TempoViVo Concerts
(Formally Known as
AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series - Founded By Blaine Gorman & Valdez
Hill 1/1/2008)
Valdez Hill, Pianist, Music
Coordinator & Artistic Director
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Valdez Hill, Piano & Concert Series Founder
Valdez Hill started piano lessons at the age of eight with his first piano teacher, Mrs. Angela M. Archie for 7 years. At 15, he continued practicing the piano and started playing other instruments, such as the Saxaphone, Violin, Drums, Guitar, Horn, Trombone, and Clarinet. The Clarinet was perhaps his 2nd best instrument to play and perform, which help him win several awards, while also performing in school bands and ensembles. Later, while in college, he continued playing his Clarinet, but placed more time and effort with his piano studies with Dr. Ronald Surace at Jacksonville State University, Alabama (1982-84) and Dr. Ellen Wasserman at California State University, Hayward (1984-85 & 1996-98).Valdez also performed as the lead vocalist and pianist for his church Gospel Choir in Anniston, Alabama while in college. In 1985, Valdez started studying under the tutelage of Mr. Julian White of Kensington, California. Julian was also Angela Archie’s teacher. (JULIAN pass away in the summer of 2006 June 23rd) Valdez briefly studied with Seth Morthfort and Davide Verotta. In 2007, he began studying under William Wellborn at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and recently with David Olachea. Valdez was the first non– music major accepted into his college music program and first non–music major presented in a solo recital while attending Jacksonville State University. He graudated from Califormnia State University Eastbay with a degree in Business Adminiatration. Valdez has always loved and appreciated classical compositions.
His proficiency on both the piano and clarinet enabled him to earn
the Marcus Foster and Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards in 1975, 1976
and 1978. He also competed in various musical competitions within
his home State of California, the State of Alabama while in college
and in Washington D.C. as a soloist and while accompanying other
soloists. Valdez has peformed at a variety of restaurants in the
Bay Area over the years, and has participated in numerous recitals
within the Bay Area for various local churches and social events.
He spent several years performing with Mrs.
Donna Cherry as a Piano Duet team and currently performs regularly
with his Valdez has been a volunteer over 20 years with many non-profit organizations around the Bay Area. He has helped these organizations with his time, managed social activities, health education services, and with his computer and web design skills. Valdez’s piano recitals have raised over $185,000.00 for HIV education and prevention and thousands more for various other Bay Area Church’s and various community social events. Some major fundraisers were held at the Claremont Hotel & Resort in Oakland on September 25,1994; All Saints Catholic Church on October 15,1995 (both for Tri-City Health Center in Fremont); Beth Eden Baptist Church on October 19, 1996 in Oakland and St. John Presbyterian Church in Berkeley for Bay Area Health Support and Education Services in 2001. This musical, which raised $20,000.00, featured several talented youth from UC Berkeley, a Gospel choir from Beth Eden Baptist Church and the jazz band TOMO. In 2003, Valdez performed at South Bay Community Church in Fremont and a private recital was held at the home of Mrs. Yvonne DeVaughn. These two recitals raised $8,000.00. Valdez also performed at All Saints Catholic Church featuring his first all Chopin recital. (Chopin is Valdez’s favorite composer). After 46 years of playing the piano, 5 years ago, he started to specialized in performing music for the “LEFT HAND ALONE”. This form of playing the piano is rare and extremely difficult. His first performance of piano music for “The Left Hand Alone” was in 2004 at All Saints Catholic Church. Valdez was also sponsored by FAZ Restaurant in Danville, CA in 2004 and those performance’s also help earn money for the SFAF. Valdez also performed at NorthBrae Community Church in Berkeley on May 8, 2005 with two fellow ALC riders, Steve Wedgwood and Michelle Diaz on Mother Day’s for AIDS/Lifecycle 4. Valdez and Steve also performed at All Saints Church on January 22, 2006 for the recital “Mi Amore De La Musicia”. Valdez has preformed in recital at All Saints Catholic Church 11 times. In 2008, Valdez and Blaine Gorman founded, produced and coordinated the first ever 9 AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series, which rasied over $25,000 in donations and merchants contributions and over $1300.00 in donations for the Young Peoples Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) during the concert series. Valdez has served as a volunteer with many community based programs over the years as a educator, peer advocate and 8 years with AIDS/LIFECYCLE as a Training Ride Leader and Mentor to riders. Valdez is the co-founder for the AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series, now in its 2nd year. In the near future, a name change for concert series will take place, so they can become a non-profit foundation. Valdez is member of the Young People's Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and the Oakland East Bay Gay Mens Chours. Valdez has performed extensively throughout the Bay Area in recitals, local churches, social events, restaurants, Vallejo Elementary School System Music Education Programs, AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series and recently for the Danville and Blackhawk Chamber of Commerce at the famous Blackhawk Car Museum. Finally, after many years, Valdez plans to finish his 2nd degree in Music, with a option in Piano Performance and is currently working on his Coaching/Fitness License. Valdez will continue to work on the AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series for 2009 and other charity work. Valdez also is a massage therapist (CMT) and spends time working as a visual arts and typography graphic designer as a hobby. Valdez was recently nominted in June 2009 by YPSO for the California Governor and First Lady volunteer service award for 2009. Recordings Available: Liszt (Reflections
2006), Mompou Collection (2005),
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