NEWS & EVENTS

 

FLUTE EVENTS CALENDAR
* Indicates required event for UNO flute majors.

Several teriffic flute events are scheduled for 2009-2010 at UNO and around Omaha:

JUNE

Thurs-Sun, June 11-14, 2009 - The 2nd bi-annual International Piccolo Symposium hosted by UNO. Featuring Jean-Louis Beaumadier (France), Lois Herbine (USA) and Christine Beard (USA). With Nan Raphael (USA), Kate Prestia Schaub and Stephanie Kocher. Visit http://www.piccolosymposium.com for more info!

AUGUST

Sunday, Aug 16, 2009 - Christine Beard will perform Matt Smith's Sonata No.2 for piccolo and piano at the National Flute Association Convention in New York City. 3:00pm. UNO students Georgia Laughner and Bethany McAcy will also be performing with the NFA Collegiate Flute Choir on this same afternoon. See http://www.nfaonline.org for convention details.

SEPTEMBER

Saturday, Sept 12, 2009: Barry Ford's DMA Composition Recital, featuring a performance of "Zephyrs" for flute and vibraphone with Christine Beard, flute and Tomm Roland, vibraphone. 3:00pm

OCTOBER

*Wed, October 14, 2009: Resonate! Faculty Artist Series featuring Christine Beard, flute. Program to include the "Hamburg" Sonata in G Major by CPE Bach, "A Night Piece" by Arthur Foote, Sonata by Salvador Brotons, and the finale from the Piccolo Concerto by Bruce Broughton. 7:30pm

NOVEMBER

Date & Time TBA - Bethany McAcy and Marysa Vaughn, junior flute recital. Featuring music by Doppler, Charke, Clarke, Widor and Telemann.

*Thurs, November 19, 2009: Heartland Community Flute Choir concert at the NMEA Convention in Lincoln, NE. 4:30pm

DECEMBER

*Wed, December 16, 2009: Heartland Community Flute Choir concert at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, IL. 2:30pm

FEBRUARY

Tues & Wed, Feb 10-11, 2010: Emporia State University Flute Day featuring guest artist Christine Beard.

MARCH

*March 25-27, 2010: Master class with flutist Amy Porter (http://www.amyporter.com) at UNO (exact date/time TBA). She will also be performing the world premiere of Michael Daugherty's new Flute Concerto with the Omaha Symphony this weekend (Fri and Sat nights). Check back soon for details!

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!

2008-2009

  • The Heartland Community Flute Choir has been invited to perform at the 2009 Midwest Clinic in Chicago in December! See http://www.midwestclinic.org/ and check back for details SOON...
  • Congrats to senior Erka Jeck and sophomore Bethany McAcy for both being selected to the 5th annual UNO Honors Recital! Erika will perform the 1st movement of Prokofiev's Sonata in D Major, Op. 94; and Bethany will perform Ian Clarke's "Zoom Tube" on the recital on April 14 at 7:30pm.
  • Congrats to sophomore Georgia Laughner who was accepted on C Flute, and to sophomore Bethany McAcy who was accepted on Bass Flute to perform as members of the 2009 NFA Collegiate Flute Choir! Georgia and Bethany will perform with the ensemble during the National Flute Association Convention in New York City in August.
  • Congrats to MM student Sara Schuhardt who won the 2009 UNO Concerto-Aria Competiton with her performance of the "Concerto for Flute and Orchestra" by Jacques Ibert. Sara will perform with the Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra during the 2009-2010 season.
  • Sophomore Bethany McAcy and Senior Erika Jeck have been selected to represent UNO in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band during NSBA in Lincoln, NE March 5-6, 2009.
  • UNO graduate flute major Sara Schuhardt was selected to perform on a masterclass for George Pope at the Oklahoma Flute Festival in Oklahoma City, OK on November 22, 2008.
  • UNO junior flute major Christina Millard was selected to perform on a masterclass for Goran Marcusson in Saint Louis, MO on November 15, 2008.
  • UNO flutist Erika Jeck won the 2008 UNO Concerto-Aria competition and will perform Lowell Liebermann's Concerto for Piccolo, Op. 50 with the Heartland Philharmonic Orchestra in December 2008 during the 2008-2009 season.
  • The following students in Dr. Beard's private studio were selected to the 2008 Nebraska All-State Band/Orchestra: Leanna K., a junior @ Papillion-La Vista HS (piccolo, Orchestra); Nicole B., a junior at Elkhorn HS (Band); and Katy W., a junior at Millard North HS (Band).

