We Are the ECU Flute Studio
Experience the thrill of playing the flute at a professional level! Degree plans include: Flute Performance Music Education Music Therapy (optional music minor) Guided Instruction You will receive weekly private lessons, play works in progress for weekly Flute Studio performance classes, and participate in Orchestral Excerpt Classes, where major excerpts from the great orchestral works used in professional auditions are studied and put into practice in ensemble placement auditions every semester. Musical Opportunities Students will be encouraged to participate in competitions, both at the state and national levels, and to compete with themselves in a nurturing environment that puts the music first. Achieve your Musical Goals! Our flute graduates perform in orchestras, wind ensembles, rock bands and jazz bands with national and international outreach. They teach flute in universities and colleges and create their own private studios. ECU grads have gone on to win scholarships for graduate study at Mannes Conservatory, Cincinnati College-Conservatory, the Peabody Institute and New York University, among others. ECU Flute Studio grads have been hired as faculty for public and private school music programs in North Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, Maryland and Texas school systems. They also intern and work professionally as music therapists nationwide. Recent Guest Artist Masterclasses and Performances ECU Flute Symposium CAROL WINCENC, COMING APRIL 11-13, 2024 (see Events) Julietta Curenton 2023 Aleksandr Haskin 2022 Timothy Hagen 2019 and More! |
Mission
To inspire and be inspired to creative artistic expression through deeper discovery of the flute. To explore the flute literature in a wide range of musical styles and periods, with the ultimate aim of advancing our technique and musicianship to our full potential with a deep commitment to effective practice. To develop our ability to respond to new performance environments with grace and ease. To train intensively as individuals and together to make ourselves employable as music professionals and performers on the flute. To enrich our world and to pass music on to others. |
CURRENT STUDENTS [SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION!]
Robert "Dale" Cox is a senior majoring in flute performance. He is the recipient of the Rhonda J. Fleming Award from the Greenville Choral Society. Dale has served as Principal Flute in the ECU Symphony Orchestra and the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble and is the flutist for the Seven Seas Woodwind Quintet. He is founder and director of Pride and Joy, all-community saxophone ensemble in Greenville NC. He has been a masterclass performer for Göran Marcusson and Stephen Preston at Wildacres Flute Retreat in Little Switzerland, NC.
Dale's senior recital is Saturday, April 6, at 7:00 pm, in A. J. Fletcher Music Center Recital Hall. It is open to the public and free of charge.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.
Dale's senior recital is Saturday, April 6, at 7:00 pm, in A. J. Fletcher Music Center Recital Hall. It is open to the public and free of charge.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.
Emma Kiriloff is a senior majoring in music therapy. Originally from Pennsylvania, she is preparing for interviews for internship opportunities to finish degree requirements. Emma is a recent winner of the Student Research Poster Award for the Music Therapy Association Convention in Atlanta, GA.
Emma's senior recital will take place Sunday, April 7, at 1:00 pm, in A. J. Fletcher Music Center Recital Hall. It is open to the public and free of charge.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.
Emma says, “music is pretty much everything to me. It especially helped me through
some rough times in my life and helped me to become a stronger person, even with aspects of my life outside of music."
Emma's senior recital will take place Sunday, April 7, at 1:00 pm, in A. J. Fletcher Music Center Recital Hall. It is open to the public and free of charge.
Individuals requesting accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should call 252-737-1016 (voice/TTY) at least 48 hours prior to the event.
Emma says, “music is pretty much everything to me. It especially helped me through
some rough times in my life and helped me to become a stronger person, even with aspects of my life outside of music."
Jessie Luke is a junior in majoring in music education. She comes to us from Four Oaks, NC, and is our current Principal Flute in the ECU Symphony Orchestra. Jessie's goal is to become a high school band director in North Carolina.
She dreams of having a job in music that is close to the home and people she loves.
Jessie had heard of the music education program at ECU and felt drawn to the program.
