Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero said she is starting to feel the adrenaline as she rehearses for President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration next week.
Montero is preparing to perform a special tribute composed by John Williams at the Jan. 20 inauguration, along with cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman and clarinetist Anthony McGill. "As the date approaches, I'll be more and more into this rain of adrenaline," Montero told The Associated Press in a phone interview Monday from her home in the outskirts of Boston. "I'm very excited to be part of this great day," Montero said. "It's going to be a great moment for the entire world."
The Venezuelan-born pianist, who also is a naturalized U.S. citizen, said she believes Obama will "bring about a very important and very positive transition" in the United States. Montero expects to be the sole Latin American musician performing in the inauguration ceremony. Others who are to take the stage include soul legend Aretha Franklin. The 38-year-old Montero said the piece composed by Williams is special. "It's very much his sound — let's say contemporary classical," she said.
Williams has composed theme music for many films, including "Star Wars, "Jaws" and "Schindler's List," and also has composed music on multiple occasions for the Olympic Games.
Montero is one of many talented classical musicians to emerge from Venezuela in recent years. She started performing publicly at 5, and at 8 made her concerto debut with Venezuela's Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra. She later was granted a scholarship from the Venezuelan government to study in the United States. Her latest album "Baroque" has been nominated for a Grammy for best classical crossover album, and is also listed in the Grammy nomination for David Groves as classical producer of the year.
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