Front Page
Published 5/3/23
Click here if you have not had a chance to read the prior issue yet and would like to - February, 2023.
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News & Events Page
Message from the GPFS Board - Please meet your new GPFS officers and members-at-large for the 2023-24 new season! See the team here - The Board And, if you wish to learn more about us, please enjoy these little bio sketches - Greater Portland Flute Society Board Members 2023-24.pdf Two More Events for the 2022-23 Season - The May and June First Tuesdays Online with GPFS: The Flute and Brazil with guest artists Gabriela Gimenes and Camilla Oliveira. Over the year, stay abreast of different GPFS events on their respective webpages below. You will also receive emails announcing upcoming events: New Low Flutes Rentals Coordinator - GPFS board member Robert Wakeley is the new Low Flutes Rentals Coordinator. Want to borrow a GPFS alto or bass flute? Learn more about low flute rentals here - Big Flute Rentals . | The 39th Annuall GPFS Flute Fair was a success! In-person flute fair this past Sunday was electric. It was very satisfying to finally be together again - like we just took up where we left off! Over 200 attended and by all accounts fun was had by all. If you missed the fair this year and want to know what happened please enjoy the full program here - 2023 Flute Fair Program FINAL.pdf With deep gratitude, the 2023 Flute Fair was co-sponsored by the Clackamas Community College Music Department - <read our profile>. The Flute Fair 2023 guest artist Zart Dombourian-Eby was co-sponsored by Keefe Piccolo Company - <read our profile>. 2023 Flute Fair Guest Artist Masterclass Artist Please take a moment to learn more about these extraordinary masterclass participants who performed for and received feedback from guest artist Zart Dombourian-Eby - Meet the Performers - Masterclass with Guest Artist Zart Dombourian.pdf | Young Artist Competition Winners Learn more about this event and all the young artists who participated this year. Senior Division:
Junior Division:
Development Activities - We are pleased to inform you that GPFS applied for a Regional Arts and Cultural Coalition grant. We have not heard yet but cross your fingers for our success. We also formed a Development Committee which will be chaired by volunteer Sue Bonfeld. The goal of this committee is to increase GPFS’s capacity to find and acquire a range of resources to support our mission for the short and long term. More soon! | Upcoming First Tuesdays Events - The May and June First Tuesdays Online with GPFS are dedicated to "The Flute and Brazil" with guest artists Gabriela Gimenes and Camilla Oliveira. Free, no registration required. Zoom link here and on webpage - First Tuesday May June 2023 Invitation.pdf
Please help spread the word by sharing this invitation! First Tuesdays Online with GPFS - Call for Artists for the 2023-24 Season. Learn more about this here - Call for Artists GPFS First Tuesdays 23-24.pdf Please help spread the word by sharing this Call for Artists! Call for 2023-24 Volunteers - Would you consider volunteering for GPFS this new season. You can be a part of a planning team for an event/activity, or you can volunteer a couple hours to help put on that event, or you can consider writing a music review or article for The Portland Piper. Want to learn more, message - president@gpfs.org. GPFS Annual Planning - We are entering the summer months when we concentrate on planning for the new GPFS season. Please watch for correspondence from us soliciting input from our membership, flute teachers and others. We welcome your ideas all around, particularly for Flute Fair, First Tuesdays Online with GPFS, and for our publication The Portland Piper. You are always welcome to share your thoughts. Message contact@gpfs.org. |
Teaching & Learning Column
Flute Fair Workshop Handouts - Thank you to those that attended Flute Fair. I know we all also extend a huge thank you to the performers, workshop presenters and many other volunteers it takes to make fair happen. We promised to follow-up on getting the handouts from the workshop presenters to you and to invite you to provide your suggestions for next year's fair - our 40th Annual! Can you believe it!? The handouts from the workshop presenters can be found on the workshops page for now and are also permanently available in the members only area of the GPFS website where you can login using your email and password. Send your suggestions for next year’s fair to: newsletter@gpfs.org. | “What Not to Do” - Flutist and GPFS member Cassie Maloney shares her article What Not To Do | A Unique Educational Method by Cassie Maloney Link to the article as a PDF: Teaching and Learning What Not