THE JAMES PAPPOUTSAKIS FLUTE COMPETITION

Fernando Brandão is a graduate from New England Conservatory (MM), Longy School of Music, (Artist Diploma - Outstanding Performer Award), and from Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (BM). In addition to the Pappoutsakis Competition, Mr. Brandão is a prize winner of competitions in Brazil. He has given courses, workshops and lectures at the New England Conservatory, Northeastern University, University of New Mexico, the National Flute Association Convention in Boston and at Adult Education Centers. He was the music director and arranger of Brasileirinho (a Brazilian folk and contemporary ensemble) for six years, with performances in national and international festivals. In 1988 Brasileirinho released its CD, "Tempero Brasileiro/Brazilian Spice" with rave reviews from The Boston Globe and Bossa magazine. Sponsored by Young Audiences of Massachusetts, they have presented the show A Century of Brazilian Music in several public and private schools. Mr. Brandão is a faculty member of Berklee College, the Community Music Center of Boston, Longy School of Music and King Philip Regional School.

Helen Campos is the featured flutist on Tony award winning Audra McDonald's new CD How Glory Goes.

Christine Fish Moulton recently joined the faculty of Mansfield University as flute instructor. She currently resides in the Lehigh Valley, PA and is a member of the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra and the Allentown Symphony. She also performs regularly with professional orchestras in eastern PA and NY, and has participated in the Spoleto Festivals both in the USA and Italy. Ms. Fish Moulton has been a member of the teaching faculty at the Manhattan School of Music where she earned her Masters Degree. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Rutgers University. Her principal teachers have been Keith Underwood and Bart Fellar.

Alicia DiDonato, originally from Stoneham, MA, holds performance degrees from the New England Conservatory and the Hartt School, where she studied with Fenwick Smith and John Wion. Alicia is an active freelancer in the Boston area, performing with ensembles such as Boston Musica Viva, the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Boston Symphony, and the Boston Pops. A former member of the New World Symphony in Miami, FL, she has twice been a Tanglewood fellow and has also participated in the Norfolk and Aspen music festivals. She has appeared as soloist with the Santa Fe Symphony, the New World Symphony, the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble and the New England Conservatory Sinfonietta.

Áshildur Haraldsdóttir graduated from the Reykjavik Conservatory when she was seventeen. She continued her musical training at the New England Conservatory and at the Juilliard School. She studied with Samuel Baron at Juilliard and continued her studies with Thomas Nyfenger and Alain Marion. A proponent of new music, Ashildur has premiered many new works written for her in Sweden and in the U.S. Ashildur has won first prize in many other competitions, has toured extensively as a soloist in America, Mexico, England, Iceland and Sweden, and has appeared frequently on radio and television.

Lisa Hennessy, the 1994 winner of the Pappoutsakis flute Competition, joined the Portland Symphony Orchestra as principal flutist in the 2000-01 season. She is also principal flutist with the Boston Landmarks Orchestra, and regularly performs with Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Boston Lyric Opera and Boston Ballet. Lisa holds a Master's in Music, with distinction in performance, from the New England Conservatory. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music, summa cum laude, from the University of Houston. While earning her degrees, she studied with Byron Hester, principal flutist of the Houston Symphony, and renowned flute soloist Paula Robison. In 1994, Lisa was also winner of the New England Conservatory's Concerto Competition. Lisa has been a featured soloist on WGBH radio's Boston Performances, and has made recordings for the A & E Cable Network and the Chandos label.

Jessica Lizak, is currently pursuing a DMA at Boston University and received her MM from
the New England Conservatory. She received her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance with Highest Honors from the University of Michigan in 1999. Her other awards include Second Prize in the 1999 Bohemians Club of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition, Honorable Mention for the Yamaha Outstanding Young Artist Award, the Domaine Forget Merit Scholarship, as well as winner of several masterclass competitions. Jessica has been the flutist on the Resident Artist Faculty for the Michigan Allstate Program at Interlochen, Michigan. She was the featured soloist with the New England Conservatory’s Metropolitan Flute Choir. Her past teachers include Fenwick Smith, Leone Buyse, Elizabeth Ostling, Marianne Gedigian, Nina Barwell, and Gregory Zeitlin.

Marianne Gegidian is Principal Flutist with the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra. She performs regularly with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including a season as Acting Principal Flute. Ms. Gedigian has appeared twice as soloist with the Boston Pops under the direction of John Williams. She has also appeared as soloist in Japan and in Yerevan, Armenia where she performed the Khachaturian Violin Concerto with the Armenian Philharmonic. Ms. Gedigian was a first prize winner in the National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition, and the James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition. She is a member of the Boston Conservatory Chamber Players, the Walden Chamber Players, and the newest member of the Dorian Wind Quintet. Ms. Gedigian is currently a faculty member at the Boston Conservatory and the Boston University School for the Arts, Music Division.

