NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University will host the International Duo Symposium on April 5-6. Performance duos from around the world will be presenting concerts. The event is hosted by Northwestern State music faculty Paul Forsyth and Leah Forsyth, who form the Three Reeds Duo.
The concerts will be held in Magale Recital Hall. Admission to the concerts is free and open to the public. For a complete schedule of events go to https://www.leahforsythmusic.com/schedule.
Performance groups will include various instrument combinations with flute, saxophone, cello, trombone, baroque flute, bassoon, oboe, clarinet, guitar, trumpet, horn and viola,
The Three Reeds Duo will perform during the symposium along with fellow NSU faculty members Malena McLaren, Paul Christopher, Stephen Clark and Douglas Bakenhus along with retired faculty member Dennette McDermott.
The featured performers will be the Lab Duo who will close the Symposium with a concert on April 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Magale Recital Hall.
The Lab Duo consists of Orquídea Guandique on violin and viola and Fernando Zúñiga on bassoon and piano. They have performed together since 2007 and have won praise for their unique blend of instruments and innovative performances.
Initially, their collaboration began as a viola and piano duet, showcasing their skills and musical understanding. However, driven by their passion for exploring unconventional musical combinations, they gradually ventured into the realm of viola and bassoon music. This rare pairing allowed them to showcase the rich timbres and expressive possibilities of these often-overlooked instruments.
Recognizing the scarcity of existing repertoire for their ensemble, the duo took it upon themselves to expand the musical landscape. They have commissioned new works from talented composers, looking to enrich the repertoire for viola and bassoon. Additionally, they undertook the challenging task of adapting existing compositions to suit their unique instrumentation.
Guandique and Zúñiga aimed to promote chamber music performed by unusual instrument combinations. Their mission was to shed light on instruments that have historically received less attention compared to their counterparts. By championing these neglected voices, they looked to inspire other musicians and broaden the horizons of chamber music enthusiasts worldwide.
They have performed as a duo in Costa Rica, the United States, and Europe.