She dreams of having a job in music that is close to the home and people she loves.
Jessie had heard of the music education program at ECU and felt drawn to the program.
Delainey Scott is a sophomore from Jacksonville, NC, majoring in flute performance. This semester she is performing with the ECU Symphonic Band as piccolo soloist and participates in the Marching Pirates.
Delainey dreams of playing the flute as a career, though exactly what form her professional life will take is still flexible.
“I chose ECU because I knew a lot of people who went here (including family) and band directors with whom I had worked in the past who really liked it.”
Delainey dreams of playing the flute as a career, though exactly what form her professional life will take is still flexible.
“I chose ECU because I knew a lot of people who went here (including family) and band directors with whom I had worked in the past who really liked it.”
STUDENTS BEGINNING THEIR PROFESSIONAL CAREERS in NC SCHOOLS
Shiloh Waite Is a senior with a double concentration in flute performance and music education. She is now interning as a student teacher in the NC public schools. Shiloh was awarded the 2023 Bill McCloud Scholarship, bestowed on outstanding students in music education by the NCMEA. She was also a 2023 recipient of the Thomas W. Rivers Study Abroad Award for the Taiwan Chamber Music/Chinese Language and Culture Study Abroad Program, where, along with support from the #ECUHonors program for study abroad, she studied and performed with faculty and students of the University of Taipei. Shiloh has served as Principal Flute in the ECU Symphony Orchestra and the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble. She performed her senior recital in November, 2023.
“The main reason I’m majoring in music is that I’ve loved it since I was little, and my whole family is involved in it. I want to be a band director, because I love seeing the light in the students’ eyes when they get it.”
“The main reason I’m majoring in music is that I’ve loved it since I was little, and my whole family is involved in it. I want to be a band director, because I love seeing the light in the students’ eyes when they get it.”
Sydney Neri
is a senior in music education who is currently student teaching in the NC Triangle Area public school system. Sydney performed her senior recital in November of 2023. She has served as Principal Flute in the ECU Symphony Orchestra, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and as Section Leader for the piccolos of the Marching Pirates. Sydney is the current Treasurer for NAfME. Sydney has performed professionally in Eastern North Carolina and hopes to continue.
is a senior in music education who is currently student teaching in the NC Triangle Area public school system. Sydney performed her senior recital in November of 2023. She has served as Principal Flute in the ECU Symphony Orchestra, the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and as Section Leader for the piccolos of the Marching Pirates. Sydney is the current Treasurer for NAfME. Sydney has performed professionally in Eastern North Carolina and hopes to continue.
- “I started music really young. I enjoyed the expressiveness of it, because you have to feel the emotion of the music in order to play with musicality.
Recent Graduates--Where Are They Now?
Juliano Dutra Aniceto has been continuing his studies in the Doctor of Musical Arts program under Marin Alsop, one of the world's most distinguished conductors, since fall 2020 at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. Juliano is a conductor and flutist from Brazil, who earned the Master of Music in conducting at East Carolina University in May 2020, where he had a teaching assistantship in conducting under Dr. Jorge Richter and studied flute with Dr. Christine Gustafson. Juliano studied flute at the Villa-Lobos School of Music in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil as well, taking lessons with Carlos Alberto Rodrigues and Eugenio Ranevsky, participating in flute masterclasses with Raffaele Trevisani and Danilo Mezzadri. As a conductor, Juliano has his bachelor’s degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, where he studied with Ernani Aguiar. He has studied conducting for a number of years with Claudio Cruz and has been a participant in masterclasses with Kenneth Kiesler, Isaac Karabtchevsky, Johannes Schlaefli, Osvaldo Ferreira and Kurt Masur. Professionally, Juliano has been Assistant Conductor of São Paulo State Youth Orchestra, Assistant for Operatic Productions in the São Pedro Theater and conducted orchestras including the East Carolina University Symphony Orchestra, São Paulo University Symphony, Orquestra Experimental de Repertorio, São Paulo State Youth Orchestra and São Pedro Theater Youth Orchestra, among others.