Gaspar Hoyos was born in Colombian origin, born in the United States, Gaspar Hoyos studied in Bogotá, Dallas, Boston and Paris. He is currently Principal Flute of the Orchestre Symphonique et Lyrique de Nancy. Mr. Hoyos has performed in South and North America, Europe and Asia. He has appeared in recital in Tokyo, Kobe, Osaka, Nagano, Fukuoka and Shizuoka. In February 2002 he performed as a soloist with the Orchestra of Nancy. His upcoming engagements in France will include master-classes in Paris, Lyon, Nancy, Lille, Macon, La Rochelle, Bourg-en-Bresse. In April 2002 he was a guest performer at the French Flute Festival in Obernai, where he performed as a soloist with the Ensemble “La Follia”. Next season Gaspar Hoyos will be recording as a soloist with the Orquesta Filarmonica de Bogota. He has played at prestigious festivals in Europe (Montpellier - Radio France, Musica Riva, Histria, Guebwiller, 2è festival de Flûte à Paris, 2nd Festival of the Flute, Frankfurt, Festival International à Obernai), in Japan (Japanese Flute Association) the USA (Boston, New York, Chicago) and in South America (Bogota, Cali, Popayan, Lima). A teacher in great demand, he has taught Master-Classes in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagano, Fukuoka, Dallas, Bogota et Lima. Every year he teaches the flute class in Groznjan organized by Jeunesses Musicales. He has been a prize-winner of the Jean-Pierre Rampal Competition, the Markneukirchen Competition, the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition, the Flute Talk Competition, the Sorantin Young Artist Award, the Concours d'Excellence Gaston Crunelle, and the Concours National du Jeune Talent. Photo of Mr. Hoyos.

Stephanie Mortimore is currently piccoloist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Before moving to New York, she was principal flute of the Portland (ME) Symphony Orchestra and an active freelance flutist in the New England area and around the U.S. Stephanie has won a number of competitions, including the following: the 1998 Myrna Brown Competition, resulting in a concerto performance with the Dallas Chamber Orchestra; the 1996 James Pappoutsakis Competition; and the 1995 Union League Civic and Arts Foundation Competition. She received her master's degree from the New England Conservatory of Music, where she studied with Fenwick Smith and Paula Robison. Her bachelor's degree is from DePaul University, where she studied with Mary Stolper. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Stephanie also spent a year studying at the Conservatoire de Genève in Geneva, Switzerland.

Juliana Overmier earned her Bachelor of Music degree in 1987 from DePauw University, where she was a three-time concerto competition winner. In addition to winning the 1989 James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition in Boston she won first prize in the 1992 Concours Artistique Lucien Wurmser in Paris.

While living in Paris, Ms. Overmier attended the Conservatory of Bourg-la-Reine/Sceaux, from which she received a gold medal. In 1994, she was a semi-finalist in the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition. In 1996, she earned her Masters degree in flute performance from the University of Southern California, where she also won the Annual Concerto Competition. Ms. Overmier can be heard on several film soundtracks, including As Good As It Gets and Halloween H20.

Ms. Overmier serves on the board of the Oklahoma Flute Society and maintains a teaching studio in Norman. In 2002, she began her second season as principal flutist for the Light Opera of Oklahoma Orchestra in Tulsa. In addition to her freelance playing, she is a member of the Cimarron Wind Quintet, the Norman Flute Quartet, and is a substitute player for the Tulsa Philharmonic and Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestras.

Hyuncheong Park was born in Seoul and began music lessons at age seven. After graduating from high school, she went to the Juilliard School, studying with Julius Baker and then moved to Germany to study with Andras Adorjan at the College of Music in Cologne and Munich where she received her Bachelor of Music. She is presently enrolled in the Master's degree program at the New England Conservatory of music, studying with Paula Robison. She won several competitions, including the Pappousatkis flute competition, NFA, Chosun, Donga, and Ehwa music competitions. She recently won the first prize at Premio International Valentine Bucchi competition in Italy. She has performed with several orchestras, including the Korean symphony, Pan Asian Symphony and Hungary Budapest chamber orchestra as soloist. Concerto Competition winner at the New England Conservatory she recently performed with the NEC Symphony Orchestra.

Sarah Paysnick is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree at the University of Texas - Austin where she studies with Marianne Gedigian. She studied with Elaine Saloio-Szlosek and played in Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra while in high school. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree from Ithaca College in 2001, as a student of Wendy Mehne. While at IC, Sarah played in the Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Wind Ensemble and Contemporary Chamber Ensemble. After graduating from Ithaca, Sarah spent a year in Santa Barbara, studying with Jill Felber of ZAWA! and performing with the Graduate Flute Quartet and the Ensemble for Contemporary music at the University of California at Santa Barbara. She has played in master classes for Leone Buyse, Tadeu Coehlo, Doriot Dwyer, Jill Felber, Karl Kraber, Wendy Mehne, and Paula Robison.

