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Body Mapping Workshop and Mini-Recital

IMG_0133Boston Flute Academy enjoyed another fun-filled and educational weekend! This weekend, BFA hosted a body mapping workshop by flute faculty member at the Longy School of Music and body mapping specialist, Vanessa Breault Mulvey, and a mini-recital by graduate student of Paula Robison at the New England Conservatory and finalist of the 33rd Annual James Pappoutsakis Flute Competition, Alicia Mielke.

Vanessa Mulvey’s body mapping workshop began with an introductory presentation of body mapping basics.  Body mapping assists the mind’s map of the structure of one’s body. BFA students learned concepts such as inclusive spatial awareness, the path of weight delivery, and the actual location of important physical joints necessary to aid in proper structural body alignment. Ms. Mulvey kept everyone engaged with full class participation!

Following her presentation, Ms. Mulvey analyzed several BFA students (Ned Martenis, Issac Alter, Gretchen Herdrich, and Yumi Lee) while they performed short musical selections. She then suggested various tools and advice, taken directly from her workshop, to help each student with proper alignment and balance as they played. Audible and visual improvements where noticed immediately by the students as well as those in attendance!

After Vanessa Mulvey’s enlightening presentation, BFA students attended a mini-recital by Alicia Mielke.  Alicia performed repertoire from her up-coming NEC graduate recital program including Reverie et Petite Valse by A. Caplet, and Violin Sonata No. 1 by G. Fauré with pianist Dr. Christina Wright-Ivanova. During her spoken program notes, Alicia shared that she felt that the violin part of the Fauré Sonata is so comfortably transferrable to the flute that she could read directly from the original score!

For more information about Vanessa Breault Mulvey, please visit http://bodymapping.wordpress.com/. You can visit Alicia Mielke’s website at http://www.aliciamielke.com/.

As always, photos from this weekend’s events can be found on the Boston Flute Academy website at http://www.bostonfluteacademy.com/photos/

Written by Christopher A. Petre

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BFA Young Artist Selected for the 2013 National Youth Orchestra of the USA

IMG_1956Elizabeth Sperry, an 11th grader from Chelmsford, BFA Young Artist, and member of the BFA Conservatory Ensemble is off to a wonderful new year of exceptional music making. She has been selected as a member of the 2013 National Youth Orchestra of the USA (NYOUSA)!

The National Youth Orchestra of the USA is an auditioned orchestra comprised of 120 of the finest young American musicians, ages 16-19. These students will be conducted by legendary conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra, Valery Gergiev, and will be joined in performance by violin soloist, Joshua Bell. Additionally, the orchestral sections will be coached by “some of the finest players and section leaders from America’s greatest orchestras and music schools”.

Together with Gergiev and Bell, the NYOUSA will have the opportunity to perform domestic concerts in New York City’s famed Carnegie Hall and in Washington DC’s Kennedy Center, before setting off on an international tour, which includes performances in St. Petersburg, Moscow, and London.

More information about the NYOUSA can be found by clicking here.

Please join the Boston Flute Academy in congratulating Elizabeth on earning this momentous honor!

Written by Christopher A. Petre

 

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Recap of March Recital at BFA

The BFA Repertory Ensemble & Seminar

The BFA’s series of spring recitals for 2012 began on Sunday, March 25th, with the March Recital.  The concert featured members of the Adult Ensemble, the Repertory Ensemble & Seminar class, and solo performances by students who take private lessons at the BFA.  Faculty member Debbie Emery accompanied the soloists on piano.

See below for program details.  Congratulations to all of the performers, and thank you to all of the friends and families in the audience for your support!

