The Mastriani Piano

In September 2022, The St. Augustine Music Festival acquired a Steinway Grand piano graciously donated by the Mastriani Family, Treasure Island, FL and Schenectady, NY in honor of Paul Mastriani, jazz pianist and music lover. But how did this connection come about, you might ask, as the musician's family did not have a St. Augustine connection.

The SAMF Executive Director Bill Boxer, a trained pianist, dreamed that we might eventually obtain a piano that would belong to the Music Festival. One potential donation did not take place, as the owners preferred to sell, rather than donate. Then one day, Gordon Russell, a friend to several of the SAMF board members, learned of a piano in need of a new home and brought it to our attention. And the piano was in Treasure Island, just a few hours drive from St. Augustine. But how did Gordon know about the piano?

As a musician and former band director from New York, Gordon was friendly with many other musicians. And one of these musician friends was Kal Gancsos, who lives in North Carolina. It seems that Kal and his wife become close friends with Paul Mastriani and his wife for many years as a result of Mastriani vacations in North Carolina. It was through Kal that Gordon became aware of the need for the piano to find a new residence.

Bill Boxer was soon put in touch with the Mastriani daughter, Diana Preiss, and arrangements were made for Bill to examine this very old Steinway Model A grand piano in Treasure Island. With his approval and once all the arrangements were made, SAMF became the new owner.

The piano was moved to the Waterworks Building, home of the St. Johns Cultural Council, where it will remain and eventually be available for other county arts organizations to share at that location. The SAMF piano has been brought to concert standards by Skip Becker, Master Piano Technician with support from Christina Parish Stone, Executive Director of The St. John’s Cultural Council.

Paul L. Mastriani 1936 - 2017

Paul was a devoted husband, father, grandfather musician, composer and stenographer. While stationed at Cape Hatteras as a U.S. Navy Veteran, he continued to vacation there with his family. The family also enjoyed wintering for over 20 years in Treasure Island, FL. His profession was as a Court Stenographer for the NY Supreme Court, working primarily in Schenectady.

Paul's musical interest started as a child with the Gene James Trio. Through the years he helped compose music for plays including Who Said What to Who in 1973 and Don't Just Sit There in 1976. In 1985, he composed for Anthony Zano's Gotta Take Time performance at Carnegie Hall.

He played with several groups in the New York Capital District at locations including Jazz on Jay, The Van Dyke, Stoney's Irish Grill and the Stockade Inn, earning a Lifetime Achievement Award from Swingtime Magazine.

Paul was quoted: "It's beyond liking, I loved it; it's something I have to do." He will be remembered for his wit, deliverance of humor and held his humor to the end. 

The Mastriani piano is being introduced to the community

April 23, 2023 with this special fundraising concert.

The St. Augustine Music Festival Enters our Season 17

Offering Chamber Music Concerts

in St. Augustine, while introducing

our 1917 Steinway Grand Piano as

Steinway & Sons celebrates 170 years of producing the finest concert pianos!

We invite you to join us for An Afternoon of Romantic Chamber Music on

Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 PM at the Waterworks, 184 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine.

The St. Augustine Music Festival is offering this special concert to officially introduce our 1917 Steinway Grand Piano. It is also an opportunity for you to support SAMF financially, while enjoying an afternoon of Chamber music in an intimate setting. With limited seating, everyone attending will be seated close to the musicians.

Tickets purchased in advance are $50. Tickets purchased at the door are also $50. The proceeds will benefit our June St. Augustine Music Festival, offered free to the audience.

Program:

Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849)

Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1

Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 69, No. 1

Grande Valse Brillante, Op.18

Frédéric François Chopin (1810-1849)

Chopin Cello Sonata Op. 65 (1847)

III – Largo in B-flat major

I – Allegro moderato

Robert Schumann (1810-1856)

Märchenbilder “Fairy Tales” Op. 113 Viola and Piano (1851)

I – Nicht schnell, Moderato

II – Lebhaft, Vivo

IV – Langsam, mit melancholischem Ausdruck, Lento melancolico

III – Rasch, Presto

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)

Piano Quartet No. 2 in A Major, Op. 26, Op. 34a (1861)

I – Allegro non troppo

Musicians:

Click on the name of each of the musicians for their bio information.

