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Panoramic Flutist welcomes high school players

Colorado High School Day at the Panoramic Flutist is Thursday, June 2.

When college flute players come to Boulder this May for the seventh Panoramic Flutist seminar, they’ll be learning alongside high school flutists for the first time.

“I’m excited for the high school students to feel a part of the community that we’ve created,” says Associate Professor of Flute and Director of the Panoramic Flutist, Christina Jennings.

In previous years, the five-day Panoramic Flutist summer workshop has invited adult flutists to the College of Music for master classes, performance, practice and yoga. A separate event for Colorado high school students was held during a different week of the spring or summer.

Jennings says combining the two—hosting a Colorado High School Day in the middle of the Panoramic Flutist—will bring a new layer to the seminar.

The day will bring local aspiring flutists  side-by-side with older students who have chosen the flute as their major," she says. "It will be a wonderful mentoring opportunity!"

The format for the day will resemble a typical Panoramic Flutist day: a joint warm-up exercise, followed by separate classes for high school and college students, a flute choir session and a jazz improvisation class.

There will also be a special treat for the high school students, courtesy of College of Music alum Cobus du Toit.

“He’ll be hosting an All-State clinic. He’s been a judge the last few years so he wanted to share his insights on what works and what doesn’t work, since many of these students will be competing at All-State,” says Jennings.

There will also be a group lunch and a display and session on how to buy a flute by Ellen Ramsey Flutes from Longmont.

Jennings says the day will be a glimpse into what the future could hold if these young musicians decide to continue their careers.

“We’re so happy to invite high school flutists to be a part of the shared experience of Panoramic Flutist,” she says.

Other sessions will include a panel on how to overcome performance anxiety and prepare for auditions. Nancy Stagnitta from the Interlochen Arts Academy will work with the high school students specifically. Lisa Garner Santa of Texas Tech University rejoins the faculty this year, along with Leone Buyse from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music. Powell Flutes and Flutistry Boston will also be on hand.

The seventh Panoramic Flutist is Tuesday, May 31 through Saturday, June 4. Colorado High School Day is Thursday, June 2. The deadline for high school students to register is May 1; the deadline for flutists 18 and older to submit an application is April 15. More information, including registration and a schedule of events, is available on the Panoramic Flutist webpage.