SRU flute ensemble to perform at national convention
July 28, 2017
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University's flute ensemble has been selected to perform in the 45th Annual National Flute Association Convention at the Minneapolis Convention Center in Minnesota.
The NFA, founded in 1972, is the largest flute organization in the world with approximately 5,000 members from more than 50 countries connecting online, at conventions and in classrooms.
This year's convention, which runs Aug. 10-13, will celebrate the diversity of the NFA's membership, featuring varied musical traditions including jazz, world music, Baroque flute, flute choir, low flutes and piccolo.
Cassandra Eisenreich, instructor of music, will be directing the ensemble as it premieres works including "Sacrifice" by Stephen Barr, assistant professor of music at SRU; "The Land Where the Sun Rises" by Frederico Bonacossa, a classical guitarist from Miami, Florida; and "Pure Imagination" by Bryan Kennard, adjunct professor of flute at Concordia University in Austin, Texas.
The SRU ensemble will also pair with the high school flute choir competition winners as the combined unit will premiere "Whirl" by Pittsburgh-based composer Gay Kahkonen.
"I am so thrilled to be bringing this music to life and to showcase such amazing composers," Eisenreich said. "To be presenting their pieces to the world for the first time is a real honor for all of us."
Under Eisenreich's direction, 14 SRU flutists will perform for the first time as a unit Aug. 11, including:
-Paula Hartsough, a 2017 graduate with a bachelor's degree in music performance-instrumental from Youngstown, Ohio.
-Cassidy Shipley, a 2017 graduate with a bachelor's degree in music education-instrumental from Moon Township.
-Sydney Eastman, a senior math education and flute performance major from Centerville.
-Jamie Coniglio, a sophomore secondary education English major from Greeley.
-Lauren Denny, a junior early childhood-special education major from Butler.
-Jennifer Kvortek, a junior music education-instrumental major from New Kensington.
-Caroline Brown, a senior music education-instrumental major from Monroeville.
-Paige Hargrave, a senior music therapy-instrumental major from Lima, New York.
-Rebecca DeGraaf, a sophomore music therapy major from Cranberry Township.
-Kellie DeLorenzo, a sophomore music education major from Wampum.
-Samantha Kochis, a freshman music education major from Cranberry Township.
-Kalista Heidkamp, a freshman music education major from Pittsburgh.
-Nicole Kammer, a freshman music performance major from Freedom.
-Jordan Lilly, a freshman music education major from Sterling, Virginia.
Brendan Kennelty, a junior music performance-instrumental major from Cranberry Township, will accompany the ensemble on percussion.
This will be Eisenreich's second invitational appearance at the National Flute Association Convention in three years. In addition to her duties as SRU's ensemble director, she will perform as a member of the convention's professional ensemble.
Hartsough, a former student of Eisenreich's, will enjoy a similar honor as she re-joins the collegiate ensemble for a second time, having also performed with last year's SRU contingent.
Eisenreich, who has been named the chair of the NFA's pedagogy committee, said that having a seat at the NFA's professional and collegiate ensembles is extremely rare, offered to only 25 or so flutists in the entire country. "The ability to perform at such an exclusive and prestigious event is exciting for us," she said. "Our group is reveling in this recognition."
MEDIA CONTACT: Maizee Zaccone | 724.738.2091 | mxz1016@sru.edu