Program features the Faculty Orchestra and works by Khachaturian and Prokofiev, reinforcing the intergenerational transmission of knowledge
The program for the Santa Catarina Music Festival (FEMUSC) this Wednesday, January 21, at the SCAR Grand Theater, highlights one of the pillars supporting the event throughout its 21 editions: musical training built upon the dialogue between teachers and students, both on and off stage.
The Grand Concert, starting at 8:30 PM, features Aram Khachaturian’s Piano Concerto, performed by Brazilian pianist Alexandre Dossin alongside the FEMUSC Faculty Orchestra, as well as a performance of Sergei Prokofiev’s Romeo and Juliet suite—a major landmark of the 20th-century symphonic repertoire.
For Dossin, his connection to Khachaturian’s work is long-standing and deeply personal. “I first encountered this concerto as a teenager living in Brazil. It was one of the very first scores I ever bought, back when sheet music was expensive and you had to choose very carefully. The edition I use to this day is the one I purchased when I was young,” he recalls.
Although he studied the piece early on, his first performance of it took place years later at a competition in Europe. Since then, the pianist has championed it as an essential part of his repertoire. “It is a concerto that deserves to be played more often. It holds its own alongside the great traditional concertos—like those by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, Chopin, and Liszt—yet maintains a distinct identity. That’s why I was so happy when Alex Klein embraced the idea of performing this work here in Jaraguá do Sul with the Faculty Orchestra,” he states.
Training at the heart of the experience
The presence of the Faculty Orchestra at the concert symbolizes FEMUSC’s pedagogical model, in which instruction also takes place through shared artistic practice. This Wednesday’s performance also marks conductor Lígia Amadio’s debut leading the Faculty Orchestra, expanding the dialogue between different musical backgrounds and schools of thought on stage.
“Playing with the Faculty Orchestra is always a great pleasure. Everyone—students and faculty alike—makes music together and participates in this cultural and educational process that is a hallmark of FEMUSC,” notes Alexandre Dossin.
Lígia Amadio expresses her excitement at the prospect of conducting the Faculty Orchestra. “I feel very honored. It is truly a joy. Being part of the festival’s faculty and now having the opportunity to conduct the Faculty Orchestra marks a very special moment in my career.”
Lígia Amadio’s debut conducting the Faculty Orchestra represents not only a personal milestone but also a symbol of the growing presence of women on the podiums of Brazilian and international classical music.
A professor at the University of Oregon (USA), the pianist maintains a long-standing relationship with the festival and highlights the tangible impact of the exchange fostered by the event. For him, FEMUSC goes beyond musical training. “FEMUSC is a festival that leaves a mark and changes lives. Sharing the stage with teachers from different countries is always special, as music is an international language. We speak various languages during rehearsals, but the primary language here is music, and it is through music that we share emotions with such a warm audience,” he sums up.
Tribute to Arthur Moreira Lima
The program also pays tribute to pianist Arthur Moreira Lima—one of the giants of Brazilian music—whose career is intertwined with the recent history of both FEMUSC and SCAR itself. It was Arthur who inaugurated the Steinway Grand Piano at SCAR’s Grand Theater on April 25, 2009—an instrument that has since become a benchmark for the high-caliber symphonic concerts and recitals held at the festival. Remembering his contribution reinforces FEMUSC’s commitment to artistic excellence and to honoring the masters who helped build the classical music scene in Brazil.
About FEMUSC
FEMUSC is Latin America’s largest classical music festival and educational program. Marking its 21st anniversary in 2026, the Santa Catarina International Music Festival brings together around 600 students from nearly every Brazilian state and 21 countries—from January 11 to 24—for 14 days of learning, cultural exchange, and abundant music alongside faculty members from the world’s most renowned orchestras. The community of Jaraguá do Sul and the surrounding region enthusiastically embraces the festival, packing the 230 free concerts held at the SCAR Cultural Center and various venues across the city; the event reaches an audience of over 30,000 people, leaving a lasting legacy in the region and in the lives of every student. For more information, visit 🔗 www.femusc.com.br.
The 21st FEMUSC is presented under the Federal Government’s Rouanet Law for Cultural Project Incentives. It features Master Sponsorship from Itaú, Laranjinha Itaú, and WEG; sponsorship from DR Aromas & Ingredientes, Auroracoop, Grupo Elian, Zanotti Elásticos, and Porto de Itapoá; support from Master Operações Portuárias, Mime, Menegotti, Martinelli Advogados, and Unisociesc; and is organized by SCAR, FEMUSC, the Department of Culture, Sports and Leisure, and the Jaraguá do Sul City Hall.
Image credit: Diego Redel
