Nicholas and Rachel Ciraldo, on Sept. 30, wrapped up their two-day musical residency at the University of Wyoming in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts recital hall.
The couple performed under their musical duo name Dou Cintemani, named for Mrs. Ciraldo’s sister who passed away 13 years ago.
“She was a visual artist and she was really passionate about Turkish art and traveling to Turkey,” Ms. Ciraldo said. “In a lot of Turkish art, there’s this symbol called the Cintemani, and there’s a lot of discussion over what it truly means, but it’s basically this beautiful symbol we use to honor her memory.”
The performance consisted of music from five different composers, including one from the duo itself called Liminal. The performance consisted of Mr. Ciraldo on the guitar, and Mrs. Ciraldo on the flute, as it has been this way consistently for the past 20 years.
The couple in question met as young college students at Indiana University Bloomington when taking a small ensemble chamber music class.
“We really enjoyed it (the chamber music class) and we were good friends, and then we started dating and eventually got married and had a child,” Mr. Ciraldo said.
“We also realized that the flute and guitar works really well together and we’ve just always enjoyed chamber music.”
Dou Citemani has gone on to win several awards in different considerations, including the 2004 National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition, and was a semifinalist at the 2006 Gaettano Zinetti Chamber Music Competition in Italy.
“It’s always interesting working with someone you’re close to than a colleague or an acquaintance, ” Mr. Ciraldo said when talking about work-life balance. “You might have thicker skin than if your wife is telling you that you’re slowing down or played a wrong note, and then quickly discuss what’s for dinner.”
“But we trust each other and know each other well enough that we can communicate pretty well, and that is something that we’ve really had to work on over the years, ” Mrs. Ciraldo said.
Despite this success as a music duo, the couple both have full-time jobs in their respective musical fields.
Mr. Ciraldo is a music professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, while Mrs.Ciraldo is a freelance musician working in the nonprofit field.
The residency stop in Laramie came at a convenient time as the duo started a small tour in Fort Collins, Colorado, that would continue up through the Wyoming area to Casper before returning to Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
The duo made this residency happen in a big part to the University of Wyoming flute teacher and Visiting Assistant Professor Dr. Nicole Riner.
“Nicole and I went to school together at Indiana University, and our paths have crossed a couple of times in a couple of different places, ” Mrs. Ciraldo said.
The musical couple had this to say when asked what was in store for Dou Cintemni in the coming years.
“I would love to have a full blown album of stuff that really means a lot to us,” Mr. Ciraldo said. “I also hope we keep on traveling and experiencing new places and of course getting along.”
“As long as he keeps practicing, we will be fine,” Mrs. Ciraldo said, smiling.
