CMU Flute Festival to be held Oct. 14
The Central Michigan University Flute Festival only happens every three to four years. This year, it will be held Oct. 14.
The Flute Festival attempts to bring together the Mount Pleasant community. It will include lectures and live performances.
The CMU Flute Choir will perform. School of Music faculty member Joanna White has worked at CMU for 32 years and started the CMU flute choir. The Flute Choir is open to students and community members.
The Flute Festival has opened registration for the CMU Flute Choir on CMU’s School of Music Website. Anyone can sign up to perform with the choir. After registering, participants will be given sheet music to practice, an event schedule and detailed information about the event.
White asks that participants know how to play the flute and can read music. Participants will rehearse at 8 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the Music Building. The performance will be at 3 p.m. in Staples Concert Hall.
“I started doing flute concerts last Spring and the first show had 50 people sign up to play,” White said. “We are hoping for a bigger turnout for this event.”
The festival will begin at 10:30 a.m. with lectures in the music building. Michigan State University faculty member Marissa Olin will lecture on effective practicing techniques, former CMU faculty member Jennifer Piper will talk about flutes with electronics and Concordia University - Ann Arbor faculty member Holly Clemans speak about "setting up shop."
The concert at 3 p.m. in Staples Concert Hall will include a guest solo performance by Nicolas Real, a Venezuelan flautist, teacher, composer and conductor. Real earned his master’s degree at CMU. Those participating in the CMU Flute Choir will have an opportunity to be conducted by Real.
“He is a very dynamic player,” White said.
The concert will also include a crescent duo with Joanna and Kennen White. Music faculty member Zhao Wang will be the pianist for the event. Conductors will be White, Real and Gail Green.
The concert is open to the public. Pricing is $3 for students and $5 for non-students. There will also be music vendors open throughout the event for the public to peruse.