to Do Cassie Maloney April 2023.pdf Hear Cassie’s thoughts about the importance of not exclusively focusing on “what to do” in the teaching and learning environment, and remembering the value in well-placed “what not to do,” particularly in habitual matters of the body. Here she shares her journey and what brought her to the Alexander Technique and this perspective on teaching. “Imagine this familiar scene: a teacher is telling you what to do while you listen intently. When it is time, you try your hardest to do the activity she described perfectly. Even though the teacher is kind, your fear of getting it wrong causes you to fumble and make mistakes. This style of teaching, that is, teaching what to do is very common. As a teacher, I know that there are times when processes and options of ways to move forward need to be shared, of course! But, being so focused on what to do causes many to forget that learning what not to do is equally important. Fortunately, the Alexander Technique, which can be applied to the teaching of specific activities as well as daily living, focuses on this unique aspect of education and the ways it impacts learning and therefore, habit formation.” (Maloney, 2023, https://www.cassiemaloney.com/blog) |
| Throwback Article - GPFS Wellness Webinar Handouts These handouts were created for the February Wellness Webinar Taming the Performance Anxiety Beast - Changing the Way We Think, Act, and Play Handouts -
Insights from Flutist and Educator Wissam Boustany - Sharing some highlights from a Chicago Flute Club Session. Enjoy! Learn more about Wissam here: Wissam's Website. Especially to be read - his webpage on Teaching and A Method Called Love. Highlights: Teaching and Learning Wissam Boustany Session December 2022.pdf |
Low to High Notes Column (GPFS needs volunteer writers for this and other columns. Contact newsletter@gpfs.org.) |
Theme and Variations for Alto Flute by Brian Raphael Nabors Flutist Tim Hagen gives us permission to share his recording of Brian Nabor’s piece for solo alto flute – Theme and Variations for alto flute. You can listen to a YouTube recording of the piece performed by Tim. Recording Link: Tim Plays Nabors “Written for the wonderful flutist, Lizzy Darling, the Theme and Variations for Alto Flute explores all the interesting timbres of the very lush instrument through a series of 9 variations. Each dives into a unique sound space that explores the sonic makeup of the lyrical theme initially presented. The work is featured on the Polychrome: Unaccompanied Solos for Flute and Clarinet album.” (Brian Nabors website) “Amplify is a concert series with a focus on BIPOC and out LGBTQ+ composers. Concerts happen multiple times a year, streamed from my living room on my YouTube channel, and each concert features a different composer.” We can also enjoy Tim’s podcast episode where he and Brian talk about “Brian's musical beginnings, the many influences in his music, his vision for creating community, and as always, the role resilience has played in his life. This episode's "60 Creative Seconds" segment features Brian reading his poem "Luminance," accompanied by Tim's flute improvisation.” Learn more about the composer here: Brian Nabor. | Throwback Article! A Must Listen! Imperial Topaz for contra-bass by Nicole Chamberlain – (3’55”) If I was pressed to choose one piece to listen to from Rose Bishop's new CD Diversions, I simply couldn’t do it. That said, this is a fascinating one because it is a substantive solo for a contra-bass. Invoking Imperial Topaz - “The color of the sun at sunset.” Nicole notes the piece “is intended to be performed on contrabass flute, but could easily be performed on any of the low flutes or even the C flute,” a fact which makes this engaging solo accessible to more players. It employs some simple modern techniques such as key clicks/punches, vocal and wind sounds. There are slow parts with elongated low notes as well as technically faster spots. Learn more about flutist and composer Nicole here: https://www.nikkinotes.com/index.html. | Throw Back Article! Solo for Alto Flute - This low flute article features an introduction to Seattle-based composer and flutist Sarah Bassingthwaighte and a review of one of her pieces for alto flute - Amhran na hEascainne (Song of the Eel) for Solo Alto or C Flute, with Optional Drone - <Read> | Throw Back Article! Bass Flute Music - snowy egret, january messenger, a piece by Oregon composer Deena T. Grossman reviewed for this issue (see article below), works well on bass flute, alto or C flute. Flutist Amelia Lukas performed it on bass for a benefit concert premiering Wildfires and Waterways. Flutist Camila Oliveira recorded it for Deena's T. Grossman's most recent album release Becoming Durga. <Read Article> Deena, Amelia and Camila are all GPFS members! |