Cassie (Baker) Harglerode earned the Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy. One of Cassie's favorite activities in her degree program was working with her geriatric music therapy clients. She also loved being a part of various ensembles at ECU, including the marching band, pep band, flute choir, symphony orchestra, and wind ensemble, where she held the principal position this semester. Cassie was the treasurer for her music fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota, and loved being able to serve the school and community through this organization. Cassie is now working as a music therapist continues to teach flute in the community. She married Austin Harglerode on December 31, 2023!
"Because music speaks to everyone in a special and uniquely personal way, it has the power to move, to heal, to comfort and to give the strength to keep going. As a music therapist, I would like to use the power of music to help heal other people.”
"Because music speaks to everyone in a special and uniquely personal way, it has the power to move, to heal, to comfort and to give the strength to keep going. As a music therapist, I would like to use the power of music to help heal other people.”
Jessica Blanchet graduated in May 2022 as a music education major from Durham, NC. She Captured her dream job conducting the bands at White Oak High School in Jacksonville, NC. She has a strong connection with family in Lafayette, LA, where she grew up until she was eight years old. When she has spare time, Jessica likes to paint. Her favorite medium is acrylic, though she enjoys watercolor, and she also likes to watch Netflix. We are so thriled with your success, Jess!
“Music runs deep in my family. All my cousins play instruments. I knew I wanted to teach music from late middle school and was definite by sophomore year of high school. I remember when I first said I wanted to play flute, my grandfather said, ‘it’s too hard, you want to play clarinet.’ I was in fifth grade, and I really remember that conversation. It was around Christmas time, and I had heard a flute duet playing Christmas music. I was driven to play flute, and that was a big motivator. I’ve enjoyed it ever since.”
“Music runs deep in my family. All my cousins play instruments. I knew I wanted to teach music from late middle school and was definite by sophomore year of high school. I remember when I first said I wanted to play flute, my grandfather said, ‘it’s too hard, you want to play clarinet.’ I was in fifth grade, and I really remember that conversation. It was around Christmas time, and I had heard a flute duet playing Christmas music. I was driven to play flute, and that was a big motivator. I’ve enjoyed it ever since.”
Congratulations to our wonderful (former) flute TA and MM grad in Multiple Woodwind Performance Alexander Busby! He has been hired as Assistant Band Director at Oviedo High School in Florida (close to Orlando and Disney World opportunities!) and has already moved to begin his new position. We rejoice with you, Alex and wish you tremendous good luck in your new position! We look forward to keeping in touch!
Alexander Busby earned the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, magna cum laude, from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Temple, TX (May 2018), and is currently a second-year graduate student pursuing the Master of Music in Multiple Woodwind Performance at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Alex has been published in the national professional instrumental magazine Flute Talk (March 2019) and most recently in The Flute View (September 2019). In January 2020 Alex won the Demarre McGill Masterclass Competition and performed in recital with Demarre at Charleston Southern University, SC. He is a national and international performer, having played widely in Texas and North Carolina as a freelance musician, often in pit orchestras for theater productions, at weddings, in churches and in concert halls in Shanghai and Suzhou, China, and in Taipei, Taiwan. A regular flute/piccolo player in the East Carolina University Symphony, Alex is currently serving as Principal Flute for the fall 2019 academic season and is the founder of the "Less Is More" woodwind trio. He has participated as a performer in extended programs of study at the University of Taipei (Taipei, Taiwan) and New York University Steinhardt School of Music (New York, NY). In addition to his current studies at East Carolina University, Alex is a graduate teaching assistant for woodwind pedagogy/methods, applied flute/saxophone, music history, and group piano. Most recently, he was selected as a Kosciuszko Foundation American, Center for Polish Heritage, scholarship recipient for 2019-2020. Outside of the realm of music, Alex enjoys homelife and travel with his wife Sarah, a nurse at Vidant Medical Center, and their two dogs, Ozzie and Perry.
