February 26, 2009
Flutist Paula Robison to perform twice with UW faculty, students
Renowned flutist Paula Robison of the New England Conservatory, in residence at the UW School of Music March 1-4, will present two chamber music recitals with UW faculty artists and student performers.
Robison will perform in a chamber music recital at 5 p.m. Sunday, March 1, in Brechemin Auditorium. The recital will feature UW faculty artists Melia Watras and Donna Shin and Seattle violinist Michael Jinsoon Lim. Works by Beethoven, Debussy, Berlioz, and Mozart are on the program. Tickets are $15, cash or check at the door.
And then Robison will give a guest artist recital at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3, in Meany Hall. She will perform works by Vivaldi and Bach with School of Music faculty artists Donna Shin, Carole Terry and Ron Patterson, and UW music students. Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors.
Robison also will participate in a celebration of Flute Day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at the School of Music. The day will feature free activities, vendors’ exhibits, a collegiate competition, master classes, and presentations. It’s free and open to the public.
Paula Robison was born in Tennessee to a family of actors, writers, dancers, and musicians. Music claimed her heart when she was 12 years old and she knew she wanted to become a flutist. Study at the Juilliard School followed, with summers at the Marlboro Music Festival. When she was 20, Leonard Bernstein invited her to be a soloist with the New York Philharmonic.
When she gave her New York recital debut under the auspices of Young Concert Artists, The New York Times wrote: “Music bursts from her as naturally as leaves from trees.” Soon after that, she became the first American to win First Prize at the Geneva International Competition, and her career as a world-traveling, groundbreaking flute soloist was launched.
When the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center was formed, Robison was invited to join as a founding artist member. She performed with the society for 20 seasons. During the same time she was co-director of the chamber music concerts at the Spoleto Festivals, presenting many great artists early in their careers. She was awarded the Adelaide Ristori Prize for her contribution to Italian cultural life.
Robison has taught at the Juilliard School and given classes all over the world. In the fall of 2005 she rejoined the faculty of The New England Conservatory as the first occupant of the newly-endowed Donna Hieken Flute Chair. She received an honorary doctorate from the San Francisco Conservatory in May of 2008, and in November of 2008 she was honored by the Classical Recording Foundation with its annual Samuel Sanders Award at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Hall. Robison’s master classes at the Diller Quaile School of Music in New York, NY, attracting an international group of professional players and advanced students, is now entering its fourth season.
For more information about the recitals, Flute Day or other programs offered by the School of Music, visit online at www.music.washington.edu.
