West Liberty University music students performed in the Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair recently. The weekend event took place Feb. 21 – 22, 2014 in Reston, Va.
“After an intense Fall ’13 term of choosing repertoire, diving in to learn it, and submitting the necessary application, the West Liberty Flutes heard (on Christmas day) about their acceptance to perform in a showcase concert at the 2014 Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair,” said instructor Wendy Webb Kumer, who is an adjunct faculty member at WLU.
Students who performed include: junior Ian Beabout, Valley Grove, W.Va. and seniors Frank Gustine, Venetia, Pa., Kristina Lipscomb, Hinton, W.Va., Jewlina Matthews, Troy, W.Va. and Sarah Millick, Bloomingdale, Ohio. Majoring in music education, technology, and performance, the students were thrilled to have the chance to participate in this national performance fair, she said.
“The West Liberty Flutes performed beautifully, with gusto, accuracy, confidence and flair. And all this in front of hundreds of professional level flutists! The 25-minute program featured works from many eras and styles and had every flutist playing an additional member of the flute family: piccolo, alto flute, or bass flute. The West Liberty Flutes were well received, enthusiastically applauded, and personally approached after their concert,” Kumer said.
“These musical excursions are always more than just a ‘performance.’ They involve social interaction, long meaningful discussions, group chats, horsing around, serious concentration when rehearsing onsite, shared excitement, anxiety, and finally group pride in the long anticipated performance. The added perks on this trip included an awe-inspiring headliner recital by an internationally renowned flutist, Amy Porter, from the University of Michigan. Her playing wove a spell around everyone, WLU contingency included, inspiring the WL flutists to meet her and find out more about her repertoire!”
The performance site exhibit hall offered myriad enticements for university flute majors: from gold flutes to gift items; from solo repertoire to adventurous chamber works; from ‘give-aways’ to the purchase of much needed accessories. It was a fun worthwhile experience for all ages and levels,” Kumer said.
Kumer graduated summa cum laude from Duquesne University with a major in music education then earned a master’s degree in flute performance from Carnegie Mellon University.
Besides WLU, she has been on the faculties of Carnegie Mellon, Slippery Rock and Duquesne universities and Mercyhurst College teaching flute, music theory, ear training, woodwind methods and flute choir. Kumer also is the founder and director of the Flute Academy in Pennsylvania.
The Division of Music offers undergraduate degrees in music education, music performance and music technology. Among its many ensembles are University Chorus, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and The Hilltopper Marching Band. For more information, please call 304.336.5000 or 866.WestLib.