“I play the flute because, who doesn’t love to play the melody? I think that music is one of the few avenues, where, if you’re feeling angry, upset or happy, or any other feeling, you can always turn around and make something beautiful out of it.”
Alexander Busby earned the Bachelor of Music in Music Education, magna cum laude, from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Temple, TX (May 2018), and is currently a second-year graduate student pursuing the Master of Music in Multiple Woodwind Performance at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Alex has been published in the national professional instrumental magazine Flute Talk (March 2019) and most recently in The Flute View (September 2019). In January 2020 Alex won the Demarre McGill Masterclass Competition and performed in recital with Demarre at Charleston Southern University, SC. He is a national and international performer, having played widely in Texas and North Carolina as a freelance musician, often in pit orchestras for theater productions, at weddings, in churches and in concert halls in Shanghai and Suzhou, China, and in Taipei, Taiwan. A regular flute/piccolo player in the East Carolina University Symphony, Alex is currently serving as Principal Flute for the fall 2019 academic season and is the founder of the "Less Is More" woodwind trio. He has participated as a performer in extended programs of study at the University of Taipei (Taipei, Taiwan) and New York University Steinhardt School of Music (New York, NY). In addition to his current studies at East Carolina University, Alex is a graduate teaching assistant for woodwind pedagogy/methods, applied flute/saxophone, music history, and group piano. Most recently, he was selected as a Kosciuszko Foundation American, Center for Polish Heritage, scholarship recipient for 2019-2020. Outside of the realm of music, Alex enjoys homelife and travel with his wife Sarah, a nurse at Vidant Medical Center, and their two dogs, Ozzie and Perry.
“I play the flute because, who doesn’t love to play the melody? I think that music is one of the few avenues, where, if you’re feeling angry, upset or happy, or any other feeling, you can always turn around and make something beautiful out of it.”
Congratulations to Nathan Graybeal, classical & jazz saxophonist, doubling on flute and clarinet. Nathan recently studied at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, for the Master of Music in Jazz Performance. He won the 2018 ECU Concerto Competition, performing the Glazunov Concerto in 2019 with the ECU Symphony Orchestra. Nathan has performed with the North Carolina All-State Honors Band, Pembroke University’s All Star Jazz Combo and the Fayetteville Symphonic Band, among others. A music scholarship recipient at East Carolina University, he graduated with a double concentration in Music Performance and Jazz Studies under saxophone professor Dr. Jeff Bair. He performed as principle saxophone of the ECU Wind Ensemble, lead alto of the ECU Jazz Ensemble A and as saxophonist for the ECU Billy Taylor Jazz Combo. He studied clarinet with Dr. Douglas Moore-Monroe and flute with Dr. Christine Gustafson. He has a very active YouTube video presence.
“My first dream was to have my own cartoon show. I was into art and drawing and drew every day. I still have my comics. I joined the band because my older brother was in band. Originally I wanted to play drums, but we were required to play a wind instrument first. When it came time to switch, I wanted to stay with saxophone. The amazing YouTube videos I saw really made me want to play better. Great playing changes the atmosphere in the room. I want to stay true to my instrument. I like that the flute is in C! It’s really interesting that it doesn’t need a reed, just lips blowing air at the perfect angle. Flute players all sound different from each other, and I love the individuality, the golden tone of a great player.“
“My first dream was to have my own cartoon show. I was into art and drawing and drew every day. I still have my comics. I joined the band because my older brother was in band. Originally I wanted to play drums, but we were required to play a wind instrument first. When it came time to switch, I wanted to stay with saxophone. The amazing YouTube videos I saw really made me want to play better. Great playing changes the atmosphere in the room. I want to stay true to my instrument. I like that the flute is in C! It’s really interesting that it doesn’t need a reed, just lips blowing air at the perfect angle. Flute players all sound different from each other, and I love the individuality, the golden tone of a great player.“
Molly Griffin is currently a senior music education major at East Carolina University with flute as her primary instrument. She is Collegiate President of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, after serving as the secretary for the ECU NAfME chapter for three years. After serving a year as Vice President on the state board Molly is very excited to take on her new role as NCMEA President. Molly would love to meet new faces and get to know you, so feel free to reach out at at collegiate_president@ncmea.net
She has also been a Music Ambassador for the ECU School of Music for the past two years. Through her roles in these organizations Molly has been able to attend three NCMEA Conferences and Hill Day in Washington DC, as well as leading numerous clinics, lessons, and presentations in middle and high school bands across the state.
