Lunchtime Recital - Alexandra Păceană (guitar), Alina Mreană, (guitar)

Programme Erik Satie (1866-1925): Gnossienne no. 1 (Arr. Roland Dyens) Composed 1890

Miroslav Tadić (b. 1959): Rustemul . Composed 1997

Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959): 12 Etudes . Composed 1928–1929

Etude No. 11 (Lent - Animé)

Etude No. 12 (Animé)

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992): Oblivion (Arr. Nadia Kossinskaja). Composed 1984

José de Azpiazu (1912-1986): El Vito (Arr.) Traditional Andalusian folk song and dance from the 16th century

Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco (1895-1968): Sonata ‘Omaggio a Boccherini’. Composed 1934

I. Allegro con spirito

II. Andantino, quasi canzone

Stephen Goss (b. 1964): Cocktail List. Composed 2022

Piña Colada

Negroni

Vodka Martini

Manhatta

Biographies

Alexandra Păceană is a Romanian classical guitarist and composer currently completing a Master of Music at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studies classical guitar with Michael Lewin and Stephen Goss, and composition with Louise Drewett.

Born in south-western Romania, she began studying music at the age of six and took up the guitar at eleven. Just one year later, she made her concerto debut with the Oltenia Philharmonic in Craiova. During her school years, she won numerous prizes at national and international competitions before moving to London in 2020 to continue her musical education.

In 2023, Alexandra graduated with First-Class Honours from Middlesex University London and was awarded the Turton Prize for Music in recognition of her outstanding achievements. As a performer, her repertoire ranges from Baroque masterpieces to contemporary works, reflecting her versatility and curiosity as a musician. Alongside performance, she is an active composer. Her folk-inspired Piano Trio was premiered in London in 2023 by three Canadian musicians, while her composition The Darkling Thrush was awarded Third Prize at the Caneres International Music Competition in Vienna.

Her Master's research explores the musical traditions of south-western Romania during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, with the aim of bringing this largely unexplored repertoire into the classical guitar tradition through new arrangements and compositions.

Alongside her performing career, Alexandra has a strong interest in teaching, literature, music promotion, and contemporary music. She hopes to combine these passions by developing an international career as a performer and composer while establishing her own music school.

Romanian classical guitarist Alina Mreana is rapidly gaining recognition in the classical guitar world, as a result of her activity as a performer and content creator. Her most recent engagements include her Final BMus Recital at the Royal Academy of Music where she performed a 45-minute programme of works by Bach, Ponce and Brouwer, as well as chamber performances alongside guitarist Alexandra Paceana and soprano Veronika Barylo. In her home country Romania, Alina has performed at the George Enescu Festival, held in the Festival Square Bucharest and for the Rotary Club Triumph, as a bursary recipient.

While online concerts have gained popularity among players, Alina has performed for Texas Guitar Society as part of their International Guest Artist series, as well as for Instituto Romeno Venezia.

Since gaining a scholarship at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and studying with professors Michael Lewin, Stephen Goss and Fabio Zanon, she has gained valuable experience and professionalism in order to fully master her craft.

Apart from her work as a performer, she is also exploring a career in social media creation and managing. Aiming to bring more attention to the classical guitar, Alina is actively engaging with the new strategies of music marketing, collaborating with various brands which she presents to her online audience. Some of her most notable achievements outside performance include becoming a ToneBase Artist and working with companies such as D’Addario, Guitarlift and Soundbrenner.

Presented in association with Music Lessons Marylebone.