Flutist & Ensemble Profiles Column |
![]() One of Adrian Dee’s compositions will receive its world premiere at the National Flute Association annual convention this August! It is called "2020: The Year We Could Not Breathe" and will be performed by a young man from New York, Anthony Trionfo. The convention is in Phoenix this year at the Phoenix Convention Center. In case you are in that area and want to attend, you can get a single day ticket at the door. My piece will be performed Friday afternoon, August 4, at 4:30pm, in Room 221AB (unless that changes). This piece is completely unlike anything else I have written. It uses some modern "extended" techniques, some improvisation, and even an electronic Loop. It deals with all the ways in which we could not breathe in 2020: George Floyd's last words, the whole world on masks and respirators, and the wildfires filling our homes with smoke. It is very demanding for the performer, including dictating when he (or she) can, and cannot, breathe. Convention Webpage. | ![]() Best wishes to flutist and GPFS member Diego Fernandez - Currently a senior at South Salem High School, Diego Fernandez actively plays flute and piccolo in his wind ensemble and the Portland Youth Philharmonic. Currently, he is a student of Martha Long. He won 2nd at the state level Solo and Ensemble festival and 1st at the Greater Portland Flute Society's Young Artist Competition. He's honored to also have been selected as 1 of 4 of the US's Young flutist to be a member of the National Youth Orchestra of the USA for this summer. Flute has been what has kept him going through these past few years. Working hard with his teachers and peers to bring forth a plethora of music to share from ensemble to solo. With an ambition to be a performing musician, he will be attending the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in the fall of 2023. | Best wishes to flutist and GPFS member Victor Ceja who is a senior at McNary High School in Keizer, Oregon. The flute has been a transformative opportunity for Victor. He has sought to play and compete at every possible event, where he has had the opportunity to meet some of his most extraordinary colleagues. It is without a doubt that Victor will continue playing flute in an ensemble at the University of Southern California, where he will be double majoring in business administration and computer science. Victor is grateful to his flute teacher, Sandy Duffy Norman, for providing constant support and encouragement throughout his musical journey. |
Inside the GPFS Library Column & Music Reviews |
Message from Librarian - <Read the most recent Message from Librarian> Learn more about the library and how to borrow and contribute. You may be interested in knowing about GPFS sharing its library resources with students and teachers. As GPFS moves forward, we want to continue with this type of activity. Contact the Librarian if you have an interest in contributing - library@gpfs.org. Written by Librarian Cheryl Thompson Merrill. <Read> Further a small group of volunteers will be working together to revisit the library as well as the flute loan program, particularly to streamline and rejuvenate as needed. | Throwback Article - Practice Journaling This is a review of a practice journal. The article also includes links to a few web-based articles and video about practicing journaling. Briefly, this journal approach is familiar, comfortable and effective with the exception of the practice log not having space for tracking a specific goal, reflection on a specific goal and next steps for that goal. Therefore, my favorite approach remains using a simple notebook using a similar overall approach to this publication. But, for most, particularly with middle/high school and early collegiate players (maybe elementary players too), this approach certainly does much to add structure to students’ weekly goal setting, practice tracking and systematic . Read the article - <Practice Journaling Review and Links> | Throwback Article - An introduction to a new CD from All Classical Portland - Amplify: Changing America’s Playlist, Vol. 1. In this article you will find some of the promotional information for a new CD released by All Classical Portland, guided by their Recording Inclusivity Initiative. The CD has 21 tracks representing works by five composers. Learn more - <Read the Full Review>
The entire CD will likely be of interest to GPFS members, but we call out the Sonata for Flute and Piano by Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, performed by Portland-based flutist and GPFS member Adam Eccleston. This is the first time this piece has been professionally recorded, posthumously.
