A Night of Brazilian Classical Music at USU

An evening of Brazilian music kicks off activities for Utah State University’s second annual Latin American Cultural Extravaganza. The evening features the duo Braziliana, with American mezzo soprano Melanie Ohm and Brazilian pianist Rubia Santos.

The entertainment begins at 8 p.m. in the Haight Alumni Center on the USU campus Saturday, March 24. The event is free and all are invited.

 

Ohm and Santos met while completing their studies at Arizona State University in 1999. Since then, both artists have shared their interest in Brazilian culture — in particular its wealth of music and literature. In 2002, Ohm and Santos began collaborative work dedicated to researching and performing the “Cancao Brasileria,” or Brazilian song. They have traveled to Brazil often, and have performed and lectured in various venues in the United States. The duo’s international debut took place during the 2006 Mediterranean Studies Association Congress in Genoa, Italy.

 

Santos is an assistant professor and coordinator of the accompanying program at Central Michigan University. Ohm is a consultant and community activist, having co-created and delivered hundreds of community-based projects and programs in Phoenix, Ariz., over the past 10 years.

 

The evening of Brazilian music is sponsored by USU’s Latin American Studies Committee, the Provost’s office, the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, the department of languages, philosophy, speech and communication, the department of music and Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society.