On top of her involvement with music education Molly has enjoyed being a member of the ECU Wind Ensemble for the past six semesters, for three of which she was principal flute. Molly has also enjoyed being a member of the ECU Marching pirates for three years, last year marching her second favorite instrument, trombone.
“I chose music education because it has the ability to bring people together despite differences in background. It gives everyone a level playing field. Sometimes people who don’t do as well in other areas find that they are really talented in music. For me, playing the flute has always been a stress reliever and something that is enjoyable and fun. It’s sometimes easy to forget when we are in school and busy with music skills and techniques courses why we started playing in the first place. I started because it brings me joy to play, even just for myself, but also for others.”
She has also been a Music Ambassador for the ECU School of Music for the past two years. Through her roles in these organizations Molly has been able to attend three NCMEA Conferences and Hill Day in Washington DC, as well as leading numerous clinics, lessons, and presentations in middle and high school bands across the state.
On top of her involvement with music education Molly has enjoyed being a member of the ECU Wind Ensemble for the past six semesters, for three of which she was principal flute. Molly has also enjoyed being a member of the ECU Marching pirates for three years, last year marching her second favorite instrument, trombone.
“I chose music education because it has the ability to bring people together despite differences in background. It gives everyone a level playing field. Sometimes people who don’t do as well in other areas find that they are really talented in music. For me, playing the flute has always been a stress reliever and something that is enjoyable and fun. It’s sometimes easy to forget when we are in school and busy with music skills and techniques courses why we started playing in the first place. I started because it brings me joy to play, even just for myself, but also for others.”
Venencia Harris comes to us from Wilson, NC, where she performed with her high school band and enjoyed playing the flute enough to make it the center of her university studies. She is now a senior majoring in music education and is Treasurer of the Beta Psi chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity. Venencia is currently Principal Flute in the East Carolina University Symphonic Band and has also served in the ECU Marching Band piccolo section. When she has time, Venencia enjoys standup comedy and cartoons!
"From the beginning, music was a way to express myself, because I don’t do that a lot vocally. It makes me feel good when I can see the growth in my playing. I didn’t think I could sound the way I do now when I was younger, and it’s good to see all the progress I have made. I started flute in the fourth grade, when my school had a day where you can try out different instruments. They had a blowing device that showed whether your airstream was good, and I did well on it, so my teacher suggested I should play flute. When I was younger I enjoyed playing, but having my friends play with me was the reason I stayed with it. Now it’s something I can’t see myself not doing.”
"From the beginning, music was a way to express myself, because I don’t do that a lot vocally. It makes me feel good when I can see the growth in my playing. I didn’t think I could sound the way I do now when I was younger, and it’s good to see all the progress I have made. I started flute in the fourth grade, when my school had a day where you can try out different instruments. They had a blowing device that showed whether your airstream was good, and I did well on it, so my teacher suggested I should play flute. When I was younger I enjoyed playing, but having my friends play with me was the reason I stayed with it. Now it’s something I can’t see myself not doing.”
