Amara
Guitry graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1998 with degrees
in both historical and modern flute performance. While at Oberlin she
was a pupil of Michael Lynn, Michael Debost and Kathleen Chastain. In
2000 she graduated with a Master's Degree in modern flute performance
from Ohio State University, where she studied with Katherine Borst Jones.
She has performed with Apollo's Fire, the Cleveland Baroque Orchestra, in their 1997 production of Rameau's Les Indes Galantes. Under the auspices of the University of Pittsburgh, took part in the first modern performance of C.P.E. Bach's St. Matthew Passion.
Ms. Guitry was one of only two Baroque flutists selected to become a participant in the newly initiated apprenticeship program with the leading period instrument orchestra of England, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. She received a first prize award at the 2002 American Bach Soloists' International Baroque Oboe and Flute Competition and was invited back to play as a soloist with the ABS in performances of Bach's Suite in B Minor.
Amara Guitry will be available to give private lessons in addition to helping Stephen Preston with the running of his class.
Introduction to Traverso is a class for silver flute players who would like to learn to play the baroque flute, or traverso, as it is called. What at first appears to be a new technique is simply giving your established flute technique a different emphasis. You will become aware of a unique finger management required for working without keys and the necessity of keeping a calm and gently flowing air-stream to achieve a beautiful sonority on cross-fingerings. The control of intonation is closely related to the quality of tone production, for the use of baroque intonation develops the ear and concepts of sonority. The technical requirements to play the baroque flute will increase your understanding of interpretation; including articulation, breathing, dynamics and musical expression.
The subtleties of traverso playing will help you to gain new insight into the processes of composers such as Bach, Handel and Mozart and will give you a new perspective on and innovative ideas for performance on the modern flute. The instrument itself and the way it contributes to our understanding of interpretation is taken seriously by most of the world’s leading Boehm flute players, a number of whom, including Goran Marcusson, have a working knowledge of the traverso.
The Intermediate Traverso Class is a continuation of the ideas and goals of the (Introductory) Beginner’s class. It is suitable for those players who feel ready to move on from the beginners and for flutists who have some prior experience playing the baroque flute and would like to consolidate and extend their knowledge. The class will build the player’s skill and knowledge in:
In addition, players will work on techniques and application of baroque trills and ornamentation. Ensemble playing will assist in building a new awareness of intonation. Exploration of ideas and interests of those taking the class will be an important element in the intermediate class.
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