Artist Starla Hibler-Raley in a solo recital performing Porgy and Bess Suite at Saddleback

By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA–  Piano Artist Starla Hibler-Raley in a solo recital performing Porgy and Bess Suite at Saddleback on Sunday, March 16^th at 2:30 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre as part of its Reflections of the Ocean Classical Keyboard Series

Pianist Starla Hibler-Raley holds D.M.A. and M.M. Degrees in piano performance from the University of North Texas where she was a pupil of Joseph Banowetz, and a B.M. degree from Illinois Wesleyan University. Dr. Raley also studied at the Vienna Conservatory of Music in Vienna, Austria. Last May, the Illinois native was named Professor of Music Emerita honoring tenure of teaching at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma from 1991 until 2013. She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including first prize in the Ernst Krenek Competition of the Joanna Hodges International Piano Competition, the “Oklahoma Music Teacher of the Year” award by the Oklahoma Federation of Music Clubs, and the first East Central University Dean’s Travel Award, awarded in support of her solo performance of Aaron Copland’s Piano Sonata in Toronto, Canada. Dr. Raley actively champions new music written for piano and, in 2012, gave the world premiere performance of a set of six piano pieces, entitled Hermititos, written by Texas composer Ken Metz.  She has also premiered several teaching pieces composed by Oklahoma composer, W.T. Skye Garcia, published by The F.J.H. and Alfred Publishing Companies.

An exciting feature is Saddleback College's own Dr. Kirill Gliadkovsky, the Director of Keyboard Studies, performing Gershwin's beloved Porgy and Bess Suite arrangement for 2 pianos by Percy Grainger. 

 Tickets are $15 general; $12 seniors; $10 students; children FREE with paying adult; 2 for 1 for music teachers with MTAC/CAPMT ID. For tickets call 949-582-4656 (Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4:00 p.m. or order your tickets online at any time atwww.saddleback.edu/arts).

Dr. Gliadkovsky combines his busy concert schedule with teaching. Prior to coming to teach at Saddleback College, he has been on the faculty at Southern Utah University in Cedar City, UT, as the head of piano studies. “Dr. Gliadkovsky’s performances have been met with great enthusiasm by both audiences and music critics in Europe, Russia, and North America. Josef Woodard, a critic at the Los Angeles Times wrote: “…the intensity and a nicely honed musicality left the audience stunned…enthralling…all in all, a gripping and masterful performance.”

 Saddleback College is located at 28000 Marguerite Parkway in Mission Viejo, just east of Interstate 5 at the Avery Parkway exit. Free parking is available in Lot 12.  Take Avery Parkway to Marguerite Parkway turn left to the third traffic light, which is Saddleback’s Marguerite entrance. Turn right into the campus and take the second left to Theatre Circle, turning right into Lot 12.

The Music Department has established a comprehensive program which is considered to be one of the finest in California: a complete lower-division curriculum for transferring music majors, numerous performance groups, private and group lessons, a full concert series with faculty and guest artists, and general music courses. The nationally-recognized faculty is dedicated to performance and to teaching in all areas such as vocal, instrumental, jazz, guitar, and piano.  Other music classes include harmony, musicianship, composition, history, and appreciation of western art music,

rock, jazz and world.

Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community.  Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers more than 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals.  For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu.  For Fine Arts events, visitwww.saddleback.edu/arts.