2007-2008

  • Taurice Alexander has been hired as the director of bands at Homer HS starting in the fall of 2008.
  • Carolyn Weston has been hired as the assistant director of bands at Auburn HS/JH starting in the fall of 2008.
  • Anna Hall received graduate assistantship offers from both the Univ of Idaho and the Univ of Iowa for the fall of 2008. She has decided to attend the Univ of Iowa to pursue a master's degree in flute performance with Nicole Esposito.
  • UNO flutist Anna Hall won the MENC Collegiate Soloist competition at UNO with her performance of "Salon Etude in E Minor" by Johanness Donjon and will perform it on a recital at the NMEA conference in Lincoln, NE in November 2007.
  • UNO flutist Taurice Alexander was selected to perform in the 2007 National Inter-Collegiate Band in Orlando, FL (July 2007).
  • The following students in Dr. Beard's private studio were selected to the 2007 Nebraska All-State Band/Orchestra: Leanna K., a sophomore @ Papillion-La Vista HS (Orchestra); Nicole B., and Tricia S., a senior at Papillion-La Vista South HS (piccolo, Band).

2006-2007

  • UNO flutists Anna Hall and Erika Jeck won the MSFS Masterclass Competition and were selected to perform for flutist Jim Walker at the 2007 MidSouth Flute Society Festival at the Univ of Alabama! (March 2007)
  • Melissa P., a junior at Elkhorn HS, was named to the 2006 Hastings Honor Band.
  • Sara S., a senior in OPS, was named to the Omaha All-City Orchestra in December 2006.
  • The BF3 trio, joined by Alex Wimmer (percussion), placed "first runner up" in the Nebraska MTNA Collegiate Chamber Music Competition on October 26, 2006. Congratulations on a superb performance, ladies and gentleman - you represented UNO well!
  • Melissa P., a junior at Elkhorn HS, was named to the 2006 Nebraska All-State Orchestra. Way to go!

