/Mandan Symphony Orchestra concert.

The trio started performing together in August of 2012 under the direction of UND Music Assistant Professor Nariaki Sugiura.

In May, the trio plans to embark on another exciting adventure to perform in China and Japan.

Teepen said their performances over spring break were a great way to prepare for their international concerts.

Teepen said the trio is very appreciate of the support they've received from Sugiura, Jerry Gaul, and the music faculty and staff who make it all possible.

Background on Artists:

• Vinicius Sant'Anna, a native of Brazil, began his studies at Grupo Pao de Acucar Music institute, where he quickly became concertmaster of the Pao de Acucar Orchestra. In 2008, he began his college studies at the Pensacola Christian College in Florida. Sant'Anna is currently pursuing a bachelor of music degree in violin performance with UND Assistant Professor Alejandro Drago.

• Fernando Vargas, a native of Venezuela, started studying music at the age of five. He studied cello at the Geneva Conservatoire in Switzerland and finished his undergraduate degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. Vargas is currently pursuing a master's degree in cello performance, studying with UND's Brugum Endowed Chair of Cello Assistant Professor Simona Barbu.

• Keith Teepen, Cincinnati, earned his bachelor of music degree in piano performance from DePauw University. He received a scholarship to study in Vienna, Austria, and has held collaborative piano positions at DePauw University School of Music and Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Teepen is currently working as a graduate teaching assistant and pursuing a master's degree in piano performance under Sugiura.

Marti Elshaug

University and Public Affairs student writer

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