Contact: Michele Abba
Cal Poly Music Department
805-756-2406

Lecture-Demonstration on Harpsichordist
Maria Theresia Paradis Set at Cal Poly Nov. 8

SAN LUIS OBISPO -- Cal Poly music lecturer India D'Avignon will present a lecture-demonstration on Austrian harpsichordist Maria Theresia Paradis at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, in Room 218 of the Davidson Music Center on campus. 

The presentation, titled "Searching for the Light," will explore Paradis's music and significant events in her life. Examples of her vocal and piano compositions will be performed.  D'Avignon will play the fortepiano, and music major Kelly Eshoff, soprano, will sing.

Paradis (1759-1824) continues to be highly esteemed for her achievements as a composer, pianist, organist and singer.  Her compositions include solo piano music, Lieder, piano concerti, large and small operas and cantatas. In her early 20s, she toured extensively throughout Europe, where she was referred to as "The Blind Enchantress."

She helped Valentin Haüy, "father and apostle of the blind," in establishing the first school for the blind, where Louis Braille later became a student. Later in her life, Paradis established a music school of her own for young girls, where she taught until her death.

D'Avignon is a lecturer in Cal Poly's Music Department. She has performed throughout the United States and abroad accompanying on the piano, harpsichord, fortepiano and harp. She was most recently professor of piano at The Conservatory of Music at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio, where she served as chair of the Piano and Organ Department for 17 years.

The public is invited to the free lecture-demonstration, sponsored by the Cal Poly Music Department and College of Liberal Arts. For more information, call the Music Department at 756-2406.

# # #