CD of concertos to be released, including two written for April Clayton

April Clayton completed a project performing and recording with the BYU Chamber Orchestra. Included on the resulting new CD are two compositions which were written for her: the Todd Coleman Flute Concerto, commissioned through BYU’s Barlow Endowment, and Murray Boren’s Elegy. Her CD is currently being edited, and will be released on the Tantara record label this year. In addition to the new works, Ms. Clayton recorded the Lukas Foss Renaissance Concerto (previously commissioned through the Barlow Endowment), as well as the Mozart Flute Concerto in D Major with April’s original cadenzas.

April Clayton at the Ecole Normale…. Pictured with members of the European American Musical Alliance.

Continuing Projects in Paris

April Clayton has strong ties to the enormously respected French school of flute playing and flute literature. She began her collegiate flute studies with Michel Debost at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. For many years Mr. Debost had been the flute professor at the Paris Conservatory. In her later studies at The Juilliard School, Ms. Clayton’s doctoral document was entitled The French Flute Sonata and Sonatine from Debussy (1915) to Boulez (1946). She now continues her work with French music through the European American Musical Alliance, which holds a summer program in Paris each year. She is Dircetor of the Chamber Music Program there. For information, visit www.eamusic.org. Additionally, during the 2007-2008 school year, Ms. Clayton spent half a year in Paris while on her sabbatical. She was a guest artist instructor at the Conservatoire M.J.C. du Vesinet and the Centre de Musique F. Hasselmann, gave concerts in Paris, Zurich, and London, and furthered research on her doctoral document topic for future publication.

Carnegie Hall concert of premieres

Continuing her commitment to new music, April Clayton performed a concert of premieres at Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall on April 22, 2008. Included were the following premieres of flute works, written for Ms. Clayton:

Lance Horne: Ouroboros for flute and piano, performed with the composer at the piano
--Lance was the winner of an Emmy in June, 2008

Harold Meltzer: Giraffes (revised) for flute and piano
--Harold Meltzer is the winner of the 2008 Barlow Prize for composition

Philip Lasser: Ballade for flute and strings

Eric Sessler: Sawmill Sunshine for flute and piano
Manuel Sosa: Et-cetera for flute, guitar, viola, contrabass, and percussion

Congratulations to students of April Clayton!

During the 2009-2010 school year, students of Dr. Clayton accomplished the following:

A number of Dr. Clayton’s flute students were involved in the 2009 National Flute Association Convention in New York City. Jennifer Nealon was one of three piccolo soloists chosen nationally from taped audition to play in the Piccolo Masterclass Winners events. Ryan Foley was one of three students asked to perform in the masterclass of Jeanne Galway. Yae-Jin Ha was also chosen from taped audition to be part of the NFA High School Flute Choir.

Seniors Annie Elmer, Jenni Nealon, Amy Honka, and Rachel Woodfield were accepted into graduate school programs including those at Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Brigham Young University, Peabody Conservatory, University of Michigan, University of North Texas, University of the Pacific, and University of Colorado at Denver.

Amber Packard, Nicole Okeson, and Danielle Kjar Priest were admitted to the European American Musical Alliance Summer Program in Paris, France.

Annie Elmer and Amber Packard won the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra Concerto Competition and performed a double flute concerto with the orchestra.

Amber Packard won the state and regional divisions of the Music Teacher’s National Association Woodwind Young Artist competition, and was one of two flutists chosen to compete in the national finals in Albuquerque. Amber was also one of three flutists chosen by taped audition to play for Jeanne Baxtresser at the South Carolina flute club events which featured her.

Annie Elmer was one of four flutists chosen from a national audition tour to perform at the Chautauqua Music Festival.

Stephanie Layton won the BYU Wind Symphony Concerto Competition, and performed as concerto soloist several times with the Wind Symphony on their tour to

Former BYU student Alicia Christensen was placed on the substitute musicians list with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra.

During the years 2006-2008, students of Dr. Clayton accomplished the following:

Margaret Bennett, Sakura Fujiwara, Kiersten Halladay, Sherry Lowry, Gina Luciani, and Nadine Watson Luke were accepted to top music programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels including: Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, Rutgers, University of Colorado at Boulder, University of Michigan, University of Southern California, and The Colburn School.

Gina Luciani, in addition, won the Utah Flute Association Scholarship Competition. The UFA gives this award to one graduating high school senior annually. Gina has been Principal Flute with the Utah Youth Symphony.

Sarah Smith, who earned her M.M. at BYU, won the position of Principal Flute with the Salt Lake Symphony (formerly held by flutist Laurel Ann Maurer).

Angela Rich, who completed her B.M. at BYU and graduate work at Arizona State University, has joined the faculty teaching flute at Brigham Young University-Idaho for the 2008-2009 school year.

Amber Packard was showcased on the PBS radio program “From the Top.” She can still be heard on the production’s Radio Show Archive online.

Annie Elmer won third place in a mock orchestral audition competition held at the Aria International Summer Academy. She also attended the Cincinnati Flute Symposium and the Kujala Summer Masterclasses at Northwestern University, having been accepted to all three programs as a performer.

Erica Harper, Jenni Nealon, and Kelsey Ballif were accepted into the European American Musical Alliance’s Summer Program in Paris, France, as chamber musicians.

Students Kimberly Schrader Andre, Adrienne Tedjamuliah, Meleece Cheal Orme, and Rachel Woodfield won prizes in the Utah State Fair Senior Woodwind Competition including the First Place prize in both 2007 and 2008, Third Place, and Honorable Mention.

Kim Andre also won the Utah Music Teachers’ Association Young Artist Woodwind Competition. She was accepted as a performer in Alexa Still’s summer flute masterclass. Kim was also awarded the 2007-2008 BYU Graduate Research Fellowship Award. As a result, she spent several weeks of research in Germany.