Les Roettges is a native of Ohio and started his music studies at the age of 6 on the violin. He started playing the piano when he was 8 years old, and began to study the flute when he was 10. While in high school he was a student of Maurice Sharp; Principal Flutist of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra, and was a winner of the Columbus Symphony's Young Artist Competition. Mr. Roettges went on to study at the New England Conservatory of Music, The Paris Conservatory, and The Juilliard School. His teachers have included Robert Stallman, Alain Marion, Julius Baker, and Paula Robison.

Mr. Roettges is currently the Principal Flutist of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He has also played Principal Flute for the Philharmonic Orchestra of Mexico City, the Eastern Music Festival Orchestra, the Colorado Festival Orchestra, Solisti New York, and the Opera Ensemble of New York.

Elaine Saloio Szlosek was awarded second prize in the 1982 Pappoutsakis Flute Competition, was a finalist in 1983, and won first prize in 1987. Elaine is honored to serve as secretary of the Pappoutsakis Competition. She has her B.M. in flute performance from Boston Conservatory of Music and her M.M. in flute performance, graduating with “Distinction in Performance,” from New England Conservatory of Music. She studied with William Grass, Lois Schaefer, and Thomas Nyfenger. Elaine is on the music faculty at Westfield State College, teaches privately, and performs as a soloist and in several chamber and orchestral organizations in the New England area. Elaine resides in Ludlow, Massachusetts with her husband, Fred and is the proud mother of their son, Philip.

Jae-Yoen Shim is currently pursuing a Master's in Flute Performance at New England Conservatory, studying with Fenwick Smith. She has performed as a soloist with the Seoul Chamber Orchestra and the Korean Symphony Orchestra. She has also been the third place winner in the Kyung-won University Competition in Korea and the winner of the Seoul Chamber Ensemble Competition for Woodwind Quintet.

Jin Ta has been busy in his native Singapore since winning the Competition in 1997. He is Principal Flute with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as soloist with them in the 1999 and 2000 concert season.

Rachel Taratoot Ciraldo earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Indiana University where she studied with Jacques Zoon and Thomas Robertello. She earned a Master of Music degree from Boston University studying with Marianne Gedigian. She was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and Hingham Symphony Orchestra. As a member of The Ciraldo Duo, she regularly performs with classical guitarist and husband Nicholas Ciraldo. Together, they have performed internationally and achieved great success in competitions. The duo has worked closely with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and its Education Programs department teaching children music appreciation through performance. She presently resides in Austin, TX, where she has performed with the Austin and Victoria Symphony Orchestras and freelances nationwide.

Heather Zenobia earned her Master of Music degree with honors at New England Conservatory in 2006 and received her Bachelor of Music with highest honors from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 2001. Before joining “The President's Own” United States Marine Band in 2006, Heather served as co-principal of the Hingham Symphony, where she was also a soloist. She received partial fellowships for the Tanglewood Music Festival and the National Orchestral Institute. Heather also attended the National Repertory Orchestra festival where she competed for and won the opportunity to perform Mozart's Concerto for Flute and Harp. She won first prize in the James Pappoutsakis Flute Competition and was an alternate for the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition. Her past teachers include Elizabeth Rowe, Jeanne Baxtresser, and Joshua Smith.

Nicole Millner is a senior at Boston University where she studies with
Geralyn Coticone. She has also studied with Julia Bogorad, Immanuel Davis,
Marianne Gedigian and Elizabeth Ostling and has attended Masterclasses with
Emmanuel Pahud and Keith Underwood.

Ona Jonaityte finished her Master of Music studies at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre in 2006 and was awarded a performer and teacher's diploma. She has participated in master classes held by the William Bennett, Gerard Bourgogne, Pascual Gresset, Barbara Gesler-Hasse. In 2005 she won the First Prize at the international flute competition JuodkrantÄ— 2005 and Second Prize together with the woodwind quintet of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre at the KlaipÄ—da International Competition for Chamber Ensembles and Concertmasters. In 2006 she won the only prize at the YAMAHA woodwind competition. Currently, she is studying at the Boston Conservatory with Prof. Linda Toote.

The Competition is being funded in part by contributions from local flutemakers:

Brannen Brothers, Verne Q. Powell Flutes,
NNI, Inc./Nagahara Flutes, Burkart-Phelan Flutes,
Emmanuel Flutes, Falls House Press, Keefe Piccolos,
Music Espresso, Spectrum Music, and Yesterday Service.