New England String Ensemble Announces Flute Competition

Aug. 19, 2007 - PRLog -- Attention advanced music students:  New England String Ensemble (NESE) has announced a call for entries for its Fifth Annual Youth Flute Competition.  Seeking the best and brightest flutists 18 and younger, living in the New England Region, the orchestra is accepting applications and audition tapes for a chance to win scholarships and a solo performance with NESE in their December concerts.  The deadline to enter is October 1, 2007.

Students who wish to participate in either the Open or 14-and-under division must prepare the “Concerto in G” by Johann Joachim Quantz. This selection will be used for both the preliminary and live auditions.  Those who advance past the preliminary round will be invited to the live audition at the New England Conservatory in Boston.  Students will be evaluated by a panel of judges including internationally acclaimed flutists Doriot Anthony Dwyer and Fenwick Smith, who each enjoyed a long and distinguished career with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

The purpose of this competition is to “channel the talents and aspirations of the most committed flute students to propel them into the brightest possible musical future” according to Peter Stickel, NESE Executive Director.  In addition to the Flute Competition, the orchestra also supports music programs in the schools with “String Fever” at the elementary level, “Kids to Concerts” for middle-schoolers, the “New England Musical Heritage Initiative” at the high school level, and the newly created “Genius of Youth” program for middle and high school students.

Last year’s competition drew entries from all of the six New England states but it was local boy, Brendan Ryan of Needham, MA who won First-Place.  Brendan said of the competition, “From the intense auditioning to the rehearsing and performing experience, the NESE Flute Competition helped me to develop as a musician.  The professional music-making level of NESE inspired me and made me feel comfortable to indulge in any musical ideas I had”.

Indeed, the NESE Flute Competition has become a motivator to advance the musical studies of previous entrants.  Three of the past first-place winners are currently studying at The Julliard School for Dance, Drama and Music in New York.  Flutist Judy Grant, Boston College music faculty member and teacher of two past competitions winners says of the competition; “Thank you for the positive and educational experience my flute students have had with the New England String Ensemble.  Winners Emi Ferguson and Brendan Ryan were both treated with the utmost respect, and each grew immensely as musicians through the NESE experience.”

This year’s Open Division First Prize Winner will receive a $500 scholarship and a solo performance in “Sacred and Profane”. The December concerts will feature works by Debussy, Haydn, Pärt and Strauss.  The music of Joseph Haydn and Arvo Pärt invoke spiritual and mystical atmospheres, while the Debussy voyages from earthy to otherworldly.  In addition to the Flute Competition Showcase, Boston's acclaimed LGBT chorus “Coro Allegro” is featured on Haydn’s “Little Organ Mass”, and harpist Krysten Keches on the Pärt and Debussy pieces. The Strauss Metamorphosen, a mesmerizing work born in the ashes of World War II, closes the concert with a yearning for a better world.

Entry forms and criteria for the 2007-2008 NESE Flute Competition are available online at www.newenglandstringensemble.org or for more information call 781-224-1117.

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New England String Ensemble is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "Engage, Educate and Inspire with Passionate Performances and Innovative Community Programs".  Along with presenting live performances in Boston and North of the city NESE presents 5 educational programs for K-12 students including: "String Fever" (Elementary) "Kids to Concerts and "Genius of Youth" (Middle-School), "New England Musical Heritage Innitiative" (High School) & the "Youth Flute and String Competitions".

Website: www.newenglandstringensemble.org