Nelson Ojeda Valdés

 

There in front of me was a Facebook ad  - “Women of Romanticism” - concert to be held at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on March 12, 2022.  

 Hmmmm, that caught my interest, sounded interesting and I should probably attend.  I purchased a ticket not knowing any of the performers yet the composers Fannie Mendelssohn Hensel, Cecile Chaminade and others were familiar to me. 

As I sat through the concert all I could think was, “Meeting these talented and gifted performers is going to happen.  We will, some day in the future, collaborate on a Gena concert.”  That was just the beginning of what now is three years of friendship and concertizing.  

After the concert I approached soprano Stefanie Izzo introducing myself as an authority on Gena Branscombe.  Stefanie is an authority on women composers….. a lot of women composers, yet she had not heard of Gena.  We agreed to be in touch to discuss Gena songs for her to perform.

 

Then I approached the organizer of the concert, pianist Nelson Ojeda Valdés. The first thing out of my mouth, “We need to have coffee.”  Then, I handed him my card and introduced myself.  We agreed to be in contact.

Little did I know Nelson is a coffee-aholic!  My offer of having coffee definitely interested him!  Weeks later we did meet for coffee.  Our conversation never let up because neither of us is shy! 

 Over the course of that first coffee meeting, I shared the Gena Project development and our wish to begin offering concerts.  Listening carefully, Nelson proceeded to guide me through the process of creating programs, how to approach venues, communication skills for all of this, then performers and fees. 

 To say the very least, I was and continue to be in awe of Nelson Ojeda Valdés, who is a true creative music entrepreneur!  Here is a person who knows what concerts he has created and will be performing nearly two years in advance.  Each program is diverse from the previous program.  Do you know anyone who would arrange for five pianists to join him for a performance of Steve Reich’s piece, “Six Pianos?”

It’s not the performance of that incredibly difficult piece, it’s knowing five other pianists who are willing to take on that piece, scheduling rehearsals where there must be SIX pianos in one room and once you begin playing making sure everyone is on the same measure at the same time.  One of his next concerts was all Faure music, a Christmas season concert to play the piano four hands version of the Nutcracker Ballet Suite and on and on.  Only Nelson! 

With thanks to Nelson, The Gena Branscombe Project presented its “Bringing Back Branscombe to the Upper West Side” concert at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.  His guidance for this concert was invaluable.  His performing Gena’s music with great sensitivity was amazing whether he was a collaborator with an instrumentalist or playing a solo piece!

 We meet for coffee every once-in-a- while, we laugh quite a lot, share our upcoming events or travels and enjoy one another’s company.  Not only is Nelson a great concertizer and organizer, he also teaches private piano lessons, is a church organist and on occasion does a second or third Sunday service.  His daily schedule is packed with his own practicing, performing, teaching and creating new concerts knowing all the details that must be handled. 

 Recently, Nelson sent me a program from his church.  Each Sunday in March, Women’s History Month, he played a piece by a woman composer.  Included were Gena Branscombe, Fannie Mendelssohn Hensel, Wanda Landowska, Amy Beach and Florence Price!  Not only did he play their music, he also wrote short bios of each composer that gave the congregation insights into each woman’s music and life!   

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Nelson is a force of nature, driven in the most positive way to create music experiences for one and all.  He’s a great mentor and I thank him as often as possible for his guidance and ideas.  I remind him, “You’re the best!”  And, he is. 

 Onward to more Gena concerts!  Thanks Nelson for being my friend and mentor.

#BringingBackBranscombe