Aurica Duca, Violin

Jorge Peña, Viola,

Jin Kim, Cello

SAMF Artistic Directors

Evangeliya Delizonas-Khukhua, Piano

The St. Augustine Music Festival will be returning for the final Jacksonville Symphony in 60 concerts and has had a presence at the three previous concerts. If you plan to attend this concert, please stop by and say hello. Cocktail Hour at 5:30 PM; Concerts begin at 6:30 PM in the Jacoby Symphony Hall, 300 Water St., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Tickets are $25 with general seating.

Thursday, May 25, 2023 - Pride Night: Giovanni Bertoni Plays Copland

Visit the Jacksonville Symphony website to learn more about the remaining concerts this season as well as Mozart's The Magic Flute Opera offered by the Jacksonville Symphony.

A quote from our Artistic Directors Jorge Peña and Jin Kim-Peña:

We are proud that our daughter Gabriela Peña-Kim, who will be featured playing in the St. Augustine Music Festival, is the cover for the new Apple classical streaming music service.

If you download (highly recommended) the Apple Classical Music App you will likely see her picture playing the violin.

Gabriela Peña-Kim | LA Phil

Read an article from The Verbe about the Apple APP

Why can’t more music apps be like Apple Music Classical?



Save the Dates! A Preview of the Concerts!*

Monday, June 19, Friday - Sunday, June 23-25

Friday, June 30, Saturday - Sunday July 1-2

7:30 PM

Cathedral Basilica on the Plaza de la Constitucion

*The schedule below may be subject to change.

• •  Become a SAMF Sponsor  • • 

Sponsors are vital to the success of SAMF performances as each sponsor's contribution furthers the sense of connection and positive impact within the community as we offer FREE concerts at the Cathedral Basilica.

As you consider your donation, think about the cost of attending a comparable concert... would it be $25, $40, or perhaps much more? Are you planning to attend two or three, or perhaps all seven concerts? If so, then consider making a donation to SAMF that you can consider as the cost of your tickets. Sponsor levels of $5,000 or more entitles the donor/organization to be the sponsor of an evening's concert.

We Have 8 Sponsor Donor Levels: 

*Regular Entry and Recognized Donor in the Program

**Early Entry and Reserved Seating. Recognized Donor on Website and in the Program

***Early Entry and Prime Seating. Recognized Donor on Website, in the Program and Champaign Reception on June 24.

****Concert Sponsor with Early Entry, Prime Seating, Recognized Donor Logo on Website

and Champaign Reception on June 24.

Or use our QR code that also goes directly to our PayPal Account.

Personal and business checks can be made payable to the

St. Augustine Music Festival and mailed to:

Saint Augustine Music Festival

PO Box 833

St. Augustine, FL 32085-0833

Each and every level of donation is important.

Please consider the level you wish to contribute.

The St. Augustine Music Festival is a non-for-profit corporation exempt from federal income tax under section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. We are qualified to receive tax deductible bequests, devises, transfers, or gifts under section 2055, 2106 or 2522 of the Code and can provide you with a copy of our tax exempt status upon request. We greatly appreciate all donations and acknowledge our donors in the festival program and on our website.

Volunteer opportunities with SAMF....



Non-profit organizations survive because of the volunteers that believe in the organization and are willing to make sure that it continues to survive and thrive. This is also true of the St. Augustine Music Festival. 

The SAMF Board consists of volunteers who believe that providing exceptional music to the public for free is important. And we believe that performing the concerts in the sacred and beautiful space that is the Cathedral Basilica has provided an experience unlike any other. As a result, we rely on volunteers to fill many roles during the year in order to provide these concerts to the public. 

• Volunteers to serve on and support the SAMF Board,
• Volunteers to help with fundraising and outreach to potential concert sponsors. 
• Volunteers to assist during the June concerts and other events that may take place from time to time during the year.

Can we count on you to volunteer? 

Bill Boxer

Executive Director

Jorge Peña and Jin Kim-Peña

Artistic Directors

• • View some photos from SAMF 2022 • • 

Read the Program from the 2022 St. Augustine Music Festival

On behalf of the SAMF Board of Directors, we thank you!

Bill Boxer, Executive Director

Nell Seymour Toensmann, Board Chair

Jorge Peña & Jin Kim-Peña, Artistic Directors

St. Augustine Music Festival (SAMF)

billboxer@SAMFestival.org

Office: 904 342-5175 Mobile: 904 982-0146

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

St. Augustine Music Festival

P.O. Box 833

St. Augustine, FL 32085-0833