A leading interpreter of the music of the Americas, pianist Polly Ferman captivates audiences with outstanding performances of works by Latin American composers.
Recognized by The Japan Times as “ Musical Ambassador of the Americas.”
Ferman’s numerous recordings include: “Ernesto Lecuona Danzas Cubanas”, “Habaneras, Milongas, Tangos”, Música para piano de Ariel Ramírez”, Argentine Piano Music”, “Ariel Ramirez, La Ultima Palabra”, “Waltzes of the Americas”, “Piano Music by Ernesto Nazareth”, “Imágenes”, “Orquestango I”, “Orquestango II”, “New Tango Vision”, “Tango Reunion, recorded live in Poland”. “Tango Fado”, “Tango Ahora”, “GlamourTango”, “Homage to Tango, The Music of Daniel Binelli” “Loving, The Tango of Astor Piazzolla”, and “Tango Metropolis” www.pollyferman.net
Ferman’s tours as a soloist have included performances with prestigious orchestras around the world, including the San Francisco, Sacramento, Indianapolis, Tokyo, Philippines, Jarkov and Argentine National Symphonies, among others, as well as recitals stages such as New York’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tokyo’s Takemitsu Hall, London’s St. Martin in the Fields, Buenos Aires’ Teatro Colón, Beijing National Centre for the Performing Arts, Shanghai Oriental Art Centre and Bogota’s Teatro Mayor. Ferman created, directs and performs as pianist, under GlamourTango “A Celebration of Women in Tango” and “Aires de Mujer”, the Musical, a unique all female international multimedia music and dance show, including all women composers. The ultimate homage toWomen’s Empowerment.
A cultural entrepreneur, Ferman is the founder and artistic director of Pan American Musical Art Research, a 501(c) (3) organization she founded in 1984 to promote awareness of and appreciation for the cultures of Latin America.
Founder and Director of Latin Week Houston, Panamanian born artist -Raul Orlando Edwards – is the recipient of a Certificate of Congressional Recognition, Jefferson Award, four consecutive City of Houston Mayoral recognition, and multiple honors. An artistic career that began over 25 years ago, he continues to use the arts to positively impact communities in and out of Houston. A highly creative individual, he sought to showcase the many influences that make up Latin American and Caribbean cultures, leading to the establishment of FLAMART (Featuring Latin American Music and Art) in 2006, with a focus on cultural diversity and education through artistic programs. In 2008 the Foundation for Modern Music (FMM) invited him to join the organization as Artistic Director. In his first two years at FMM, he led the organization from local to internationally recognized, growing attendance from a few hundred to over 8,000. A collaboration between Strictly Street Salsa, FLAMART, and FMM launched Salsa y Salud (the country’s first and biggest salsa/health initiative, 2011), Navidad Latina (Museum of Fine Arts, 2011), the Afro-Latin Fest (2014), and others. His work has been featured in over 20 local and regional newspaper articles and over 35 appearances on TV and radio. He was a contributor in the research article SALSA: SAving Lives Staying Active to Promote Physical Activity and Healthy Eating with the Texas Obesity Research Center (University of Houston), Department of Health Disparities Research (M.D. Anderson Cancer Center) and Strictly Street Salsa (2011). Civic and artistic engagements include: City of Houston, VH-1’s movie The Way She Moves, Houston Grand Opera, Consulates of Panama, Mexico, Israel, Egypt and Italy, Houston Ballet, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA), Latin American Cultural Week (NY), Miller Outdoor Theatre, Rothko Chapel, Rice University, Sam Houston State University, Texas A&M University, San Francisco Rueda Festival, and others. In 2018 Rice University’s Boniuk Institute for Religious Studies extended him an invitation to create an outreach program designed to promote tolerance, where he serves as Executive Director for Arts of Tolerance. He is currently engaged in building national collaborations while expanding existing programs that continue to improve communities in the Greater Houston Area and beyond.
Since 2008 she has been the Executive Assistant of Polly Ferman, Founder of PAMAR. She is in charge of the graphic design and manages all the social media involved in Latin American Cultural Week since LACW was founded. This includes an online system by which artists are invited or apply to participate, and to track where and when and what they will perform, their technical needs, as well as a media campaign to support them.
She also designs all the print and social media materials supporting the Binelli-Ferman Duo, GlamourTango/Aires de Mujer, an all-female program celebrating women in tango, Audrey Ross Publicity, QWW experts, among others, and in 2019 joined Knowledge Art Inc as Associate Director.