Andante, by William Eisenhauer; and Gavotte, by J. S. Bach

Elizabeth McCormack, BFA Preparatory Program

Gavotte, by Gabriel Faure

Ina Suresh, BFA Repertory Program

Allegro, from Sonata in g minor, by J. S. Bach

Alexandra Conza, BFA Conservatory Program

Fantaisie, by Gabriel Faure

Emma Huelskamp, BFA Young Artist

Cantabile et Presto, by Georges Enesco

Mary Kathryn Abel, BFA College Division

Bryn-e-Celyn, from Children of the Wind, by Catherine McMichael

BFA Adult Ensemble & Seminar Performers: Geraldine Morillo Barazarte, Danielle Castelli, & Ceylon Mitchell, flutes; Louise Schneider, alto flute; Peter Kussell, bass flute.

Ave Maria, by Franz Biebl (arr. by BFA flutist Chrysostom Arthur); Strange Birds, from Spirit of Ink, by Alan Hovhaness; and Scherzo Brillante, by Arthur Severn

BFA Repertory Ensemble & Seminar: Sam Chestna, Yumi Lee, Ned Martenis, Ina Suresh, & Sophia Zeng, flutes; Kimani Taylor, bass flute; Nicholas Fitton and Ceylon Mitchell, Teaching Assistants; Judy Grant, Conductor.

Irlandaise, from Suite for Flute & Jazz Piano, by Claude Bolling

Yumi Lee, BFA Repertory Program

Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando, by Philippe Gaubert

Jamie Park, BFA Conservatory Program

Sonata for Flute & Piano, Mvts. 2 and 1, by Francis Poulenc

Geraldine Morillo Barazarte, BFA Teacher Training Program

Sonata for Flute & Piano, Mvts. 3 and 4, by Robert Muczynski

Nicholas Fitton, BFA Young Artist (Collegiate Division)

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Highlights from Leone Buyse Masterclass

Leone Buyse (right) and six of the BFA student performers

On Friday, March 23rd, the BFA hosted flute performer and educator Leone Buyse for a special masterclass.  It was also a reunion for old friends and colleagues from the Boston flute community — Ms. Buyse had been BFA director Judy Grant’s teacher, and had played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra alongside BFA faculty members Fenwick Smith and Geralyn Coticone!  Currently, Ms. Buyse is on the music faculty at Rice University.

The masterclass featured performances by students in the BFA’s accelerated Conservatory and Young Artist Programs, who meet weekly as members of the BFA Studio Class.  See below for the program listings.  The BFA congratulates all of the performers on their excellent work.

Following the masterclass, Ms. Buyse led a Q&A session, sharing her years of experience and insights on the field of flute performance and education.  Thank you to Ms. Buyse for such a wonderful visit and an energetic, inspiring masterclass!

Program Listings:

Three Preludes for Unaccompanied Flute, by Muczynski

Elizabeth Sperry, BFA Young Artist

Sonata in g minor, Mvt. 3, by Bach

Alexandra Conza, BFA Conservatory Program

Orchestral excerpts by Brahms and Debussy

Nicholas Fitton, BFA Young Artist (Collegiate Division)

Quatre Pieces for Solo Flute, Mvt. 2, by Feld

Jinji Zhang, BFA Conservatory Program

Concerto in D Major, Mvts. 1 and 2, by Mozart

Brendan Dooley, BFA Young Artist

Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando, by Gaubert

Jamie Park, BFA Conservatory Program

Fantaisie, by Faure

Emma Huelskamp, BFA Young Artist

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Highlights from Masterclass with Marina Piccinini

Marina Piccinini (center) with BFA student performers

On Sunday, March 11th, 2012, the BFA was thrilled to host international star Marina Piccinini for a special masterclass.  Ms. Piccinini has not only been acclaimed worldwide for her virtuosity as a performer, but is also an incredible educator and a faculty member at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD, so this masterclass was a special treat for the BFA community!

The class featured performances by six BFA students who take private lessons in the accelerated studies program.  See below for program details.  The BFA thanks Ms. Piccinini for sharing her insights and experience with the performers and audience, and for leading a superb masterclass!

