Music professor takes prize in Italian competition
St. Olaf College Assistant Professor of Music Catherine Ramirez recently earned one of the top honors at the 11th International Music Competitions “Città di Padova Prize” in Italy.
Ramirez, who won two third-place prizes in the same competition last year, took second in the Winds Division of this year’s contest.
She traveled to Italy for the competition just a few weeks after a concert and teaching tour in Colombia, South America. Ramirez and pianist Ina Selvelieva taught master classes and performed at the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellín and the Universidad Nacional de Colombia Conservatorio de Musica in Bogotá.
Their tour also included an impromptu performance for the nuns at the Fundadora de la Congregacion de Hermanas Franciscanas de Maria Inmaculada convent in Bogotá.
In addition to her international activities, Ramirez gave premiere performances of Daniel Kellogg’s Into Utter Forever with pianist Vivian Fan as part of Jim Walker’s Beyond the Master Class course in Los Angeles, and with pianist Hui Wu at the 41st National Flute Association Convention in New Orleans.
Ramirez and Selvelieva will perform their Colombia program at St. Olaf September 12.