Spend two weeks studying with international flute and piccolo masters to help you refine every aspect of your artistry as a flutist, from traditional baroque and classical repertoire to improvisation and 21st-century extended techniques.
Undergraduate: MUSIC 422, 3 units Graduate/post-baccalaureate: MUSIC 622, 3 units
None
Undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate and professional flutists who are eager to spend two inspiring weeks focusing on the artistry and refinement of their flute playing. Previous experience with improvisation or extended techniques is not necessary.
Professor Rena Urso(562) 537-7810
Julien Beaudiment – julienbeaudiment.com/
After holding the position of principal flute in the prestigious Los Angeles Philharmonic, Julien Beaudiment is currently the principal flutist of the Orchestre de l'Opera National de Lyon and professor at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Lyon. He has also held the same position with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Originally from La Rochelle and Bordeaux, Beaudiment studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de music de Paris. He performs as a soloist at major international concert halls and renowned festivals, such as the Palau de la Música in Barcelona, the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels, the Opéra National de Lyon and the Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles.
Ian Clarke – www.ianclarke.net
Ian Clarke is acknowledged as one of the leading player/composers in the flute world. His compositions have been performed across five continents on stages ranging from London’s South Bank to the Glastonbury Rock Festival, and have been featured in countless recitals, including four consecutive BBC Young Musician Woodwind finals. These wide-ranging published works are establishing themselves as some of the most exciting flute repertoire of today and are embraced by internationally acclaimed performers. Ian has performed as a featured guest soloist and teacher at major conventions and events in Canada, Italy, Brazil, France, Iceland, Slovenia, Hungary, the Netherlands, and numerous times for the British Flute Society and for the National Flute Association. His acclaimed CD "Within" is one of the flute world’s best sellers and his latest CD, "Deep Blue," reached the top 10 in the UK Classical Artist Chart -- thought to be a first for an album of original flute music. He has given master classes at the Royal Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Northern, Royal Welsh, and Trinity College of Music. In his career he has performed in genres ranging from classical opera to a guest appearance with rock group Jethro Tull/Ian Anderson. Ian is professor of flute at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.
Marianne Gedigian
Marianne Gedigian is professor of flute and holder of the Butler Professorship in Music at The University of Texas at Austin Butler School of Music and was a regular performer with the Boston Symphony Orchestra for more than a decade, including several seasons as acting principal flute under Seiji Ozawa. As principal flute with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra and acting principal flute with the Boston Pops, Gedigian has been heard on dozens of recordings and “Evening at Pops” television broadcasts as well as the nationally broadcast Fourth of July specials. She has also performed on several John Williams movie scores, including “Saving Private Ryan” and “Schindler’s List.”
Jennifer Gunn
Hailed for her “virtuosic poise” by the Chicago Tribune, Jennifer M. Gunn has held the position of piccolo of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2005. Since joining the CSO, she has been active in the life of the orchestra in many ways and performs on the CSO’s contemporary music series, MusicNOW. Gunn has also served as a piccolo and flute coach for the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and participated in the “Dream Out Loud” music education advocacy campaign. In demand as a clinician, Gunn has taught masterclasses around the world, including a regular summer class at Orford Musique in Canada and served as a guest artist at the 2018 International Piccolo Festival in Grado, Italy. She is a frequent guest at universities around the country teaching flute and piccolo masterclasses.
Steve Kujala – fretlessflute.com
Flutist, composer and songwriter Steve Kujala has been a stalwart of the Los Angeles music scene since 1976. Kujala received his formal musical training at the Eastman School of Music. Not content to merely play classical repertoire and pursue an orchestral career, his interest in jazz, pop and ethnic music took him in another direction altogether: west! Kujala’s jazz-rock fusion group, Auracle, released the critically acclaimed debut “Glider.” He created, developed and pioneered a unique note-bending technique on the flute that he calls the “Fretless-Flute” technique. As principal flutist for the Pantages Theatre, Steve has played on more than two dozen hit Broadway shows, most notably The Lion King, for which he played no fewer than 14 different ethnic flutes.
Bryan Pezzone, accompanist – www.bryanpezzone.net
Bryan Pezzone is the consummate crossover pianist of his generation. He excels in classical, contemporary, jazz and experimental genres and is known for both his versatility and virtuosity as a performing artist, improviser and composer. Pezzone has performed with many major symphony orchestra associations and is known in the Los Angeles area as one of the primary freelance pianists for film and television soundtrack recording, contemporary music premieres and chamber music accompany. As a soloist, he has performed with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Santa Monica Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute Orchestra, UC Irvine Symphony Orchestra, Eastman Philharmonic and the Pacific Symphony. Pezzone has released CDs of his own music, which blends jazz and classical styles, including “Flying on Water,” produced by Steve Wight and featuring M.B. Gordy on drums and Bart Samolis on bass.
Wendy Caldwell, accompanist
Wendy Caldwell is a native of Canada, where she received her degrees in piano performance from Acadia University and the University of Toronto. She has been a collaborative artist and coach at Acadia University, University of Illinois at Chicago, California State University, Long Beach and UCLA. She is also a busy freelance accompanist in the Los Angeles area and performs regularly in recital with both students and professionals. Caldwell was a guest artist for three seasons at the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival in Alaska as well as three summers at CSU Summer Arts.
Course Coordinator Rena Urso – renaurso.wordpress.com
Rena Urso enjoys a flourishing career as a freelance orchestral and chamber musician all over California. She is a member of the flute and body mapping faculty at the Bob Cole Conservatory of Music at California State University, Long Beach, the Fine Arts faculty at California State University, Stanislaus and holds the positions of second flute of the Oakland Symphony and second flute of the Oregon Coast Music Festival Orchestra. She previously held piccolo positions and toured extensively with the New York City Opera National Company and San Francisco Opera’s Western Opera Theater. As a freelance musician, Urso performs frequently with many of the orchestras throughout California, including the San Francisco Opera; Pacific Symphony; Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra; Monterey, Berkeley and California Symphonies; Carmel Bach Festival; and Festival Mozaic. As a licensed andover educator (body mapping instructor), she presents clinics and masterclasses all over the world.