Concerto for Flute, Mvt. 1, by Ibert

Brendan Dooley, BFA Young Artist

Fantaisie, by Faure

Alexandra Conza, BFA Conservatory Program

Sonata in D Major, Mvt. 4, by Prokofiev

Elizabeth Sperry, BFA Young Artist

Night Soliloquy, by Kennan

Michelle Peters, BFA Private Studies

Concerto for Flute, Mvt. 1, by Nielsen

Jinji Zhang, BFA Conservatory Program

Sonata in e minor, Mvts. 2 and 3, by Bach

Nicholas Fitton, BFA Young Artist (Collegiate Division)

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BFA Student Angela Koh to Perform with Cynthia Meyers, 2/26

Congratulations to BFA flutist Angela Koh, who will be performing a duo flute concerto with BSO member Cynthia Meyers this Sunday, February 26th, at 6:30pm at St. Marks School in Southborough, MA.  Angela and Ms. Meyers will perform the Telemann Duo Concerto in e minor for 2 flutes and strings.  They will also perform Aubade by Gordon Jacob for 2 flutes and clarinet.

Angela is in 11th grade at St. Mark’s School and studies with Judy Grant at BFA.  The concert is free and open to the public!

Full Concert Program

 

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BFA Student Successes in 2012 Districts and All-States

The BFA has been well-represented this school year in the 2012 district and all-state music festivals in Massachusetts and beyond!  Congratulations to the nine students (listed below) on their successes this year:

Amy Lipman is principal flute in the Massachusetts All-State Band, and played in the Senior District festival for Eastern Massachusetts.  She is a freshman at Needham High School, studies privately with Judy Grant at the BFA, and is a student in the BFA Repertory Program, playing in the Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar.

 

 

 

Connie Jiang is principal piccolo in the Massachusetts All-State Orchestra, and also played flute in the Senior District festival for Central Massachusetts.  She attends Nashoba Regional High School, and studies privately with Judy Grant at the BFA.

 

 

Elizabeth Sperry is principal flute in the Massachusetts All-State Orchestra, with the highest flute score in the state.  Previously, she played in the Senior District Orchestra for Northeastern Massachusetts.  She is a sophomore at Chelmsford High School, studies privately with Judy Grant at the BFA, and is a Young Artist at the BFA, participating in the Studio Class and Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar.

 

 

Ina Suresh played in the Junior District festival for Eastern Massachusetts.  She is a 7th-grader at the Shady Hill School, studies privately with Judy Grant at the BFA, and is a member of the BFA Repertory Ensemble & Seminar.

 

 

 

Michelle Chung played in the Senior District festival for Eastern Massachusetts.  She attends the Middlesex School and studies privately with Amanda Hughes at the BFA.

 

Natalya Tausanovitch was selected for both the New Hampshire All-State Chamber Music Festival and the New Hampshire All-State Orchestra.  She is a senior at Windham High School in NH, studies privately with Aubrie Dionne outside of the BFA, and is a member of the BFA Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar.

 

 

 

Ned Martenis was accepted into the Massachusetts All-State Band, and was principal flute in the Senior District Orchestra for Eastern Massachusetts.  He is a sophomore at Newton North High School, studies privately outside of the BFA with Mana Washio, and plays in the BFA Repertory Ensemble & Seminar.

 

 

 

Sophia Zeng played in the Junior District festival for Northeastern Massachusetts.  She is a freshman at Lexington High School, studies privately with Amanda Hughes, and is a member of the BFA Repertory Ensemble & Seminar.

 

 

 

Yumi Lee played in the Senior District festival for Eastern Massachusetts.  She attends Newton South High School, studies privately with Judy Grant at the BFA, and is a student in the BFA Repertory Program, playing in the Repertory Ensemble & Seminar.

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Masterclasses with Cynthia Meyers

Cynthia Meyers works with Preparatory student Elizabeth McCormack
Cynthia Meyers and the Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar class

On Saturday, January 28 and Sunday, January 29, 2012, the BFA Ensemble & Seminar classes had a special treat for their last meeting of Term 1: masterclasses with Cynthia Meyers, solo piccolo at the Boston Symphony Orchestra!  Ms. Meyers worked with performers from the Adult, Conservatory, Preparatory, and Repertory Ensemble & Seminar classes over the course of the weekend, on both flute and piccolo.

