About

Biography

If you are looking for my biography, it is available on my Press Kit and Media page.

Teaching

I teach flute at the University of North Dakota (more information is available on the UND Studio page) as well as a limited number of private flute and composition students in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and online via Zoom or Skype.

Collaborations

Éva Polgár, piano

Éva Polgár and I have collaborated on 20th- and 21st-century repertoire as a duo since we were doctoral students at the University of North Texas. From important historical works such as Boulez’s extraordinary Sonatine to new works that are written for us such as Asha Srinivasan’s Utthishta, our programming is focused on adventurous and stunning repertoire from around the world.

Paul Taub and Nancy Toff

Paul Taub, Nancy Toff, and I have teamed up on a performance-presentation titled “Case Study: Story of the Oral Histories of Robert Aitken and Robert Dick.” Paul and I discuss the oral histories that we conducted of Robert Aitken and Robert Dick, illustrating the work of these two flutist/composers with performances of solo pieces that they wrote. Nancy moderates and speaks about the oral history program of the National Flute Association as well as oral history methodology.

Paul passed away unexpectedly on March 13, 2021. He was a tremendous collaborator, a true champion of people, and an immensely kind and genuine soul. I’m thankful for the chamber music we played, the conversations over good food and wine, the wise and guiding insights that he shared, and the work that we accomplished due in no small part to his thoughtful nature and tireless commitment. I miss him, and I’m thankful to have known him as a colleague and a friend.

Presentations

In Pursuit: Creating Your Path in the Arts

In pursuit. As artists—as humans—we are constantly in pursuit of personal and professional goals, and I am excited to see more and more emphasis on the ability to design one’s own career in the arts alongside or instead of following traditional paths. The truth and beauty of what we do is that (1) every one of us has our own voice and our own contributions to make in the arts and (2) there is room for all of us. Who are you? What do you want? What are you passionate about? This presentation is about considering your identity, seeing potential rather than limitations, and working to make ideas a reality.

From Performer to Composer

I am asked, more and more often, to share my story about becoming an improviser and a composer. This combination of disciplines not only has a long history (Quantz discusses it in On Playing the Flute!) but also much to offer a 21st-century musician. In addition to sharing my story, I offer strategies to help get started with improvisation and composition, plus some ideas as to how this work can help further develop performance skills.

Tackling a Contemporary Composition

This presentation utilizes Snowblink, which I composed in 2017, as a basis to introduce concepts about first learning a piece with extended techniques and other contemporary performance practices. Though some discussion of extended techniques takes place, the emphasis is placed on how to get started with interpreting and learning the music itself.

The Kingma Flute and Glissando Headjoint®

The Kingma Flute (invented by Eva Kingma) and the Glissando Headjoint® (invented by Robert Dick) serve to greatly expand the capabilities of the flute. The Kingma Flute allows for a more facile and even quartertone scale, a considerably increased multiphonic vocabulary, and tremendous possibilities for alternate fingerings. The Glissando Headjoint® allows for smooth glissandi (ranging from a major third to a major second, depending on the length of the air column producing the note) throughout the flute’s range. This presentation introduces these instruments, discusses how they work, and demonstrates the musical opportunities they make possible. 

Luciano Berio’s Sequenza I

Luciano Berio’s Sequenza I for solo flute remains one of the most important flute works of the 20th century. It is equally challenging to learn and captivating to experience, and this presentation takes a look at various aspects of Sequenza I, including its impact on the flute world and some of Berio’s compositional elements that are important to understanding the work. 

“Dear Composer-Friend…” Lecture-Recital

This presentation is dedicated to all my composer-friends who have said, “maybe we could meet sometime and you can show me what the flute can do?” It includes performances on piccolo, flute, alto flute, and bass flute, plus extended technique demonstrations and information about composing for the flute family.

The Alto Flute – A Lecture-Recital

This presentation intermingles lecture, repertoire, and demonstration to provide an overview of the alto flute, including history, modern developments, repertoire (solo, chamber, and orchestral), extended technique capabilities, and pedagogical topics. 

Affiliations

Flute Instructor, University of North Dakota
Flute Instructor, International Music Camp
Performing Rights Representation, Broadcast Music, Inc.
Assistant Secretary, National Flute Association
Nominating Committee, National Flute Association
Finance Committee, National Flute Association
Advisory Board, Schmitt Music Flute Gallery
Voting Member, International Music Camp Corporation