This is an unknown sonata, and it deserves consideration for concert performances by more advanced flutists. It can also serve as study and recital repertoire for undergraduate and graduate study. A review of this piece can be found in the Spring, 2023 issue of NFA Quarterly magazine (current issue). | Update - I read through "Carmen Studies" and loved it. If you are a more advanced player or teach more advanced players I recommend getting both, but if I had to pick one I would say Carmen over Nutcracker. Cheers, BJ Throwback Article - A review of The Nutcracker Advanced Studies for Flute, Vol. 1 by Sandra Kipp Iles (2022). This is a clever, thoughtful, fun, refreshing, entertaining and challenging book of etudes for the more advanced flutist. Compiled by the experienced and passionate pedagogist and flutist Sandy Kipps Iles, it is no wonder it is so. This volume offers sixteen etudes. Each one has an introduction that explains what is occurring on the stage at the time of the music as well as her comments about the musicality and technical aspects of the etudes. |
Flutist Friends Around the World Column
Non-GPFS Events - Use this GPFS webpage to find other opportunities to enjoy performances, workshops, recordings, etc. from around the region and world. This page is updated semi-routinely as is the calendar page: Please let us know if you would like to have an event or recording or other resource posted, free - newsletter@gpfs.org. We could also use some help maintaining this page. Flutist Adrian Dee wants us to know...
Registration open for CCC Summer Band Camp for high school and college-bound musicians. Still room for six or so flute applications, a piccolo and other instruments but register early! Learn more at: CCC Summer Band Camp CCC invites you to join them for a jam-packed week of instrumental instruction, rehearsals, and performances this summer at Clackamas Community College! REGISTER EARLY - Spots are limited, so register early! Clackamas Summer Band Camp is a week-long summer music program that's PERFECT FOR INSTRUMENTAL MUSICIANS OF ALL LEVELS who want to improve their skills, play fun and challenging wind ensemble repertoire, and learn about music theory. Camp runs from 9 am - 4 pm daily with a Friday evening concert. Conducted by Lars Campbell, CCC's Director of Instrumental Music. | Flutist Adam Eccleston wants you to know about two music camps this summer and asks that we all promote them as we see fit. The first is in Oregon June 26-30, 9:30 to 3:00, The Flute Alliance Flute Boot Camp 2023 with flutist faculty Sydney Carlson, Adam Eccleston, Martha Long and Denise Westby. See details below. The second is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, May 29 – June 3. Here is the link to flyer and link to application. FLUTE ALLIANCE FLUTE BOOT CAMP 2023. DATE: JUNE 26-30. TIME: 9:30-3:00. LOCATION: RISE CHURCH, TIGARD. Flute Alliance is now accepting registrations from middle through high schools flutists with 2+ years of band/lessons for the 16th annual FLUTE BOOT CAMP. Large and small ensembles coached by the powerhouse staff of Dr. Sydney Carlson (PSU, Prof. of Flute and Portland Opera Orchestra), Martha Long (Principal Flute, Oregon Symphony Orchestra), Adam Eccleston (Artist in Residence All Classical Radio, BRAVO orchestras, MYS Flute Ensembles), and Denise Westby (adjunct PSU, MHCC, and Flute Alliance Administrator). Summer fun and games, a camp recital and a coaches mini recital on Day 1 of camp! SPACE IS LIMITED TO 25 PLAYERS. OREGON. REGISTRATION/questions: www.flutealliance.com or contact Denise Westby at flutealliance@gmail.comFlutist Dawn Weiss’ recital was Livestreamed and archived. It can be seen on: Concerts at First - Dawn Weiss and Friends. "The other thing I might mention about our concert is that we performed the World Premiere of the Roberto Di Marino "Fandango" for Flute and Cello. As I explained at the concert, my first encounter with Di Marino's work was when I attended a GPFS flute and guitar recital a number of years ago. They performed some lovely Tango style music composed by Di Marino and I was very excited about it. I immediately contacted him and asked him to send me his flute and guitar pieces. A number of months later, while considering the possibility of putting together a professional duo for flute and cello, I discovered there