OCALA, FLA.- The Appleton Museum of Art, College of Central Florida, announces composer-in-residence, Dr. Silviu Octavian Ciulei. The classical and flamenco guitarist was born in Romania and began his musical training at the age of 6. By age 13, he had already won his first performance prize, which marked the first of many awards and recognitions received both in Europe and the United States. Ciulei is currently the director of Guitar Studies at the University of Florida and is also a member of the freshly minted Global Music Award-winners, Maharajah Flamenco Trio. The group, founded in 2011, is comprised of Ciulei, Ramin Yazdanpanah and David Cobb. With two critically acclaimed and successful albums under their belts, Maharajah Flamenco Trio craft their expression of Flamenco Nuevo (New or “modern” flamenco) by blending traditional Spanish rhythms with jazz, classical and world music.
Ciulei was invited to be the museum’s inaugural composer-in-residence by Appleton Director Jason Steuber. In spring 2022, the musician spent time visiting the galleries and found inspiration in a bronze sculpture called "Neapolitan Fisherboy," c. 1860, by Jean Baptiste Carpeaux (French, 1827-1875). The result: a composition of an original piece of music. During a Sept. 15 performance at the museum, Ciulei and the other members of Maharajah Flamenco Trio will world premiere the new song, “Escucha el Mar (Listen to the Sea).”
“Neapolitan Fisherboy” is currently on view in the museum’s second-floor European galleries and depicts an adolescent boy holding up a conch shell to his ear. On his object of inspiration, Ciulei says, “After the last couple of years we have had, I wanted to choose something positive. When looking at the artwork and thinking about the text for the vocals, I knew I could do so much more just by involving this teenage boy listening to the sea. Maybe he is remembering a person he loves, or his love at home, or the love of his parents. The inspirational options are so many that it allows me to play with words and ideas when figuring out the lyrics.”
Adding a composer-in-residence is another way the museum is carrying out Arthur Appleton’s vision, Steuber explained.
“Silviu was the ideal fit for the composer-in-residence program’s inaugural artist as he and the Maharajah Flamenco Trio are global citizen musicians and educators with ties to Florida and the Appleton,” Steuber said. “Mr. Appleton’s vision for the museum to be a place for art for all aligns with this multidisciplinary program. We’re proud of the museum’s world class art and a world premiere performance by Maharajah Flamenco Trio.”
