MEET THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Caio Pagano, Director, chairman
Caio Pagano is an internationally renowned concert pianist, teacher and scholar.
He is a distinguished professor of piano at Arizona State University since 1986 having earned the honor of Regents' Professor of Piano at this institution. He is the recipient of many piano performance awards in Europe and in his native country, Brazil.
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In 2000, initially under the sponsorship of the Arizona Community Foundation, Reginald Couch and Caio Pagano created the Avanti Fund.
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Visit www.caiopagano.com to learn more about Caio.
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Anne Connor, creative Coordinator
Anne Connor is a faculty member of Arizona State University’s Art Department and presents the opening art-focused lectures for the Avanti Evenings of Art & Music. A fascinating speaker with an encyclopedic knowledge of art history, Ms. Connor collaborates closely with Caio Pagano to create stunning multimedia art history presentations that coincide with the theme of the musical performances provided by Dr. Pagano and his students. A gourmet cook, Ms. Connor personally creates a dining experience for the guests that reflects the international tastes and interests of Avanti’s donors, and Ms. Connor’s vast experience as a ‘citizen of the world’, and one of the originators of the Evenings of Art & Music.
WEI XING Director, Treasurer
Wei Xing began piano at age seven in her hometown Qingdao, China and then studied at Tianjin Conservatory. In 2000, she moved to the United States where she currently studies with Caio Pagano at Arizona State University. A of regional and national competitions both in China and the United States, Ms. Xing was a semi!nalist in the 2000 Southern Missouri International Piano Competition and 2008 Corpus Christi International Piano Competition. She has performed for pianists Vitaly Margulis, John O’Conor, Andre Watts, Manuela Gouveia, and Paul Badura- Skoda, among others. When not playing the piano, Ms. Xing enjoys discovering dierent cultures in the company of her good friends from all parts of the globe. She is especially fond of the music and dances of Latin America. An avid traveler, the sounds and rhythm she has experienced through her travels around the world has inspired her as a classical pianist.
Radmila Stojanovic artistic advisor
Dr. Radmila Stojanovic-Kiriluk is a Serbian – American pianist from Arizona. She is an active performer, teacher, and lecturer and has performed solo as well as with a variety of chamber groups, orchestras, soloists, and choirs. Her recordings have been played on radio and television. Radmila published the first CD recording of complete piano works by the Serbian composer Marko Tajcevic through the English label, Toccata Classics. She edited two volumes of Tajcevic’s piano works for the German publishing company Schott and her work is also published by the FJH company.
Radmila studied with piano teachers of diverse music backgrounds. She completed Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Belgrade, Serbia, and later graduated with a DMA in Piano Performance at the Arizona State University in Tempe, under the guidance of an esteemed pianist and teacher, Dr. Caio Pagano. Radmila currently teaches as a piano professor at Mesa Community College and regularly adjudicates piano competitions, exams, and festivals. She is currently serving as the president of the EVMTA association and as a board member for the Arizona Music Teacher Association. She resides with her husband and two children in Mesa, Arizona.
RICHARD HOFFMAN DIRECTOR OF PHILANTROPY
Richard Hoffman is a dedicated music lover whose passion for melodies and rhythms transcends genres. He has a taste that ranges from classical symphonies to contemporary indie beats, always seeking new sounds to inspire him. As a supporter of the Avanti Fund, Richard plays active role in promoting music education and accessibility for all, believing that everyone deserves the chance to experience the transformative power of music. In his free time, you can find him attending local concerts, engaging in lively discussions about his favorite artists, or sharing his latest musical discoveries with friends and family.
