Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - For their talent and contribution to University of Wisconsin-Platteville's music program, four students have been recently selected for the Liberace Scholarship, sponsored and funded by the Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts. All scholarship recipients are members of UWP's Carmina Quartet: Carmen Lasceski, Nathan Manwiller, Otto Dingfelder III and Brice Lory.

"The generosity of the Liberace grant allowed us to select four outstanding students we already have here at Platteville," explains Benjamin Shapira, UWP's orchestra director. "They're a wonderful quartet, and now they will be recognized as Liberace musicians."

The Carmina Quartet meets approximately eight hours every week to practice, time which doesn't include the numerous hours of practice the individuals accomplish on their own. Each member of the quartet has earned the right of first chair for his or her section of the UWP orchestra.

In recognition of this award, each member of the Carmina Quartet will be receiving the title of Liberace Artist. Along with the UWP students, two students from Argentina, who will be traveling to UWP to study and share their own musical talents with the orchestra, will be granted the Liberace Artist title. The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts began in 1976 by Wladziu Valentino Liberace, a native of West Allis. The foundation's purpose is to award scholarship grants to fund artists across the nation, and to this date has awarded over $4 million in scholarship grants.

Lasceski, the daughter of Michael and Diane Lasceski of Reedsburg, has performed for audiences across Wisconsin from an early age. She currently holds the title of concertmaster for the UWP orchestra and symphonietta, and has earned numerous awards throughout high school and college for her achievements. She expects to graduate in 2007 with a degree in violin performance and theater. She wishes to pursue a career in solo violin performance.

Manwiller, the son of Karen Manwiller of Amery and Clifford Manwiller of Amery, has been studying the violin since the age of six, and by the age of eight, he was invited to join the Northern Lakes Chamber Orchestra. By age 14, he was a soloist, and competed in the Wisconsin School Music Association Solo and Ensemble, where he took first place at the district and state level. Like Lasceski, Manwiller's future career goals include performing as a solo violinist. He will graduate in 2007 with a degree in music performance and music education.

Dingfelder, the son of Diane Dingfelder of Rollingstone, MN, has been playing the viola for 12 years, and is the president of UWP's orchestra. He has received awards for his talents, including a scholarship to attend the Rocky Ridge Summer Festival in Colorado. Dingfelder has also been selected for the Minnesota State All-Conference Orchestra on several occasions. He expects to graduate in May 2007 with degrees in environmental engineering and music, and hopes to play chamber music professionally in a high-caliber orchestra.

Lory, the son of Suella and David Lory of Platteville, has been studying cello for over nine years, earning numerous awards for musical excellence, including second place in the Outstanding Young Artists Competition, which is held throughout the state of Wisconsin. Lory aspires to become a concert solo performer and develop a career as a chamber musician once he graduates from UWP in 2008 with a degree in cello performance.

These four artists will be setting up and performing tours around the Platteville area, gaining experience and exposure in touring as a quartet.

Contact: Benjamin Shapira, UWP Orchestra Director, (608) 342-1021, shapirab@uwplatt.edu

Prepared by: Kym Bliven, Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, blivenk@uwplatt.edu