Vocalise - Sergei Rachmaninoff, arr. Quinto Maganini

As one of the leading late Romantic composers in music history, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s wide variety of works are some of the most performed selections to date. With influences of Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, his personal style was most noted for its song-like melodicism, expressiveness, and his use of rich orchestral colors. As a virtuosic pianist himself, his works featured the piano and explored the expressive elements of the instrument.

Composed and published in 1915, Vocalise is the last of his “Fourteen Songs,” Op. 34. It was originally written for high voice (soprano or tenor) with piano accompaniment and dedicated to soprano Antonina Nezhdanova. There are no words for the vocalist, so it is sung on a single vowel to the vocalist’s choosing. Since its publication, there have been many arrangements of this piece done, including arrangements by Rachmaninoff himself.


Vocalise - Rachmaninoff, arr. Maganini

Victoria Hitz is in her third year of teaching, as well as her third year as Associate Director of Bands at T.A. Howard Middle School. In the past two years, Ms. Hitz’s ensembles have received consistent “Sweepstakes” ratings at UIL, and Superior ratings and “Best in Class” at the Sound Waves Music Festival in New Braunfels, TX. Most recently, the Howard Symphonic Band received 3rd Runner Up (4th place overall) at the 2018 Beach Within Reach Music Festival in Haltom City, TX.

Ms. Hitz received her Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Houston and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2015. During her time in Houston, she studied flute with Houston Ballet and Opera Orchestra flutist, Melissa Suhr, and was a member of the internationally-recognized Moores School of Music Wind Ensemble, where she performed with the ensemble at the 2012 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, IL.

Ms. Hitz is a native of Keller, TX, where she was a flute section leader, Drum Major, President of the Keller Central High School Marching Band, and principal flute of the Keller Central High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Kevin McNulty. She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Women Band Directors International, Phi Kappa Phi, the Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.