Pianist Franz Mantini Plays 12th Annual USF Scholarship Concert
Evening of classical music is a fundraiser for USF students

TAMPA, Fla. - A fixture on the classical calendar for over a decade at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the scholarship concert has been a showcase for Franz Mantini's piano performances and world-class chamber music. For the 12th Annual Scholarship Concert, Mantini welcomes Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin, Che-Yen "Brian" Chen, viola, and David Bjella, cello for this special performance on February 2 at 7 pm at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

The program includes Brahms Violin Sonata in A Major, Schumann Piano Quartet, and more.

Created by pianist and USF graduate Franz Mantini, this unique event provides an evening of world class music while raising money for the endowment of two beneficiary scholarships: The Jacques Abram Memorial Scholarship for Piano in the USF School of Music, and the Franz Mantini Scholarship in the USF College of Engineering. Since its inception, the Franz Mantini Scholarship has provided assistance to twenty students. The Jacques Abram Memorial Scholarship for Piano, created as a tribute to Mr. Mantini's piano teacher after he passed away in 1998, has been awarded to eight students.

The scholarships have grown from a $250 book stipend, to a $1,000 scholarship over the years. The addition of the Batson-Cook Company as host sponsor in 2000, as well as other sponsors in combination with the revenues raised at the performances, has allowed the scholarship to move towards a full endowment goal.

"For some of these students, I know this scholarship was just a nice pat on the back for working hard," said Mantini, who has met almost all of the scholarship recipients. "For others, I know that it lifted a serious financial burden. It makes me feel awesome either way."

Mantini, maintains an active schedule of solo and chamber music. His credits include several recital series at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, performances of concertos by Beethoven, Rachmaninoff and MacDowell, and a prizewinning appearance in the 1990 Florida West Coast Chopin competition.

Mantini began a romance with the piano at age six, but broke it off after high school. While attending USF, Mantini again began to feel attracted to playing and studying piano. At the advice of a friend, he auditioned for Jacques Abram, then a USF distinguished artist in residence. Abram agreed to accept Mantini as a student.

"It truly changed my life," Mantini said. "When I heard his students play, I was rather enlightened, and to be able to work with Jacques Abram, who took me from explaining everything about the music to eventually teaching me how to teach myself, was an inimitable stroke of good fortune."

While pursuing serious music studies, Mantini also earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and later a master's degree in engineering management. Mantini began the engineering scholarship as a way to stay connected with piano studies at USF, and added the piano scholarship as a tribute to his teacher after Abram's death in 1998.

Guest artists Amy Schwartz Moretti, violin, Che-Yen "Brian" Chen, viola and David Bjella, cello are also accomplished soloist.

Ms. Moretti, former concertmaster of both the Florida Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony, is still one of the Tampa Bay Areas most beloved and recognizable classical musicians. She continues an active career as soloist and chamber musician and in addition to holding the position of Director of the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University.

Mr. Chen's remarkable career as a soloist and collaborator has continued with numerous accolades. As soloist he captured First Prize at the 2003 William Primrose Viola Competition and the President's Prize at the 2003 Lionel Tertis Viola Competition. He is also a founding member of the Formosa String Quartet, First Prize Winner and Amadeus Prize winners of the 10th Annual London International String Quartet Competition.

Mr. Bjella's career has led him to Florida State University, and University of Central Florida as professor of music, and the Valade Master Teacher program at the Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan. Currently he is the Director of Chamber Music at Stetson University. Beyond his teaching career Bjella has made a name for himself as a soloist performing as principal cellist of the Florida Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Southwest Florida Symphony and the Annapolis Symphony.

Tickets to the scholarship concert are available at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Box Office, by calling (813) 229-STAR, or by visiting www.tbpac.org. Admission is $25 for adults and $10 for students and seniors. Group rates are available upon request.

Sponsorships are also available and include a variety of benefits for donors. For more information on opportunities for giving and sponsorships, contact Mandi Alexander at 813-974-4971.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF received more than $310 million in research contracts and grants last year, and it is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one of two of the nation's fastest growing universities in terms of federal research and development expenditures. The university has a $1.6 billion annual budget and serves 44,038 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota/Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East Athletic Conference.