Grace Krell is now a senior double-majoring in Biomedical Engineering and Industrial Engineering with a music minor. She was the winner of the East Carolina University Outstanding First Year Student Award in Spring 2019. Grace also won Second Place ($10,000) in the Pirate Entrepreneurship Competition in 2019. As First Place winner of the ECU Round of the Hult Prize for entrepreneurs for her SweetSip eco-friendly straws and was to travel to Peru a part of her award but has had to postpone this trip because of COVID-19 travel restrictions. Grace performed on General Recital in spring 2019 and has played with the audition-only ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, an unusual honor for a freshman. She will resume flute studies for her minor in fall 2020, and we look forward to having her with us again.
“When I was in second grade, my older brother got started in band, and my mother says I got pretty jealous. I wanted to start an instrument and began on the flute. We were in Pennsylvania with a great band director, and I fell in love with the flute. I realized the potential of what music could be through competing for honor bands, and I knew I had to continue playing music in college after we moved to North Carolina.”
“When I was in second grade, my older brother got started in band, and my mother says I got pretty jealous. I wanted to start an instrument and began on the flute. We were in Pennsylvania with a great band director, and I fell in love with the flute. I realized the potential of what music could be through competing for honor bands, and I knew I had to continue playing music in college after we moved to North Carolina.”
Kasey Oregon is a junior from Newport, NC, who came to East Carolina University in hopes of gaining a degree in both music education and flute performance. She studied flute for five years with Anne Searl and performed with West Carteret High School Band under ECU alum Andrew Wright. Kasey participated in All-District Band for four years and ECU Band Camp for two years. In addition, Kasey performed on flute and piccolo with the Eastern Youth Orchestra under the direction of Dr. John B. O’Brien during her junior and senior years of high school. She can currently be found in the piccolo section of the ECU Marching Pirates and has again won a position in the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble during fall placement auditions. Welcome back to ECU, Kasey, we are happy to have you!
“When I was about twelve years old and signing up for band, I chose the flute because I had heard it on the radio and from other places and thought it sounded pretty. That’s exactly why I chose it! Music is a way to express yourself that is often taken for granted, but it is the most important thing in life to me. I’m not completely sure what I want to do with my music yet, but at the moment I’m just seeing where it takes me.”
“When I was about twelve years old and signing up for band, I chose the flute because I had heard it on the radio and from other places and thought it sounded pretty. That’s exactly why I chose it! Music is a way to express yourself that is often taken for granted, but it is the most important thing in life to me. I’m not completely sure what I want to do with my music yet, but at the moment I’m just seeing where it takes me.”
Kimberly Smith is a senior majoring in music education. She is also a student in the ECU Honors College and a recipient of the Maynard Scholarship. As a recipient of the Maynard scholarship, she participates in several College of Education events throughout the year and is an Apple Ambassador. As a music major she has enjoyed performing with several ensembles on campus, including the Flute Choir and the ECU Symphony Orchestra, and this semester she is excited to perform as solo flutist with the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Kimberly is the Vice President of ECU’s chapter of the collegiate National Association for Music Education. Last year she joined Sigma Alpha Iota, a female fraternity on campus dedicated to serving and promoting music in the community. Outside of school, she enjoys serving as the activities committee chair at her church, volunteering at the Humane Society of Eastern Carolina, and working at her new job. On the rare occasion that she has free time, she enjoys watching movies, spending time with friends, and taking spontaneous road trips!
“I love playing the flute because it is a constant challenge and something I can always work on. There is always something I can improve on in my playing, and as with any art form, the world of music is constantly developing, so there is always something new to learn.”
“I love playing the flute because it is a constant challenge and something I can always work on. There is always something I can improve on in my playing, and as with any art form, the world of music is constantly developing, so there is always something new to learn.”
Past Grads with Active Musical Careers:
Jackie Traish
Jessica Dixon Leeth
Meredith Partin
Jackie Traish
Jessica Dixon Leeth
Meredith Partin