Recognized an “excellent pianist” by New York critics, and admired for the “beauty and clarity” of her tone and for her ability to “breathe life into the score,” Argentine born pianist Nancy Roldán has concertized worldwide in venues such as the Kennedy Center, the Library of Congress, Carnegie Hall, YASI Piano Salon, and the Bösendorfer Saal in Vienna, interpreting solo, chamber music, and repertory with orchestras. Several of her recitals have been broadcast live in Europe and the Americas. Special concerts include Homage to Casals (University of PR), the First Argentine Pianists’ Marathon at the Argentine Embassy in New York, Peabody’s film The Mind of Music, The golden Age of Tango at the Library of Congress in Washington, DC; the Festival of the Latin-American Arts in Pennsylvania; Piano Portraits of Latin America for the MTNA convention in Salt Lake City; and several appearances in International Festivals such as Ravello Music Festival in Italy, Buenos Aires 2000 IDRS Festival, the American Liszt Society’s Festivals in Washington, DC, Georgia, Virginia, and the Great Romantics Festival in Canada. In 2016 she and violinist José Cueto were featured artists performing the opening recital at the Alba Music Festival in Piemonte, Italy, performing a full program with works by Astor Piazzolla arranged by Roldán.
Passionate for the performance of traditional as well as contemporary repertory, she has premiered numerous compositions for solo and chamber ensembles, many of which have been dedicated to her. Premieres in this category include works by Thomas Benjamin, Bryan Dykstra, Daniel Thomas Davis, Russell Nadel, Jorge Villavicencio-Grossman, and Andrew Gerle. She has also performed USA premieres of works by Argentine composers such as Carlos Guastavino-whose work she has championed since her early career. Her fascination with Tango and the music of Astor Piazzolla motivated her to transcribe several of his works for violin and piano. These works are featured in her celebrated 2016 CD Piazzolla, Here & Now — recorded in collaboration with violinist José Cueto and actor Gabriella Cavallero. Previous recordings include Horizons: Solo Piano Music of Latin America; Music of the Americas for two pianos, with duo piano partner Noel Lester (1951-2016); Celebrations, Music of Thomas Benjamin; and Argentina … Long Ago featuring solo and chamber music from Argentina. These collections reflect her personal mission to bring to the public music rarely heard. She has also produced On Wings of Angels and Remembrance with Mr. Cueto, and the 30th Anniversary Duo Celebration CD with Noel Lester. Nancy Roldán has been the recipient of several distinctions, a list of which appears here. Some aspects of her career are featured in the American Liszt Society Newsletter Interview (2014: 30-2) and others appear in the 2016 September/October Interview in Fanfare Magazine.
From 1988 through 2017, Nancy Roldán was actively involved with The American Liszt Society (ALS), serving as President of the Baltimore-Washington Chapter she founded (ALSBW); Coordinator of Chapters; National ALS Treasurer; and Member of the Board of Directors.In 2005, as president of the ALSBW and in collaboration with other professionals, she established the Liszt-Garrison Festival and International Competition that promoted the performance of Traditional and Modern repertory with emphasis on the music of Franz Liszt and of American Composers – also addressing the importance of Music and the role of Musicians in Society.
Throughout her professional career, she has held numerous international teaching and administrative positions. In 2007 she retired from her full-time Faculty position at Johns Hopkins University (Peabody Conservatory: 1976-2007). Previous appointments include the University of Puerto Rico and the PR Conservatory of Music then associated with the Festival Casals (1968-1974), UMBC where she served as Piano Chair, and the National University of Cuyo (UNC) in Argentina. She presents master classes, lectures and workshops on several performance related topics with emphasis on the Power of Joy, and Wellness in Performance – available to all audiences. She maintains a private and consulting studio in Maryland. For additional information on available workshops please visit here. She has presented master classes and workshops in the USA and abroad, including Brazil, Argentina, and Italy. She continues an active career as recitalist and collaborator.
She is a graduate from the Universidad Nacional de Cuyo (UNC) in Argentina and holds master and doctorate degrees from the Peabody Conservatory at The Johns Hopkins University. Currently, she is dedicated to her work about composer Carlos Guastavino (1912-2000). Inspired by his life and music, and supported by a group of kindred spirits, Roldán has brought together Sonus Guastavino, a collective of international artists dedicated to the diffusion of the composer’s music, and the endorsement and presentations of other creative endeavors rooted in the universal spirit of folk traditions.
Nancy Roldán 