'El que quiere su celeste, que le cueste'.

Grandmother was famous for her wise and profound mutterings.  I grew up listening to recondite quotes by Confuscious, Aristotle, Marti, Gandhi to name a few and especially my very own Abuela Mercedes.  My favorite is 'El que quiere su celeste, que le cueste.'  I know a little about the latter. 

Approximately,  two years before the Ali and Tony Wedding Event, a select group of us home grown wedding planners began to discuss the nuptial mass liturgy and selected music with emphasis. Alexandra was always more concerned about the Sacrament of Marriage over the after party.

Hands down, in a clandestine meeting in Hialeah, Dr. D. and Alexandra devised a plan that would make the nuptial mass resound to the beat of angels wings.  

As luck would have it, Dr. D. is one of our own. Gifted in piano performance, teaching, the  blending of music, sounds and voices and harmony.  Thanks to the power of 'D' this service would be fit for heads of state and royalty.  

Jose Ignacio Diaz Gravier

A little something about Dr. D...D.M.A. – Piano Performance Dissertation: ‘Etudes Opus 23 by Anton Rubenstein’ Qualifying Exam Passed in 1996 University of Miami 1996 M.A. - Piano Performance Studio Professor: Ivan Davis University of Miami – 1985 B.A. – Piano Performance Studio Professor: Ivan Davis University of Miami – 1979 Associate in Arts-Miami Dade–1977High School DiplomaSt. Thomas Aquinas Institute, Rochester New York – 1976 David Hochstein Memorial Music School, NY - Music and Piano Theory -1976 Coconut Grove Arts Festival, 2011  Public School Lecture Recitals  Miami Dade County - Triangle Park Benefits Concerts, Washington D.C. at the O.E.A for Ecuador Haitian Relief Concerts  Rosalina Sackstein Scholarship Concert Series - University of Miami. University of Miami Frost School of Music Florida International University – Wertheim Debut Artist/ Soloist for Miami Orchestra Concert Series – Dade County Piano Accompaniment tovirtuosos such as: Elizabeth Caballero, Eduardo Aladren, Aurelio Gabaldon, Luis Alberto L, David Pereira. Has performed extensively in solo and chamber recitals throughout the United State and abroad : with orchestras in: New York; Maryland; Ohio; Venezuela; Bolivia; Mexico; Colombia; Peru; Spain; Yugoslavia; France; Austria; Italy; Mid-Western United States, Latin America, Europe; Miami Beach Symphony,  the Symphony Orchestra of Maracaibo, the National Orchestra of Peru, Allentown Symphony Orchestra, Moravska Philharmonie Olomouc, Orquesta Sinfonica de Ibague, Colombia, the National Orchestra of Venezuela,  Europe, Vienna in 1996, With Orchestra in Czheck Republic, Madrid, France, Israel and , Sweden.1st Prize - Lively Arts South Florida Competition- Finalist at the West Palm Beach International Competition- Member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society -Guest soloist at the Music Festival of Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia-Winning Artist at The Organization of American States of Piano Competition, performed at The Hall of Americas, Washington DC-Invited to perform for The President of Guatemala-Commissioned to perform at The Premier of Young American Composer Jordan Waring with The Moravia Philharmonic in Europe-Musical Award from La Fundacion de Artes y Cultura Ecuatoriana-First Prize - University of Miami Piano Concerto CompetitionFeatured on "The Tears of Sarajevo", a CD recorded with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra, Nicholas Smith, Conductor, playing the Piano Concerto No. 1 of Jordan Waring, a composition written in 1995 and dedicated to the composer's wife and to Mr. Diaz-Gravier.Solo recordings include Frederic Chopin's Etudes Op. 10, Jose Ignacio Diaz-Gravier Plays Liszt, and Jose Ignacio Diaz-Gravier, (a collection of his personal favorites and signature repertoire.

Selections for the mass included, but were not limited to: Rondeau and Fanfares Trumpet Voluntary Jean Joseph Mouret; Gloria a te Cristo Gesu -MUSIC BY JEAN-PAUL LÉCOT LYRICS BY J.-P. FRIÉ; GREGORIAN CHANTS FOR THE PARTS OF THE MASS, AVE MARIA  BY CACCINI; SALVE REGINA,  ALLEUIA BY HANDEL; JESU, JOY OF MAN'S DESIRING  - BY Bach

This was quite an undertaking.  As the date drew closer, Dr. D. recruited volunteers from the Immaculate Children’s Choir and tutored them in the classical sounds.  I, in turn, believed that I could sing without traversed emotion in spite of the magnitude of this event and how important a place it had in our lives.  

I typically, take my example from Dr., so I said I would sing.   He is my friend and mentor and it was time to push on. Not long ago, Dr. D. endured the passing of his Mother, Maria Soledad Gravier and at the time he clearly stated to me, " I play resurrection masses for everyone else, how can I not play for my mother?" I adopted the same theory. I just didn't realize that a giant knot would find its way into my throat from the get-go.  

The end result, was ..well ...you just had to be there.  Amazing! Here are some snip its.  I am grateful and the memory of the music and that day is still very present.  Thank you, Herminia Diaz for these wonderful images. Thank you to, Dr. D., the Children's Choir and Albert the trumpeter! 

'El que quiere su celeste, que le cueste'! 

We worked, but it was heavenly!