Two Nicholls professors joined forces at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., to play duets by South American composers. Violinist James Alexander, adjunct instructor of music, and pianist Luicana Soares, assistant professor of music, performed works by Leopoldo Miguez, Heitor Villa-Lobos and Liduino Pitomebeira.

The performance was presented in cooperation with the Embassy of Brazil and the Brazilian Music at the Museum program.

“We both enjoy playing Brazilian music,” Soares said. “So we had the idea of forming the duo with the purpose of promoting the repertoire.”

The Alexander-Soares Duo was created in 2005 and has since performed in popular venues all over the world. These include the Sala Cecilia Meireles, the Theatro Jose de Alencar, the Conservatorio Pernambucan de Musica and the Cine Bangue in Brazil.

They have also performed in Ohio, as well as in various locations throughout Mississippi and Louisiana.

The duo also teaches master classes both locally and abroad. They recently thought and performed at the II Chamber Music Festival Centro Sule Vale do Salgado in Brazil in spring 2007.

Alexander and Soares continue to work to benefit the University by not only bringing attention to its School of Fine Arts through their performances, but by regularly traveling to Brazil to audition candidates for the Nicholls strings program.

Fifty violinists and violists are interested in the program, Soares said.

Alexander was an associate principal of the Southwest German Philharmonic and St. Gallen Symphony Orchestra in Switzerland.

He returned to Louisiana in 1998 as a violin instructor at Louisiana State University. He has performed with orchestras in Europe, Asia, South America and North America.

Soares has performed in concert halls throughout the U.S. and her native Brazil, where she has won many awards in national competitions.

She has recorded a solo piece on the Centaur Records label entitled “Brasileira: Piano Music by Brazilian Women,” which is one of many efforts she has made to promote the music of her home.

Soares and Alexander will soon release a debut recording, consisting of five musical pieces for violin and piano by Brazilian composer Liduino Pitombeira.

The duo also plans to travel to Europe next month for the first time together to perform in Bucharest, Romania.