Em Foco - Teses! / In Focus - Theses!

As part of the Summer Flute Academy project, we look for interesting thesis projects that can be presented in a seminar to the students (and Professors!). This is our "Em Foco—Tese" project, and this year's winner was André Cameira, of the University of Évora. He gave an excellent presentation on the 12 Fantasias of Telemann, with an overview, historical information and performance and practice suggestions. Highly useful and inspirational—THANK YOU, André!

Next year we'll be having our 5th (!) Summer Flute Academy, so if you have written a thesis that is nearing completion or has been completed in the last 10 years we'd love you to submit it—I'll let you know when the regulations for 2017 are on the site. Our idea is that many theses are being written but end up on a shelf without having any wider exposure, which is a shame. The winning thesis will also be included in the archives of the Summer Flute Academy online. And we are completely open to theses by non-flutists since many times the subject matter is relevant!

Flutist André Cameira presenting his seminar on the Telemann Fantasias at the 4th Summer Flute Academy

Powell-Happy at the Summer Flute Academy (2)

Here's another great photo from the Powell Flutes trial-session at the 4th Summer Flute Academy at ESMAE, Porto in July. Shown below, Samuel Maia trying out an Aurumite® 9k head joint on a sterling silver Handmade Conservatory flute body. Style style style, Sr. Maia!

Did you know that you can switch out head joints and flute bodies separately? This can be a great solution to finding your dream instrument within your price range!

Aurumite® is a patented-by-Powell fusion of one layer of sterling silver and one layer of gold—in this case, 9 karat gold, on the outside of the tube. Powell offers two other types of Aurumite®: 14k, which has a heavier layer of gold on the inside of the flute tube,and Ruby Aurumite, with a 14k rose gold layer on the outside of the flute tube. All combine the "best of both worlds": the projection of silver with the warmth, depth and finesse of gold. Handmade Conservatory flutes are available in Aurumite 9k, while Handmade Custom are available in 9k, 14k, and Ruby Aurumite. To make an appointment to try them out in Lisbon or in your area, just click here.

Photo ©Susana Neves/AFV

4th Summer Flute Academy - Radio Days

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)

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!

Leonor Moreira playing a Custom Handmade Powell flute in Grenadilla, Photo © Susana Neves/AFV