Claudia Kitka’s first time on stage in a musical setting was a memorable one.

Around the age of seven, Kitka and 31 little girls simultaneously played on 16 pianos. “It was very impressive,” said Kitka, a music professor at Sacramento State. “There were two girls at each piano, we were all dressed up fluffy and in lace.”

Kitka is an active participant in various concert and theatre productions all throughout the Sacramento area, including productions at Sac State. She has appeared in Shakespeare?s play ?Richard II.?

“I love being on stage,” Kitka said.

When Kitka prepares to go on stage, she starts off by warming up her vocal scales. “It’s really just like preparing for a sporting event,” she said.

Kitka says she does not feel nervous about performing in front of a large crowd, yet she feels a state of excitability when out there. Kitka says performing for as long as she has, the nervousness just goes away.

“It means a lot to me when people say they like the music or that they really enjoyed the show,” she said.

Alongside of Kitka is Gilda Taffet, who recently joined Kitka last spring. Taffet, a highly known guitarist in the Sacramento area, has won a 1998-99 New Works Award from the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission.

Taffet met Kitka while attending Sac State and says working with her is a joy.

“It’s great working with Kitka, she’s so enthusiastic and so full of energy,” Taffet said. “Kitka-Taffet?Party of Two” is one of their next performances. A variety of songs will be performed during this event, including a Spanish piece that has never been sung at Sac State. Daniel Kingman, a now retired Music professor at Sac State, has written a contemporary piece titled, “Songs of Solitude and Exultation” for the performance, as well. “Kitka-Taffet?Party of Two” will be performing at Sac State at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17.

The event will be held in the Music Recital Hall in Capistrano Hall. Tickets are $6 for the general public and $4 for students and seniors.

For more information regarding ticket pricing and purchasing, call the Central Ticket Office at 278-4323.