2005-2006

  • Jenna H., a senior at Papillion-La Vista South HS, received a 1st division rating at district music contest on both her flute solo "Offertoire" by Donjon, and her piccolo solo "Top O' the Evening" by Laurence Trott. In addition, Jenna was selected to be the student speaker at the 2006 commencement at her high school. Jenna will be attending Northwest Missouri State University this fall to major in elementary education. Good luck!
  • Jared Smith, a sophomore flute performance major at UNO, was named "First Runner Up" in the 2006 UNO Concerto-Aria Competition for his performance of Kent Kennan's "Night Soliloquy."
  • Melissa P., a Sophomore @ Elkhorn HS, received "superior" ratings on her performances of "Flute de Pan" for flute and piano by Jules Moquet, and on the second movement of Vivaldi's Concerto in C Major, F. VI No. 4 for piccolo and piano at the Elkhorn Band Olympics in February. Competiting against students from 30 other schools, she won the gold medals for being selected as 1st place over-all for both of her performances on flute and piccolo. AWESOME!
  • Katie S., a Senior @ Bellevue West HS, received 1st division ratings on her solo, "Image" by Eugene Bozza at district music contest in April. The judge - who only gave out seven "I" ratings all day - told the audience "I hope you all realize that you just witnessed a masterful performance." Katie has been accepted to study with Brooks de Wetter-Smith at the University of North Carolina/Chapel Hill beginning in the Fall 2006. The music department at UNC has awarded her the largest undergraduate music scholarship they have to offer. Congratulations, Katie! Good luck with your studies, and know that you will be missed!
  • Sophomore flute major Taurice Alexander was named to the 2006 Nebraska Intercollegiate Band on piccolo.
  • The BF3 trio (Anna Hall, Taurice Alexander, and Erika Jeck) competed at the state level of the MTNA Collegiate Chamber Competition on Thursday, October 20, 2005 at UNO and placed 1st runner up. Their repertoire included works by Kaspar Kummer, Thea Musgrave, Alan Hovhaness, and George Philipp Telemann (w/James Barnett, piano).
  • The following students in Dr. Beard's private studio who were selected to the 2005 Winter Winds Festival at UNL: Katie S., a Senior @ Bellevue West HS and Jenna H., a Senior at Papillion-LaVista South HS.
  • The following students in Dr. Beard's private studio were selected to the 2005 Nebraska All-State Band and Orchestra: Katie S., a Senior @ Bellevue West HS (Orchestra); Melissa P., a Sophomore at Elkhorn HS (Band); and Jenna H., a Senior at Papillion-LaVista South HS (Band).
  • Katie S., a Senior @ Bellevue West HS, advanced to the Division level of the MTNA HS Soloist Competition which will take place in January 2006. Her program includes the "Hamburger" Sonata by C.P.E. Bach, "Spindrift" for piccolo/piano by Ken Benshoof, and "Concertino" by Cecile Chaminade.
  • Junior flute major Anna Hall won the 2005 Nebraska Flute Club Master Class Competition and was selected to perform for Tadeu Coelho during the 2005 Nebraska Flute Festival on Sept. 24, 2005.
  • Freshamn flute major Laura Cole has been selected for an Internship with KVNO for the fall 2005 semester.
  • Sophomore flute major Allison Gilbert has been selected as Drum Major for the UNO Mavericks for the 2005-2006 marching season!
  • Katie S. and Erica B. have both been selected Drum Majors at Bellevue West HS for the 2005-2006 academic year!
  • Jenna H. was selected as Drum Major at Papillion-La Vista South HS for the 2005-2006 academic year!

2004-2005

  • Carolyn Weston and Anna Hall were both selected to participate in the 2005 NSBA Intercollegiate Band in Lincoln, NE (March 3-4).
  • Katie S., a Junior @ Bellevue West HS, placed 1st Chair flute in the Nebraska All-State Orchestra (October 2004) and was also selected to participate in the Nebraska "Winter Winds" at UNL (January 2005). Katie was selected to perform on the Flute Day Master Class at UNL on April 4, and most recently was voted "Most Outstanding Bandswoman" and Band President at Bellevue West HS.
  • Melissa P., a Freshman @ Elkhorn HS, was selected by audition to perform for the Karl Kraber master class through the NFC Master Class competition. Way to go!!!
  • Katie S. was named "Outstanding Female Musician of the Year" at the 2005 International Summer Music Camp!

    And finally, congratulations to ALL of my private HS students who all received Superior ("1") ratings on their solos at District Music Contest during the month of April (2005):

  • Mary M., a Junior at Bellevue West HS, on "Minuet and Dance of the Blessed Spirits" by Gluck.
  • Jenna H., a junior at Papillion-La Vista South HS, on "Ballade" by Perilou.
  • Katie S., a junior at Bellevue West HS, on "Concertino" by Chaminade (she will perform this work with her HS band on a concert in 2005-2006 TBA).
  • Anna O., a Freshman at Yutan HS, on "Serenade" by Haydn.
  • Melissa P., a Freshman @ Elkhorn HS, who received "superior" ratings on her performance of Nocturne for flute and piano by Arthur Foote, and Fantasy in a minor for solo piccolo by Telemann at the Elkhorn Band Olympics on February 19th. Additionally, she took 3rd place over-all on flute and won a gold medal for being selected as 1st place over-all on piccolo.