really wasn't much successful repertoire for that combination. So, I reached out to Mr. Di Marino and commissioned this work." | ![]() Flutist Amelia Lukas wants you to know that Opera Theatre of Oregon has a flute forward event coming up – “Nu Nah-Hup: Sacajawea's Story.” May 13th at 7:30 and May 14th at 2:00 at the Hinkley Studio Theatre Hampton Opera Center. An outstanding arts event on its own, it also features two western flute parts including bass and alto, plus two native flute parts in addition to the chamber ensemble – operatheateroregon.com. Complimentary tickets are available for self-identifying Native individuals. Learn more and tickets: Opera Theater of Oregon Flutist Molly Duggan in Recital, June 10th at 4PM, Portland State University Lincoln Hall, Recital Hall room 75 - Join Flutist Molly Duggan of Canter Flute Repair for her Senior Recital in partial fulfillment of her Bachelor of Flute Performance degree. Molly will be featuring local composer and conductor Salvador Brotons' Piccolo Concerto "Dialogues with Axel", Prokofiev's Sonata in D, and others. Admission is free. Flutist and composer Phyllis Avidan Louke wants us to know… A few new releases from Phyllis Avidan-Louke FLUTE 101.5: ENRICHMENT is a flute method and duet collection for the advanced beginner. It is a bridge between any beginning flute or band method book and FLUTE 102: MASTERING THE BASICS. It also serves as an enrichment book for flutists advancing through FLUTE 101 or any other method. Teacher and Student Resource Pages include 15 pages of tips on how to use the book, along with practice pages that enhance learning, technical development, and musicianship. SAMPLE PAGES: CLICK HERE Little Angel (Flute and Piano) - Published by Theodore Presser Company. Commissioned by Janelle Barrera, in loving memory of her daughter Daisy Rose. Fabulous Flute Music website has a good description of the piece from the program notes, as well as links to a live performance by Janelle Barrerra. | Flutist Martha Long’s 45th Parallel Concert “Brave New World” with fellow extraordinary flutists is available to listen to online. Learn more about it below in our Noteworthy Column! Link to Video: Brave New World Martha also wants us to know about...
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Noteworthy |
Introducing Noteworthy - This is a new column for The Portland Piper that was conceived and developed by GPFS member Sue Bonfeld. The column is a short list of curated videos, interviews, podcasts and performances of interest to musicians of all levels, but outside the scope of GPFS’s curated Flute Resources webpage. Note, this robust webpage is updated regularly and all suggestions are welcome – please just email us at newsletter@gpfs.org. | Claire Chase on Traditional and Huilu Flutes, with Portland’s Esperanza Spalding on Double Bass Watch this wonderful video showcasing Claire Chase on a range of flutes and Esperanza Spalding on double bass and voice as they play Double Concerto by Felipe Lara with the Helsinki Philharmonic. It is fascinating from the first moment. (37 minutes). Claire is a flutist known, among other reasons, for premiering hundreds of new works by the new generation of artists. Link to Video: Chase and Spaulding | New Classical Music App from Apple Link to App: Classical Music App Have you tried the new classical music app from Apple Music? If not, you may want to read up on what it offers. Learn more: News About App | ![]() Brave New World 45th Parallel Concert - In case you were not able to attend, here is Brave New World, performed by flutists Martha Long, Adam Eccleston, Zach Galatis, Tim Hagen, and Alicia Paulsen. Link to recording - click here. On creating the program, Martha says – “I’ve often wondered how I can use those isolated hours and minuscule muscle movements to make the world a better place. As an adult, I have found little ways to give back and pay it forward in my daily life but I still wish that my art form was more accessible and more of a vehicle for social change. This program and its heavy themes are a small part of the answer. By listening to sometimes-dissonant sounds about difficult topics, we bring the flute and classical music into an ongoing discourse and have a chance to reflect on our world. During this time, I invite you to be in the moment and experience whatever thoughts, feelings, and reactions come to you.” WORKS: 00:00 Timothy Hagen: La brute, c’est Pan, after Debussy’s La Flûte de Pan (“Syrinx”); 14:20 Eve Beglarian: Can I Have It Without Begging?; 12:09 J.S. Bach: Sarabande from Partita in A minor, BVW 1013, arranged by Gary Shocker; 16:14 Timothy Hagen: The Other Side of No; 28:19 Allison Loggins-Hull: Homeland; 35:26 Dai Fujikura: Poison Mushroom; 45:05 Jennifer Higdon: Amazing Grace. |
