One of the World’s Foremost Piccolo Virtuosos to Play at Peoria Riverfront Museum

One of the world’s foremost piccolo virtuosos, Jean-Louis Beaumadier, will return to Peoria for “Music at the Museum: 50,000 Notes Presto, Encore!” at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, April 14, 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.). Beaumadier will be accompanied by his wife, pianist Véronique Poltz.

The concert features a special appearance by flutist Kyle Dzapo. It will be followed by a reception with champagne and desserts, offering the audience a chance to meet the performers.

“50,000 Notes Presto” is a delightful and dazzling program of light-hearted works,” said Dzapo, “I’m thrilled to collaborate with Jean-Louis and Vero and to enjoy their vibrant and entertaining program.”

Tickets for “Music at the Museum” are $20 for museum members and $25 for the public and may be purchased by phone or online. For more information on the event or about the museum, call 309.686.7000 or visit RiverfrontMuseum.org

Jean-Louis Beaumadier

Jean-Louis Beaumadier, widely regarded as one of the foremost representatives of the piccolo in the world, studied flute under Joseph Rampal at the Marseille Conservatory and continued his studies at the National Superior Conservatory in Paris under Jean-Pierre Rampal, who wrote, “Endowed with marvelous technique, [Beaumadier] stands out, thanks to his winning personality and his developed artistry. It is a pleasure to listen to him ….” Following his studies, Beaumadier performed as piccolo soloist with the National Orchestra of France for twelve years under the batons of such renowned conductors as Sergiù Celibidache, Leonard Bernstein, Lorin Maazel, Seiji Ozawa, Karl Böhm and Pierre Boulez. Beaumadier, who has performed worldwide, appears frequently as soloist on radio and television. He has recorded twenty albums, and was the International Grand Prize Winner of the Charles Cros Academy for “The Golden Age of Piccolo,” about which flautist Aurèle Nicolet wrote, “Beaumadier’s record is marvelous in sound, in technique, and above all in elegance and charm. It is a true delight!”

Véronique Poltz

Véronique Poltz is professor of Composition and Orchestration, and a coordinator of the Musical Creations department at the Conservatory of Marseille. Poltz began the piano at age 6 at the Conservatory of Aubervilliers, where she obtained three first prizes: in piano, accompaniment and chamber music. In 1982, she received the medal of the Ministry of Culture. Poltz pursued her studies at the Higher National Conservatory for Music of Paris in the classes of specialized music theory and writing (harmony, counterpoint, fugue, instrumentation and orchestration), where she was awarded a first place medal and three first prizes. She perfected studies in piano at the music teachers’ training college A.Cortot, Paris, and obtained a first prize in accompaniment, at the city of Paris. Poltz has composed works for solo instrument (piano, cello) as well as numerous duets for various instrument and piano, piano 4 hands, harp, as well as works for symphony orchestra.

Peoria Riverfront Museum

The only multidisciplinary museum of its kind in the nation, the Peoria Riverfront Museum uses art, science, history and achievement to inspire confidence, lifelong learning, and talent. Since opening in 2012, the privately funded museum has provided more than one million experiences through major exhibitions, a permanent collection, interactive galleries, a dome planetarium, giant screen theater and educational programming including curricula-related student visits. The AAM-accredited, Smithsonian-affiliated private nonprofit museum is supported by more than 4,000 members and donors, and is housed in a county-owned LEED Gold-certified building on a campus overlooking the Illinois River. The museum has been designated one of the 200 great places in Illinois by the American Institute of Architects.