Ana Marìa Orduz
Colombian pianist Ana Marìa Orduz has been the recipient of many awards and scholarships, including first place in the concerto competition at the University of Memphis (USA), and first place in the Città di Padova international competition (Italy) with the Betancur-Orduz piano duo. She was awarded the Berl Olswanger and Herbert Herman Memorial scholarships for the outstanding student (USA), The Beethoven`s Club scholarship (USA), Carolina Oramas scholarship (Colombia), the scholarship of the Cartagena`s international music festival (Colombia) and the University of Iowa Research Fellowship (USA). Dr Orduz was also awarded full scholarships to obtain her undergraduate at the University of Memphis where she graduated Suma Cum Laude, to obtain he Masters and Doctorate degrees at the University of Iowa, to attend four times the piano summer program at Chautauqua Institution and two times the Mammoth Lakes summer music program (USA).
Dr. Orduz has performed in such festivals as the ¨Piano Extravaganza¨ (Iowa-USA), ¨Liszt Festival¨ (Iowa-USA), ClarinFest and ClarinSax Eafit, Festival Internacional de Clarinete de Bogotá, Festival Internacional de La Cultura de Tunja, Festival Internacional de Piano de Bucaramanga, Festival Internacional de Piano de Barrancabermeja (Colombia), and Zamorelli`s Concert Series (Chile), among others. The Colombian pianist has performed as a soloist with the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, the University of Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the University of Iowa Chamber Orchestra, Orquesta Amadeus and the IMDE Chamber Orchestra. Dr. Orduz has also performed as a chamber musician and solo pianist in the USA, Italy, Chile, Malaysia and Colombia with musicians such as Evan Wilson, first viola of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra, Brazilian flutist Bruno Faría, Greek pianist Victoria Tsangari, Colombian pianist Carlos Betancur and Colombian tenor Diver Higuita with whom she released a CD in 2012. She is currently touring actively and recording a CD of Colombian Music with the Orduz-Garcia Duo founded in 2012 with clarinetist Jose García.
Her interest in piano pedagogy has allowed Dr. Orduz to present workshops at national and state conferences in USA. The topics include: “Characteristics Aspects of Playing and Teaching Debussy,” “Maximizing Your Students’ Practice Time”, “All Questions Answered: Using the Worlds Collective Knowledge and Technology”, “Integrating Contemporary World Music Into our Teaching: Discussion on the Pedagogical Value and Performance Practice of Seven Commissioned Compositions From Four Contemporary Colombian Composers”. Dr. Orduz is an active judge at festivals and competitions. She is the Founder and artistic director of the Pianissimo Fundation, which organizes the concert series Martes Pianissimo, Encuentros con el Piano, Jóvenes Pianissimo, the Pianissimo Festival and Competition and the Pianissimo Piano Pedagogy Study Group.
Dr. Orduz earned her bachelors at the University of Memphis with the guidance of Joan Gilbert, and earned her M.M and D.M.A at the University of Iowa under the guidance of Dr. Rene Lecuna and Dr. Alan Huckleberry. She has also studied with Dr. Paulina Zamora, Rebecca Penneys, and Blanca Uribe among others. Ana Maria Orduz is a professor of piano and the head of the Piano Department at the University of Antioquia and a professor at EAFIT University in Medellin-Colombia. Ms. Orduz is active as a piano teacher, adjudicator, presenter and performer, her current projects include solo concerts, and touring with clarinetist Jose Garcìa. (anamariaorduz.com, pianissimo.com.co)