4th Summer Flute Academy - Radio Days

August 14, 2016 in Masterclass, Practicing flute, Summer Flute Academy-AFV

While I was hard at work doing the morning warm-up session ("Zapping Warmup") on the fourth day of the 4th Summer Flute Academy, my dear colleagues Stephanie Wagner and Raquel Lima, along with Academy student Catarina Rebelo Esteves, were over in Gaia having a blast being interviewed for RDP's Antena 2, the Portuguese national classical music radio. (Yes, this is Europe and we have stuff like that!).

Our team went in super-prepared to explain the multifaceted approach of the Academy, and I believe the mission was achieved, and we thank Paulo Guerra for the invitation to present our project on his bright-and-early program called “Império dos Sentidos” ("The Empire of the Senses")—how's that for a nice description of our ephemeral art?

Here's a photo of Catarina, an ESART Master's student and a repeat Academy participant, looking totally at home in the sound studio! (PS, if anyone can find the link to the interview, please let me know! It was Thursday 28th of July).

Flutist Catarina Rebelo Esteves, bright and early in the Antena 2 studio

Powell-Happy at the Summer Flute Academy (1)

August 11, 2016 in Powell Flutes, Summer Flute Academy-AFV

During the 4th Summer Flute Academy, I did a "show and tell" about Powell Flutes, about its long, prestigious history (founded 1927) and a brief orientation about the different models and options. Brief—considering the many, many options—so that there would be time for the Academy participants to try out a Powell flute or head joint. It was a bit of a crazy scene, but here is a beautiful photo, by photographer Susana Neves, of Leonor Moreira playing a gorgeous Handmade Custom Grenadilla flute. if you've been wondering "what's up" with the resurgence of wood flutes, just give one of these a try! To make an appointment for a trial session in Lisbon or in your area, just contact me with a click here!

PHOTOS!

August 06, 2016 in Concerts, Summer Flute Academy-AFV, Teaching

This post falls into the category of "Better Late Than Never", in that it was meant to go "live" last Monday…Somehow there was a glitch, so here goes:

Back in Lisbon with Wifi, I can finally start adding photos from the incredible week that just passed! The picture speaks the proverbial thousand words: a post-final-presentation THUMBS UP from and for the whole gang of the 4th Summer Flute Academy (AFV) outside ESMAE on Sunday last. A special thank you to the fantastic students; it was a real pleasure to work with you all, and I'll see you again next year!

Post-concert good cheer at the 4th Summer Flute Academy at ESMAE, Porto

Summer Flute Academy Composition Competition - WINNER!

August 05, 2016 in Competitions, New Music, Portuguese composers, Scherzo Editions, Summer Flute Academy-AFV

A quick entry about the First-Prize Winning work from the 3rd Composition Competition of the Summer Flute Academy: "Traveling", for flute and alto flute duo, by Ricardo Matosinhos. The work is in four movements, each very picturesque and extremely well-written for both instruments, with a touch of extended techniques here and there, but very accessible to any listener! The composer, also a horn player, is now composing for flute, and all we can say is WELCOME!! The work will be edited and published by Scherzo Editions before the end of 2016—you can order it online.

We professors of the Academy were particularly proud that two advanced participants gave the work's premier at our final presentation, in the Teatro Helena Sá e Costa in Porto, and extremely well and beautifully played it was! The performers were André Cameira, flute, and Patrícia Pires, alto flute — BRAVO!! Here's a photo of these two fine players with composer Ricardo Matosinhos after the performance. Cheers to all, and on to next year's competition, dear composers!

Flutists André Cameira and Patrícia Pires, with composer Ricardo Matosinhos, center

Bravo, Scherzo Editions of Lisbon!

August 04, 2016 in Portuguese composers, Summer Flute Academy-AFV, Competitions, Scherzo Editions

At the last three editions of the Summer Flute Academy, we have been pleased to include João Vidinha, owner-founder of Scherzo Editions. Scherzo Editions has been busy publishing works by Portuguese and foreign composers, mostly living ones, for a variety of instruments and ensembles. As João has described it, he is looking for "fresh" compositions, music that is well-written and stylistically interesting, without following any particular "school".

Scherzo Editions is a fundamental element in the Academy's annual Composition Competition for Works for Flute, in that the winning works are subsequently published by Scherzo. Not only is this great for the winning composers, but also for us flutists, since the emphasis at Scherzo is on attention to the legibility and practicability of the score for the PERFORMER! Scherzo's editions are truly a joy to look at and to play from!

Recently, along with publishing all the required commissioned works for the Portuguese Young Musicians' Prizes, Scherzo received a FIRST PRIZE in the American National Flute Association's Newly Published Music Competition—right alongside long-established editors such as Bärenreiter Verlag and Theodor Presser Company, which is an amazing achievement! The winning work, by the Portuguese composer André M. Santos, O motivo da menina Laite, for solo flute, will have its US premier at the NFA Convention in San Diego, California, later this month! To purchase, order directly from the Scherzo site. Bravo Scherzo Editions and André M. Santos!!

João Vidinha of Scherzo Editions, with the NFA prize-winning work, at the Summer Flute Academy

Aldo Baerten at the Summer Flute Academy - photos!

August 03, 2016 in Powell Flutes, Summer Flute Academy-AFV, Teaching

I'd like to again thank Aldo Baerten, Principal Flute of the Royal Flemish Philharmonic in Antwerp, Belgium, for his wonderful recital and masterclasses at the Summer Flute Academy this year. His performance and work with the students reflected the artistic influences of his teacher, the legendary Peter-Lukas Graf, a special stylistic flexibility that perhaps comes from performing under chief conductors Edo de Wart and Philippe Herreweghe, as well as that special "something" that reaches and touches the audience, in this, the most ephemeral of the arts.

Aldo is a Powell Flutes Artist, and his presence was made possible by Powell Flutes in Boston, USA. Photos below: Aldo Baerten in action teaching, a group foto with Aldo, and with me before the session on Powell's history and flutes—a few minutes later, the room was full of flutists trying out the gear, of course!