Tina Faigen (piano)
Mary Beth Malek (clarinet)
Paula Tuttle (cello)
Zaffiro Trio joins together the superb artistry of musicians Tina Faigen (piano), Mary Beth Malek (clarinet) and Paula Tuttle (cello). All three have extensive backgrounds in performance, recording and teaching. Tina, in addition to her active solo career, has a library of published piano music editions, Mary Beth and Paula are both long-time members of the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras, and all three are faculty members at University of Pittsburgh. The Zaffiro Trio combination of instruments provides audiences the opportunity to hear beloved works of the great masters, such as Brahms and Beethoven, that are rarely heard in concert. Together, these three founding members of Zaffiro Trio bring a unique quality of sound, expertise and sensitivity to their ensemble that audiences adore.
BIOGRAPHIES
Tina Faigen, concert pianist, recording artist, teacher, and published music writer, holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Oberlin College and both Master and Doctorate degrees from the University of Miami where she studied with renowned pianist Ivan Davis. A recipient of many prizes and awards, some highlights include the Pittsburgh Y Recital Series, over 30 performances of the Tchaikovsky 3rd Piano Concerto with Edward Villella and Miami City Ballet, and a debut tour of Italy with Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzeze. Her CD recordings of works by Robert SchultzVisions of Dunbar and Tina Faigen Plays Piano Transcriptionshave received rave reviews. Faigen is co-author of the acclaimed Accelerando Piano Technique Series, along with numerous other editions of educational piano music. Faigen has maintained an active teaching studio since the age of 14. She is on the piano faculty at University of Pittsburgh as well as at Carnegie Mellon University Music Preparatory School. Also a violinist, Faigen serves as Principal 2nd for the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra.
Mary Beth Malek, principal clarinetist for the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras, has also held the principal clarinet chair in the Wheeling Symphony and Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. She performs with Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera and Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. Collaborating with pianist, Tom Roberts, she accompanies silent Charlie Chaplin films with original music. Mary Beth is on the faculty of the University of Pittsburgh and maintains a studio at home where five of her high school students were selected for the 2016 PMEA State Band. Educated at Northwestern University and the Eastman School of Music, Mary Beth also received a Performers Certificate from Eastman and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study in Vienna, Austria.
Cellist Paula Tuttle, has traveled and performed throughout the US, Europe and the Far East as orchestral musician, soloist and chamber music artist. She played as principal cello for the internationally renowned Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, and the Festival of the Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy. She presented numerous recitals in France during three summers at the Acadamie Franco-Americaine in Vaison-la-Romaine, Provence. She has been active as soloist and recitalist in the Western Pennsylvania, recently performing concertos with Butler Symphony, Edgewood Symphony Orchestra, I Solisti di Oakland, University of Pittsburgh Symphony and Slippery Rock University Orchestra. A member of the Pittsburgh Opera and Ballet Orchestras, performing as assistant principal as well as principal cello, she also plays solo cello with PBS's MyMusic Orchestra, and recorded and performed with over 100 Rock , Soul and Pop musicians. In addition to providing private lessons, Ms. Tuttle teaches at the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University and Chatham University.
PERFORMANCE EXCERPTS(mp3)
Beethoven Trio Op. 11 Gassenhauertrio Tema con Variazioni
Brahms Trio Op. 114 Movement 1 Allegro (Excerpt)
