Member Spotlight-Erika Andres

Get to Know...Erika Andres

We’ve been so pleased to have so many flutists join us for the first time this year! Among that group is Erika Andres, Erika joined this fall as part of her entry in our first Flute Artist Competition. She was chosen as one of the finalists by our panel of judges in the recorded screening round and will compete in the final round Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Indiana University of Pennsylvania during the Carter Pann Premiere Weekend and Residency at IUP.
 
Erika is joining several other FNMC members (most of whom are fellow graduate students at FSU) in a recital of FNMC works at the Florida Flute Association Convention on Saturday, January 27, 2018. Erika will perform our first commissioned work, Confluence for flute alone by Zhou Long.
 
Q&A with Erika…
 
What about new music for the flute appeals to you?
As wonderful as all of the classical and standard pieces in the flute repertoire are, I believe it is equally important to promote and play music of the present time as well.  New music is also very exciting as a performer, as, it not having been played thousands of times before, you can really play with your own personality and interpretation.  It is still of course important to try to be true to what the composer intended, so it is great that with new music, you have the opportunity to communicate with the composers and help them realize their visions of their works.
 
When did you join FNMC and what attracted you to the organization?
I just recently joined FNMC back in the fall.  As both a flute performer and a composer myself, I was very interested in this organization's energies to actively promote new music for the flute.  I am very excited to be part of these efforts and am honored to be a finalist for their first Flute Artist Competition.
 
Do you have any upcoming events that you would like our friends and followers to know about?
On Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 5:45-6:30pm in Orlando, Florida, there will be a concert of several of FNMC's commissioned works, and I will be playing Zhou Long's Confluence.  If you are attending the FFA convention, stop by and see this recital!
Also, on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 7:30pm, I will be giving my Master’s recital and will be playing a variety of repertoire of many styles and from different eras, one of these pieces being FNMC's newly commissioned work, Skinscape, by Bekah Simms.  It will be held in FSU's Dohnányi Recital Hall in Tallahassee, so if you are in Florida at the time, please come hear it!
 
More About Erika…
Erika Andres is an avid performer of new music for the flute and enjoys composing as well.  She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree for flute performance at Florida State University where she studies flute with Eva Amsler.  She received her Bachelor’s degree for flute performance and music composition at Armstrong State University where she studied flute with Lorraine Jones and composition with Randall Reese.

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