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This work is an homage to America, inspired by the many Arab immigrants that have made this country their homes. Harmonically, the music borrows from the Maqam mode system. At times, the piano imitates the sound of the Arabic string instrument called qanun.
Dr. Patricio Molina’s talents have been recognized by a number of people, institutions and competitions, including The New York Times which described him as “a gifted artist”. At the age of three, a nationally televised performance drew the attention of the University of Chile, who was quick to recognize his talents and award him a full scholarship.
A Chilean-born pianist and composer, Patricio Molina has appeared in a wide range of venues around the world including New York’s Carnegie Hall, Borden Auditorium at the Manhattan School of Music, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the Teatro Municipal of Chile, Odeon Amphitheater in Jordan and in television media; PBS, Chilean National TV, NBC, among others, and numerous publications.
As a pianist, Patricio has been invited by NJPAC to play prelude concerts for Lang Lang, Anne Sophie Mutter, Lorin Maazel, The New York Philharmonic, Jacques Lacombe, and The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra. He has performed for President Bachelet of Chile, King Abdullah of Jordan, and Pavarotti. Patricio has also appeared as a soloist with orchestras in Chile, in the Middle East and in the United States. His album “From Los Andes to The Alps” features the music of Schumann and Brahms and is available on iTunes.
Patricio’s compositions embrace a variety of works, from a set of easy piano pieces for beginners to a fully orchestrated three-act ballet entitled “Chiloé” and a fully orchestrated three-act opera entitled “La Sargento de la Concepción”. Other original works by Patricio include choral and chamber music. Stories, poetry, and his Syrian-Chilean heritage often serve as inspiration. He has premiered his compositions on stages such as Carnegie Hall, the New York Athletic Club, Instituto Cervantes NYC, the Newark School of the Arts, and NJPAC.
Patricio completed his master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music under the guidance of Dr. Marc Silverman. He completed the first and only double doctorate at Rutgers University, a D.M.A in Piano Performance with Dr. Min Kwon in 2019 and a Ph.D in Music Composition with Dr. Robert Aldridge in 2020.
Today, Dr. Molina enjoys the position of Music Director at Saint Thomas the Apostle in Bloomfield, New Jersey where he writes new music for the children and adult choirs, plays the organ for weekend masses, and organizes concerts and special events. He also serves as Director of the Kathy and Marc Grier Conservatory at Newark School of the Arts where he teaches courses in music history, composition, and gives private lessons in his piano studio. Patricio is an Adjunct Professor at Passaic County Community College.
When not composing, concertizing, or teaching, Patricio engages in outreach endeavors that bring music to young people. Patricio is the co-founder and president of Notes for Growth Inc., a non-profit foundation that gives musical instruments to underprivileged children. He has served as a teaching artist and motivational speaker in several New Jersey public schools, where he shares his knowledge and passion for music as well as his autobiographical message of encouragement for all children who wish to find success despite adversity.
As the artistic director of Center for Musical Excellence, I am always on the look out for new and undiscovered talents. They come to me, sometimes, by my colleagues’ recommendations and other times through young artists’ own research about our organization. Tyson Davis and Andrew Bambridge are currently on our roster of CME Young Artists, whom we mentor. Patricio Molina is a CME alumnus. Theo Chandler, Ji-Young Ko, and Daniel Newman-Lessler applied for our Grant program, and I got to know their work through that process. I decide on young artists when I notice a deep passion and drive within them, plus a certain kind of sparkle in the personality and lots of humility. In addition to musical talents, I believe these are the qualities that will take the young artists far. CME’s motto is "Moving Musicians Forward". I’ve chosen our Discovery Composers based on these qualities, whom we felt we could easily move forward.
- Min Kwon