Luiza Raab-Pontecorvo

About the Artist - A Biography

Known to some as a Pianist and to others as a remerkable French Horn Player, Mrs. Raab- Pontecorvo has performed extensively on both instruments touring the United States, Europe, Scandinavia, China and Korea. Her musical sensitivity, virtuosity and especially mastery of these two different instruments has been admired as she performs huge variety of chamber, orchestral and solo music or appears on the stage as a trully skilled piano accompanist and conductor.

Mrs. Raab has collaborated with many orchestras and ensembles including: the Albany Symphony, Yamaha Chamber Orchestra in NYC, Gateway Classical Music Society Orchestra in Greenwich, Bellport Gateway Playhouse, Patchogue Theater, Smithtown PAC, East End Brass Quintet, North Shore ProMusica Society, Maestri di Musica Wind Quintet, and works as a free-lance on/off Broadway and in NYC area.

Born and raised in Poland, Mrs. Raab-Pontecorvo came to the United States in 1999 to continue french horn and piano degrees, which she started in Chopin’s Music Academy in Warsaw (Poland). In 2006 she received her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, studying french horn with the renowned teacher and horn player, Prof. William Purvis and privately with Jerome Ashby (Juiliard) and David Wakefield (Juilliard).

Education belongs to the top priorities of Mrs. Raab. In 2005 she founded Maestri di Musica, Inc. - an organization, which supports and promotes the musical arts, by providing programs (concerts, recitals, music for [in]formal events, accompanying services) and educational services (piano and horn lessons, master-classes, and outreach music programs) to the Long Island Community. She also serves on faculty at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY as both French Horn and Piano Professor, and Horn Choir Conductor.

In February 2009 Mrs. Raab will be featured as a soloist with Hofstra Symphony Orchestra during the National Conductors Conference and will perform 4th Horn Concerto by W. A. Mozart. Her other solo performances include: Schumann- Konzertstücke for 4 horns and orchestra and J. Brahms- German Requiem (version for piano and choir). She can be heard on horn with Contemporary Chember Players Ensemble on Meyer Kupferman Orchestral Music Vol. XVI- CD released by Soundspells Production and as a pianist/ choir accompanist on two life recordings with Nassau Music Educators Association, All-County Festival Choir released by McIver Recordings.

Past summer festival appearances include the International Summer School of Music Festival in Dartington (UK), Music Festspiel Treffen in Bayreuth (Ger), and Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. As a guest artist she performed with international orchestras like “Jeunesses Musicales” in Salzburg (Austria, principal horn), Trinity Chamber Orchestra in London and Narvic Peace Symphony Orchestra (Norway, co -principal).

While studying in Warsaw ( Poland) she worked as permanent substitute of the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra in Warsaw and free-lanced with Sinfonia Varsovia, the Symphony Orchestra of Polish Radio and TV in Warsaw, and the Philharmonic Orchestra in Olsztyn. In 1997 she became the first Polish brass player who won auditions to Gustav Mahler Jugend Orchester in Vienna, conducted by Claudio Abbado. Being chosen for a member of the representative woodwind quintet of Chopin Academy she won 1 st prize in the K. Bacewicz International Competition of Chamber Music in Lodz (PL, 1988). Living in the heart of Polish culture and working with great players from the best Polish orchestras developed her musicianship and made her a highly skilled musician at a very young age.

In 2005 she founded Maestri di Musica, Inc. - Music Studio and designed an enriched program of individual and group classes for piano and horn students. The program goes far beyond just lessons. It comprises of recitals, music playing parties, music game parties for young students between age 3,5-6 years old, opportunities for the best students to perform with their teacher during various music events for the outside community of Long Island, NYSSMA “run throughs” for students taking part in the NYSSMA competition, etc.... To reach outside her music studio, she performs masterclasses in Long Island schools and organizes outreach music programs and concerts, which involve musicians from other Masters of Music ensembles to help young audiences in becoming familiar with various instruments and musical styles.
Despite her busy music life she continues developing her other interests, which include foreign languages (French, Italian, Russian, and German), horse back riding, Martial Arts Training (Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do and Orange Belt in Jiu-jitsu), Ballroom and Latin Dancing. She is the Main Instructor in Atomic Tae Kwon Do Health and Fitness Center, which she owns with her husband Bart Pontecorvo.

For booking live performances, studio work,
french horn and piano lessons, or to hire one of the ensembles associated with
Maestri di Musica, Inc.
please go to the contact page.