We Read Column
This read is a contribution from flutist and Alexander Technique teacher Cassie Maloney who frequently shares book recommendations with her wellness and musical circle of friends. Cassie recommends Rupi Kaur's book of poems Home Body – “I just couldn't put it down. I hope you check out this lovely book. Home Body is described with this short poem below.” https://rupikaur.com/pages/home-body-books Rupi Kaur (born 4 October 1992) is a Canadian poet, illustrator, photographer, performer, and author. Learn more about the author: Rupi Kaur after feeling disconnected for so long my mind and body are finally coming back to each other -home body | Flashback Article! A review of the book Another Year of Wonder, by Clemency Burton Hill (2022). This book is just as interesting, insightful and satisfying as her first book. In fact, I would say the same things in this review as I did in my review of her first book for GPFS. So, take a look at that “throw-back” article below. You can also find it in the archives for the We Read column. <Read the Full Review of Another Year of Wonder> Throwback Article! - <Read the Review of Her First Book> | Symphony Storytime, Season Three - The OR Symphony is in their third season of Symphony Storytime. This is a great resource to know about. OR Symphony players accompany the reading of a children's books. A recent favorite is a reading of I Am Enough by Creative Chair Gabriel Kahane, accompanied by Artistic Partner Nathalie Joachim on flute. Listen - <video recording> Oregon flutist and GPFS member Adam Eccleston also does a couple of the readings. Must listen. Great to share with the little people in your lives. Tell youth teachers about these too! Learn more: https://www.orsymphony.org/discover/watch-listen/symphony-storytime/ | Flashback Article! Book Review - A review of Musician's Yoga: A Guide to Practice, Performance and Inspiration by Mia Olson. A hands-on, practical guide to yoga for musicians, including smart exercises to work into one's practice routine. Highly recommend. |
General Information to Know About |
![]() GPFS Commercial Members & Sponsors - Please support GPFS sponsors and commercial members. These partners keep GPFS, and the musical/flutist world in Oregon going! A FEW COMMERCIAL SPONSORS NOW HAVE A VIDEO YOU CAN WATCH. Fun and informative,<Go to Commercial Members Page> Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission -GPFS is proud and grateful to have received a grant for $3000 from the Oregon Arts Commission. This award will help support the many activities for GPFS including, for example, Student Study Grants, masterclasses, workshops, performances, The Portland Piper publication, the annual fall event, Flute Academy, middle and high school competitions, and the annual Flute Fair. | A Baker's Dozen of Opportunities - A request for volunteers for the current and upcoming program year - please take a quick look and consider volunteering in a way that fits best for you! <Read> Writers Needed: Please consider contributing to the content of this publication by writing reviews, articles, sharing your awareness of flute resources and events, photography or anything else you can think of - newsletter@gpfs.org. | ![]()
Can We Reach 12 New Donors? For this new GPFS program year 2022-2023, GPFS is hoping to reach 12 new donors, no matter how large a gift or small. Donations go either into the general account or are designated by you the donor to go to Student Study Grants, GPFS Youth Memberships or the Sara Lasky Memorial Masterclass fund. It's not too late for you to donate and every little bit counts! GPFS Donation webpage. Thank you! You can also ask that your donation be dedicated to other events. A small amount as a one-time or monthly donation helps! <Donate> | Flute Rentals for Members - Flute rentals are back, post covid: Flutes - Flute Loans for Students Alto/Bass - Big Flute Rentals |