A Heart for Ukraine

Dmitry Perevertailenko is Associate Professor of Clarinet at Tarleton State University. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe, including ICA ClarinetFests in Knoxville, Ostend, Orlando, Lawrence, Madrid, and Baton Rouge;  the CMS conference in Vancouver;  and the TMEA conventions in San-Antonio.  He has performed the Copland Clarinet Concerto with both the Kharkiv Municipal Orchestra and the North Texas Symphony. From 2004 to 2007, he was principal clarinetist with the Las Colinas Symphony Orchestra. Dmitry has won multiple competitions including the International Competition for the 50th Anniversary of Israel and the North Texas Concerto Competition.  Prior to his position at TSU, Dr. Perevertailenko was an Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at Sam Houston State University. He also held a Development Associate position with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.  Dmitry has obtained B.M. from the Moscow State Conservatoire, M.M. from the Sam Houston State University, and D.M.A. from the University of North Texas.

Leslie Spotz, as Professor of Piano at Tarleton State University, received the 2017 Texas Music Teachers Association “Outstanding Collegiate Teaching Achievement” Award.  As winner of the 2017 TSU College of Liberal and Fine Arts Faculty Excellence in Research and Creative Activities Award, Spotz enjoys an international performing career that spans four continents and four decades, and has included solo performances in Moscow at Tchaikovsky Hall of Moscow University, South Bank Center of London, Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the famed Academy of Music in Philadelphia, her highly acclaimed tours of Germany, concerts in Italy at the Lorenzo de’Medici Institute, solo recitals in Taiwan and Brazil, and her performance at the inaugural opening of Philadelphia’s magnificent performance venue, the Kimmel Center.  She performed remotely throughout the pandemic of 2020-2021, including MTNA Convention. Recent seasons included solo recitals throughout Texas, Rio de Janeiro and Il Encontro Internacional de Pianistas de Brazil and performances at the Music by Women Festival at Mississippi University for Women. In 2015 she performed solo recitals in New York City’s Tenri Cultural Institute, Indiana Wesleyan University, Dallas Public Library, and chamber music concerts in Dallas, TX, Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, and Southern University in Baton Rouge, LA.  She returned to New York and the Tenri Cultural Institute for the Leschetizky Association Annual Living Composers Concert May, 2016.  She returned to Italy in June 2013 for performances at the Conservatorio di Milano and the Ambrosianeum Foundation.  Also, in June 2013 she performed in Buenes Aires, Argentina and returned to London in May 2011.   February 2010 included an all-Chopin Bicentennial recital in New York City.  December 2010 she returned to Germany in a solo recital at the Heilig–Kreuz–Kirche in Berlin. Hailed by the prestigious Süddeutsche Zeitung of Munich, Spotz’ Beethoven was described thus: “Stripped of veneer, revealing all the edges and corners, Spotz earnestly confronted Beethoven’s tempi and dynamic indications, leaving mediocrity and shallow beauty behind and bringing out truth.  In all, a concert of the highest critical standard, further proof of the high carat quality of this series.”  Spotz has performed extensively throughout the U.S. from coast to coast.  Concert highlights include her 2007 performance at Tarleton as soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony, performances of twenty Beethoven Sonatas at Rutgers University and her recitals for the Bach Festival of Philadelphia.

Receiving a full scholarship to the Curtis Institute of Music, Spotz studied for five years with the legendary, Mieczyslaw Horszowski, part of the heritage that is only three musicians-students-teachers away from Beethoven.  She completed her doctorate at Rutgers University in 2002.  Her appearances as soloist include the Mozart Society of Philadelphia, South Jersey Symphony, Curtis Symphony, Kinhaven Symphony in Vermont, the Piedmont Chamber Orchestra in North Carolina, the Old York Road Symphony in Abington, PA, and the Clear Lake Symphony in Texas.  March 2013 she was soloist with the University of Texas – San Antonio Symphony.

Spotz has become an advocate for women musicians through her performances, collaborating with flutist Adeline Tomasone on the critically acclaimed CD Fantasias, and women composers are featured on her solo CD, issued by Leonore Records in 1999.  Published recordings also include the three sets of 5 CDs each of solo piano literature, representing the repertoire for 13 graded levels, 2019-2021, 2016-2018 and 2010-2012 for the International Piano Performance Examination Committee (IPPEC) based in Taiwan and Southeast Asia.  She has collaborated with violinists: Maria Bachmann, Joseph Genualdi, and Mark Steinberg; flutist Laurel Zucker; David Wetherill, former co-principal horn of the Philadelphia Orchestra; Frank Kaderabek, former principal trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra; and Joseph Depasquale, who was longtime principal viola of the Philadelphia Orchestra.  Among the notable international singers for whom Spotz has accompanied are sopranos Amanda Squitieri, Julianne Baird, Gwendolyn Bradley and Donna Connolly, and tenors Martin Dillon and Robert Guarino. According to the The Philadelphia Inquirer, "Miss Spotz commands the resonant sound and the elegant gesture… playing of great color, boldness, and suavity… most engaging…"

Paul is a hybrid cellist, and highly skilled in classical, jazz improvisation, rock, and Blues/R&B. He has performed with many orchestras worldwide; as well as touring, recording with them. He makes his home in Orlando, FL and currently sits principal cellist with seven orchestras, as well as performing with many others in the area. He includes the internationally acclaimed Mantovani Orchestra in this list; touring in Asia and Europe, with several other tours planned in the coming year. He has performed in venues that range from Carnegie Hall to jam sessions throughout the world, and is highly respected in the musical community for his versatility. He has had his professional career stretch for 39 years, and did his first concerto with the Florida Symphony Orchestra at age 12. By the age of 14, he was being hired by professional contractors locally, further advancing his career before starting high school. At 15, he accepted his first principal chair position with the Space Coast Pops. Since then, he has expanded his experiences.  His Broadway touring credits include Aida, Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Lion King, and West Side Story amongst others as principal cellist.  In addition to his classical career, his mainstream career started promptly after college, when he was offered an international tour with the Mantovani Orchestra, an orchestra for which he still sits principal chair. His discography now includes such names as Shinedown, Gloria Gaynor, Wayne Gratz, Matchbox20, Primary Colorz, Creed, Irene Cara, and Rod Stewart, Jon Anderson to name a few.  Paul continues to tour as principal cellist with such names as Rod Stewart, Page & Plant (Led Zepplin), Natalie Cole, Moody Blues, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Shirley Jones, Robert Goulet, TSO, Donna Summer, Dennis DeYoung (STYXX), Chicago, Led Zepplin Live, Johhny Mathis, Barry Manilow, Smokey Robinson, including solo duets on stage with Peter Cetera, Clay Aiken, Bernadette Peters, Mannheim Steamroller, Weird Al, Metallica, Amy Lee, The Who, to name a few.  With over 200 compositions in his library, and close to 500 arrangements, he continues to push the limit with mainstream and pop music, bringing it into the libraries of classical musicians. His compositions have been used on television, radio, independent movies, government public relations, military commercials, and the Olympics. Not to neglect classical music, he is now a published author of cello technique, releasing his Scale Book for cello, Exotic Scale books for cello, violin and viola, as well as a Dexterity Manual for left-hand technique.