Lesi Mei (l) and Todd Rewoldt (r)

Monday, January 9, 2023

12 PM

Lesi Mei has been involved in many fields—such as bioengineering and kinesiology—but piano and classical music have molded her into the person she is. In front of the keys, her background and personality manifest in dazzling virtuosity and stunning musicality.

She was the first call pianist for Beijing International Orchestra before traveling the U.S. from coast to coast, performing in such festivals as the Mostly Modern Festival in Saratoga Springs, International Keyboard Institute and Festival in New York City, and Olympiad Piano Festival in Colorado Springs, where she was a semifinalist in the concerto competition. Lesi has also been invited by the Composers Concordance in NYC to premiere works by Gene Pritsker, Seth Boustead, Dan Cooper, etc. As an in-demand collaborator, Lesi has performed with ensembles such as American Modern Orchestra, La Jolla Symphony, San Diego Winds, and the Hausmann Quartet, to name a few. Her performance diploma hails from the European Music Institute in Vienna, under the tutelage of the esteemed Professor Martin Hughes.

Aside from performing, Lesi is a Distinguished Artist Faculty at San Diego Piano Academy. She also served on the panel for the inaugural San Diego International Piano Competition for Outstanding Amateurs in Summer 2016. 

Lesi holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from San Diego State University, CA, Master of Science degree in Exercise Physiology from Florida State University, FL, and Bachelor of Engineering in Biological Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology, China.

A former sponsored amateur skateboarder and punk bassist, Todd Rewoldt quickly transferred his skills from the street course and mosh pit into an original saxophone style that is all his own. Since graduating from the Eastman School of Music, he has established himself as a vital member of the modern music community. Equally comfortable performing the music of Glazunov, Stockhausen, or Classical Surf-Punk, his hundreds of performances have taken him throughout the United States and to important concert venues in Sweden, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Ireland, and Australia. As a solo saxophonist and founding member of the internationally acclaimed SWARMIUS Ensemble, critics have characterized his performances as virtuosic, and displaying amazing technique.

Dr. Rewoldt is frequently invited to perform at numerous international music festivals, including the Tribeca New Music Festival, Society for Electro-Acoustic Music in Sweden, Mexican Center for Music and Sonic Arts, New West Electro-Acoustic Music Organization, World Saxophone Congress, La Jolla SummerFest, Ussachevsky Memorial Festival, and SEAMUS.

Todd is an on-call saxophonist with the San Diego Symphony, Orchestra Nova, and principal saxophonist with the San Diego Winds. His recording credits include Nonesuch, Warner Bros., and Aleppo Records.

He currently resides in San Diego, CA, and is Professor of Saxophone at San Diego State University.

Program:

Fisher Tull (1934–1994)
Sarabande and Gigue

Seth Boustead (b. 1971)
On Motion
I. Atom Smasher
II. Basho's Pond
III. La Cascade

Erwin Schulhoff (1894–1942)
Hot Sonata
I. Adagietto
II. Allegro
III. Andantino
IV. Vivace

Alexander Rosenblatt (b. 1956)
Fantasy on Themes of Bizet's Carmen

Free concerts at noon every other Monday from fall through spring . . . no wonder the Mini-Concerts are the longest-running and one of the most popular classical music series at the library! This series was founded by Glenna Hazleton in 1970 at the Athenaeum, and has been going strong ever since. The concerts feature both local and touring musicians, prize-winning students, university music faculty members, local chamber ensembles. . . and the repertoire also includes jazz, folk and world music. There are no reservations, no tickets . . . just line up at the side door of the Athenaeum before noon. (Donations are always welcome!) Mini-Concerts take place every other Monday at noon and last about an hour.

The concerts will be in person at the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library. There are no physical tickets for these events. Doors open at 11:50 a.m. Seating is first-come; first-served. These events will be presented in compliance with State of California and County of San Diego health regulations as applicable at the time of each concert.

Masks optional. If you have a fever, cough, or flu-like symptoms, please stay home.