It was a wonderful opportunity for the students to learn from Ms. Meyers’s insights, experience, and incredible musicianship on both instruments.  The BFA congratulates all of the performers on their work, and thanks Ms. Meyers for conducting such wonderful classes!

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BFA Winter Concert, Saturday 1/28, 4:00pm

It’s concert time at the Boston Flute Academy!  Our Winter Concert will showcase the BFA Ensemble & Seminar classes from the fall semester, including both ensemble and solo performances.

  • Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012
  • Time: 4:00pm
  • Location: Maliotis Cultural Center in Brookline

The concert is FREE and open to the public.

The program features Preparatory, Repertory, Conservatory, and Adult ensemble performances, plus solo performances by BFA teaching assistants and students in the Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar class.

Concert Repertoire (order subject to change):

  • Taffanel, Andante Pastoral et Scherzettino — Elizabeth Sperry, Young Artist, Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar
  • Boismortier, Concerto in a minor, Mvt 1 — Combined Repertory and Preparatory Ensembles, conducted by Judy Grant
  • Hovhaness, “Spirit of Ink”, Mvt 5 — Combined Repertory and Preparatory Ensembles, conducted by Judy Grant
  • Prokofiev, Sonata D M, Mvt. 3 (Andante) — Amy Lipman, Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar
  • Hoover, Kokopeli — Natalya Tausanovitch, Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar
  • Muczynski, Three Preludes — Elizabeth Sperry, Young Artist, Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar
  • McMichael, Gaelic Offering — Mvt 1 “Rose Cottage” — Adult Ensemble & Seminar Quartet
  • Bozza, Jour D’ete a la Montagne  — Mvt 4 Ronde — Adult Ensemble & Seminar Quartet
  • Ibert, Concerto – Mvt 1 Allegro — Brendan Dooley, Young Artist, Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar
  • C. P. E. Bach, Sonata in A minor, Mvt. 2 (Allegro) — Ceylon Mitchell, Teacher Training Program
  • Sonny Burnette, “Seven Southern Sketches”Mvts 1, 3, 4, 5 — Adult Ensemble & Seminar Performing Ensemble, conducted by David Houston
  • Karg-Elert, Sonata Appassionata — Alicia Mielke, Adult Ensemble & Seminar
  • Kuhlau, Grande QuartetMvt 1 — Conservatory Ensemble & Seminar
  • Sancan, Sonatine — Nicholas Fitton, Young Artist, Teaching Assistant Repertory & Preparatory Ensembles
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Highlights from Masterclass with Elizabeth Rowe

Elizabeth Rowe with BFA student Alexandra Conza, one of the performers

On Sunday, January 8, 2012, the BFA was delighted to host a masterclass with BSO principal flutist Elizabeth Rowe!   It was a wonderful opportunity for the BFA community to hear Ms. Rowe teach and play up close, in a small, intimate setting.  The masterclass featured performances by the BFA Young Artists and Conservatory students from the Sunday Studio Class.  Ms. Rowe concluded the class performing Gluck’s Dance of the Blessed Spirits.  Her playing was stunning, and a special treat for everyone who attended!

The BFA congratulates all of the performers.  A special thanks to Ms. Rowe for conducting such an inspiring class!

Masterclass program:

  • Brendan Dooley (Young Artist): Concerto in D Major (Mvt. 1, Exposition), Mozart
  • Alexandra Conza (Conservatory Program): Bolero, Ravel
  • Elizabeth Sperry (Conservatory Program): Peter and the Wolf, Prokofiev
  • Jinji Zhang (Conservatory Program): Symphonic Metamorphosis, Hindemith
  • Jamie Park (Conservatory Program): “Domine Deus” from Mass in B Minor, J. S. Bach
  • Nicholas Fitton (Young Artist): Concerto in G Major (Mvt. 1 Exposition), Mozart
  • Elizabeth Rowe: Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Gluck