The eighteenth Central Ohio Flute Festival, held tomorrow at Weigel Auditorium, incorporates open reading sessions, artist seminars and concerts by several college flute troupes. The feature of this year’s festival is a multi-media performance by the Ohio State Flute Troupe performing “Singing the Body Eclectic” by Thomas C. Duffy with simultaneous animation.
Under the direction of Katherine Borst Jones, the OSU Flute Troupe performance is the feature among performances by flute choirs from Ohio University, Ohio Wesleyan, Mount Union College and Stark County. The main attraction will be held from 11 a.m. to noon.
Other attractions include two local musicians offering their expertise for students and teachers. At 10 a.m. Lea Pearson, an OSU alumna, will hold a clinic for students entitled “Don’t Hold Your Breath: How to get the most air and the best support for flute playing.”
Pearson is active in the Columbus community with her music and as a private teacher. She specializes in the Alexander technique, which emphasizes body movement to expand playing ability. At 10:30 a.m. Pearson will hold a clinic for teachers entitled “Standing and Sitting: How to correct problems through Body Mapping and improve technique and breathing as well.”
Kris Keith, a local jazz musician and OSU alumnus, will also hold two clinics. For teachers, he will hold “Intro to Jazz Flute for Adults” at 10 a.m. Keith will hold the same clinic for students at 10:30 a.m.
The festival will also have two open reading sessions for intermediate and advanced players. These sessions give players a chance to read new music and play with musicians that they might not have before.
The Central Ohio Flute Association is also sponsoring the festival and will hold the finals in a competition for junior high and high schools student musicians. Winners of the competition will be announced the same day.
Guest artist Leone Buyse will hold a master class with the winners after they are chosen. Buyse is recognized as a top flute educator in the country. She taught at the New England Conservatory, Boston University, Tanglewood Music Center and as a visiting associate professor at the Eastman School of Music.
In addition to the performances and clinics, various vendors will be present selling instruments, sheet music and CDs. This festival draws many different businesses such as Andover Educators, Cincinnati Fluteworks, Gemeinhardt Company Inc. and Yamaha because the event is one of the better flute festivals of the year, said Emily Butterfield, a graduate teaching assistant in the School of Music.
The festival will begin at 8 a.m. tomorrow with registration at Weigel Hall Lobby. Prices are $10 for adults, $5 for students and parents accompanying a student.
