Valdez Hill, Pianist

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Biography From All Saints Catholic Church Recital, 10/ 22/06. “REFLECTIONS” & Updated From AIDS/Lifcycle Concert Series 2008

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). In 1985, Valdez started studying under the tutelage of Mr. Julian White of Kensington, California. Julian was also Angela Archie’s teacher. (JULIAN recently pass away this past summer 2006) Valdez spent sometime studying under Seth Morthfort of San Francisco, CA in 2005. Valdez also performed as the lead vocalist and pianist for his church Gospel Choir in Anniston, Alabama while in college. In 2007, he began studying under William Wellborn at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Valdez was the first non– music major accepted into his college music program and first non–music major presented in 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 also peformed at various restaurants in the Bay Area over the years. Valdez has participated in numerous recitals within the Bay Area for various local churches and social events. He was also the first non-music major asked to perform on his college recital programs as a soloist. He also spent several years performing with Mrs. Donna Cherry as a Piano Duet team using one piano, four hands. These performances assisted charitable and non-profit organizations to raise money for various programs. Donna and Valdez were presented in recital together at Beth Eden Baptist Church in Oakland on March 7, 1985, All Saints Catholic Church in Hayward on October 19, 1986, and San Lorenzo Community Church on June 12, 1988. In 2007 Valdez and Verna Lim colloboration as a new piano Duet team in 2007 and completed their first recital together at All Saints Catholic Church on May 27, 2007. They later debuted together at Maybeck Recital Hall on September 21, 2008 as a Duet team aas well as soloist. Verna and Valdez are currently being coach as a piano Duet team by pianist and composer Mr. Davide Verotta.

For many years Valdez has been a volunteer with several community-based programs, and helped these organizations with cultural and social activities, health education and with his computer skills. For several years he was a training coordinator for Bay Area Health Support and Education Services (BAHSES) and has been a volunteer with Tri-City Health Center in Fremont, CA, Alameda County and various other groups within the Bay Area. Valdez is currently a volunteer and peer advocate with Shanti in San Francisco, CA, with The Center in Oakland, CA and Tri-Cities Health Center in Fremont, CA as a volunteer Massage Therapist and a volunteer for the past 7 years with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, AIDS/Lifecycle program as a Training Ride Leader and Mentor.

Valdez’s piano recitals have raised over $160,000.00 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 produced and coordinated the first everr AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series, which has rasied over $25,000 in donations and merchants contributions towards the 9 AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series, as well as over $1300.00 in donations for the Young Peoples Symphony Orchestra (YPSO) during the concert series. Valdez is also a member of YPSO Board of Directors.

Finally, after many years, Valdez plans to return to school and finish his 2nd degree in Music, with the 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.

Recordings Available by Valdez : Liszt (Reflections 2006), Mompou Collection (2005), Music of Spain(Mompou & Granados 2004), Chopin Preludes & Nocturnes(2001), Piano Duets (1988 Recital CD & DVD), Claremont Hotel Marathon Concert (CD & DVD 1991), AIDS/Lifecycle Concert Series 2008 (Concert Hightlights and Performances)