PLU’s Director of Jazz Studies, Cassio Vianna, receives grant from the City of Tacoma to write and perform genre-bending composition
Cassio Vianna, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies, has been awarded a grant to write a 4-movement suite entitled Invisible Garden, that blends jazz, chamber music and Brazilian music.
Image: Jazz Under the Stars featuring Vianna/Bergeron Brazilian Quintet with Cassio Vianna on piano at PLU, Thursday, Aug. 15, 2019. (Photo: John Froschauer/PLU)
Pacific Lutheran University’s own Cassio Vianna, Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies, has been awarded a grant from the City of Tacoma. This grant, part of the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP), encourages artistic engagement in the city by providing financial support to projects by Tacoma based artists.
To contribute to this initiative, Vianna has written a 4-movement suite entitled Invisible Garden, that blends jazz, chamber music and Brazilian music. “I recently came across a poem by Laura Foley titled The Once Invisible Garden, which begins with the question ‘how did I come to be this particular version of me, and not some other?’ It is a fascinating question that has inspired my 4-movement composition,” says Vianna.
He shared that this project was challenging to write but remaining open to the challenge and embracing spontaneity aided in its completion. “I’m always eager to learn and to try out new ideas, especially when I’m surrounded by fantastic musicians who are willing to play what I write,” he says.
Vianna will play his composition along with seven other PLU Music faculty members. He is looking forward to performing with his colleagues. Vianna sees making music to be “a communal act: it enhances creativity, broadens the possibilities for collaboration, and reaches a larger audience.” He is hopeful this project will reach a broad audience due to the fusion of genres that will shine throughout this concert.
Vianna is especially pleased to perform this composition in east Tacoma. He is a member of this community and is very glad to share his work with the region as well as gaining more opportunities to connect with other artists in the area.
Invisible Garden: Four Pieces for Woodwind Quintet & Jazz Trio will be performed at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
on Saturday, May 4th at 2:00 pm. Admission is free.
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
140 E 56th St. Tacoma, WA 98404
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