Adjunct Music Professor Wendy Webb Kumer, and the WLU flute choir enjoyed an opportunity to play at the historic Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts, Pittsburgh, recently.
“The Heinz Hall Grand Lobby concert was amazing! All six WLU flute choir members participated in the 140-member flute orchestra. We played a 35-minute program featuring three world premieres and had two composers in attendance to hear their works for the first time,” said Kumer, who has been a faculty member for 10 years.
The WLU flutes joined other area and university flute choirs to play a special “Grand Lobby” pre-concert at 1:45 p.m., Oct. 26, prior to the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s 2:30 p.m. show that featured the PSO’s Principal Flutist Lorna McGhee in the “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” by Carl Nielsen.
Under the direction of Kumer, who also is president-elect of the Pittsburgh Flute Club and owner of the Flute Academy in Oakland, the massive flute orchestra performed seven works including three original compositions, three world premiers, and four spirited arrangements.
Participating WLU flutists performing in Pittsburgh included: Kumer, Jewlina Matthews, Sarah Millick, Kristina Lipscomb, Ian Beabout, Sarah Jones, Gabriella Saporito and alumni, Frank Gustine ’14 and Aimee Simpson ’05.
“We ranged in age from 11-91. It was an amazing ensemble,” Kumer said. “The Pittsburgh Symphony media relations made a recording of one of our selections where the concerto soloist, PSO principal flutist, Lorna McGhee, joined the throng and played along!”
To enjoy a YouTube recording of the performance, please click here or visit YouTube and search for flutecompulsions. To learn more about WLU’s Department of Music, please visit the College of Arts and Communications or call 304-336-8930. You also may contact Interim Chairwoman for Music Dr. Linda Cowan at lcowan@westliberty.edu.