Flute/light Video 6: Nick Rich’s “This is a picture of”

It’s been awhile, but I’m excited to announce the release of a new flute/light video!

Flute/light video? What am I talking about? Here’s a video that explains my flute/light project.

We live in a world saturated with information and virtual communication, thanks to technology. But does technology always illuminate, or is it more likely to obfuscate? How can we better use technology to help us in our interactions with other people and the truth? These are questions that strike me as I listen to Nick Rich‘s flute/light composition “This is a picture of.” Nick thoughtfully contrasts the human with the technological, and then integrates them in a manner that is both surprising and beautiful. For more information about the piece, read my interview with the composer from earlier this year.

Many thanks to fiddler Rich Hartness, multimedia artist Jonathan Wall, bassist Emily Damrel, and video artist Wayne Reich!

Check out the rest of my flute/light videos:

Anna Meadors, At Daybreak
Kyle Rowan, Komorebi
Michael S. Rothkopf, I Dream of Coloured Inks
Stuart Saunders Smith, The Circle of Light
Jacob Thiede, And everything in-between

NFA and Liberty

Phew! It’s been a busy beginning of the school year, but I’m finally getting a moment to sit down and write about some fun performance news from the last two months: my debut performance at the National Flute Association Convention and a guest artist recital at Liberty University.

The NFA Convention was in sunny Orlando this year; it was a blast, getting to perform Jacob Thiede‘s And everything in-between on “The Future Is Now” concert with other electroacoustic-loving flutists, making new flute friends, and running into old flute friends. Taiki Azuma was such a big help, listening to my soundcheck the night before!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was such an honor to perform at Liberty University. The Liberty faculty and students were tremendously encouraging, the lighting and audio tech staff was tremendously helpful (thanks SO much, Amy and Kevin!), and the Concert Hall in the Center for Music and Worship Arts is beautiful. What’s more? Robin McLaughlin kindly accepted my commission to compose a piece for the occasion: In the Beginning for spoken word, flute, percussion, piano, and lamps. I’m so excited she was able to join me for the premiere, with the wonderful Erik Alexander Schmidt (percussion) and Elizabeth Church (spoken word). I’ll be posting a video of the premiere soon; and I hope to recording a video of the piece in the next few months, too, pending funding!

This fall, I’m looking forward to solo performances at Carroll Community College and the Raleigh Area Flute Association Flute Festival. Until then, a new school year has started; and I’m back, teaching flute at Guilford College and at Ms Georgia’s Creative Arts Academy.

(left to right) Elizabeth Church, myself, Robin McLaughlin, and Erik Schmidt

Published: Perspectives of New Music Article

I’m so excited to announce that my interview with Stuart Saunders Smith has been published by Perspectives of New Music. In our conversation, Dr. Smith explains his compositional process while we discuss his flute/light piece, The Circle of Light. My deep thanks to everyone at PNM, to Dr. and Sylvia Smith, and to Mark Engebretson and Erika Boysen.

Check out the article in PNM volume 55, no. 2!

Yeah, this is old school: UMBC guest artist adventures

For me, a trip to UMBC is always like a trip home. Sure, the music department has relocated to a new building, my friends have moved onwards and upwards, and some of my favorite faculty members have retired; but there’s something special about remembering your own undergraduate bildungsroman. Whenever I visit campus, I catch ghostly glimpses of things I learned while there: about myself, music, the world. There are apparitions of past joys, heartaches, victories, defeats, and friendships. My heart always fills with thanks when I reflect on any of this.

Imagine my excitement when I was invited to come play a UMBC guest artist recital, as well as stop by classes that I once took myself: Careers in music (MUSC 323), Flute repertoire class (MUSC 193, 194, 390, 391, 392, 393), and Linehan Artist Scholar freshman seminar (LAS 121H). It was déjà vu all over again. My heartfelt thanks to Lisa Cella and Doug Hamby, as well as the rest of the UMBC Department of Music for these opportunities!

This flute/light recital was a beautiful collision of some of my Maryland and North Carolina friends, all incredible musicians and wonderful people: lighting technician (and flutist!) Willie Santiago, sound engineer Sarah Baugher, composers Nick Rich and Jonathan Wall, percussionist Michelle Purdy, and double bassist Emily Damrel. (And I can’t forget Yoshi Horiguchi, who lent us a bass!) The craziest part of the story? Somehow, the performance managed to sell out! There’s no way I can fully express just how exciting this week has been, or just how deeply honored and thankful I am to have been back.

Go Retrievers!

Recital pics and videos will be coming soon.