Class Information

Tracy Harris Flute & Piccolo Master Class With Guest Artist Nicola Mazzanti - Piccolo

 May 25-26 2011  2 PM - 7 PM

At College of the Sequoias, 915 S. Mooney Blvd., Visalia, CA. 93277
Music Building - Choir Room

Play Level: Intermediate to Professional
Ages: Age 12 to Adult
Focus: Baroque, Romantic, Classical, Contemporary

1. About Nicola Mazzanti - Powell Artist: This exciting two-day class will feature master classes for piccolo and flute with world renowned piccolo specialist Nicola Mazzanti who currently holds the Solo Piccolo chair in the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, one of Italy's leading symphony orchestras, a position he has held since 1988. He has performed under such musical luminaries as; Music Director Zubin Mehta, Semyon Bychkov, Felix Slatkin, Eduardo Mata, Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa and Georges Prêtre and he is currently on an international tour with Maestro Mehta.   In addition to a 2002 invitation from the Berlin Philharmonic to audition for its solo piccolo chair, Mr. Mazzanti serves as the resident piccolo adviser to the Galway Network and lends his expertise to James Galway master classes.  Mr. Mazzanti's website:

http://www.piccoloflute.it 

1. The class will include: orchestral excerpt classes, performance practice classes, flute choir classes, ensemble practice classes, and much more all offered in a nurturing, supportive environment. 

1. Private Lessons Available: There will be a limited number of private lessons available - please call Ms. Harris directly for details.  (559) 592-9592

1. How to Apply:  Click Here for an Application

1. Class Fees:
   

The class is open to piccolo and flute players of intermediate to professional levels and no audition is required, but space is limited, and the class will be filled on a first come first serve basis.  Auditors are most welcome.  Click Here now to apply.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ATTEND THIS CLASS PLEASE PRINT OUT OUR ON-LINE APPLICATION AND SEND IT IN WITH YOUR DEPOSIT BY MAY 1, 2011.

Contact Information

Master Class Staff:

Tracy Harris: Yamaha Performing Artist & Clinician

Click Here to Read Tracy's Full Biography

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If you have questions about piccolo playing then don't hesitate to post them in the Galway-Flute-Chat.

Nicola Mazzanti graduated in 1982 from the “Luigi Cherubini” Conservatory of Florence after studying with Sergio Giambi. He later attended courses and masterclasses with important soloists such as Mario Ancillotti, Aurèle Nicolet, Maxence Larrieu, Emmanuel Pahud and James Galway. A turning point in his education was the meeting with Raymond Guiot at the Italian Flute Academy in Rome, from which he graduated upon completion of a three-year program. He also attended two seminars on the interpretation of Bach and Telemann held by Barthold Kuijken. In 1986, Nicola Mazzanti earned a degree with full marks from D.A.M.S. ( University of Arts and Music) with a thesis in Music History. His cultural curiousity also led him to explore the historical and scientific aspects of his activity: first of all, the relationship between practice and musical performance and the correct use of the body ( he studied the Alexander and Feldenkrais techniques and attended conventions which dealt with common professional illnesses in musicians). He also pursued the study of physics in the flute’s sound production.

Nicola has been the piccolo flute soloist in the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra since 1998; his performance received acknowledgements from conductors such as Mehta, Bychkov, Slatkin, Mata and many others. In previous years, he played in many important national orchestras: RAI in Milan, ATER in Parma, ADIMOS in Florence, Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia. A finalist in the European Youth Orchestra (E.C.Y.O.) in 1984, he also played in the Italian Youth Orchestra (O.G.I.) Between 1992 and 1996, he played as first flute in the Akronos Symphonic Orchestra of Prato. In 1999, he was invited by Claudio Abbado to play as solo piccolo flute with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra in the opera “Falstaff”. In 2002 he was asked to audition for “solo piccolo flute” in the Berliner Philharmoniker.

He performs intensely both as a soloist and with chamber music ensembles in Italy and abroad. Lately, he has often played music composed by his fellow-citizen Cesare Ciardi and has also performed soundtracks from famous films with the “Nino Rota” trio on an international tour. In order to diffuse the piccolo flute repertoire, in 2001 he gave a recital for piccolo flute and piano during “Flautissimo”, the Italian flute symposium. In 2002, during “Syrinx day” in Rome, he performed “Onivatto” (for piccolo flute and piano) by Raymond Guiot, an italian première. Nicola Mazzanti has also been invited to perform at the Vienna Flute Festival for the year 2003. On this occasion, he'll play "Il labirinto dell'anima" for piccolo and orchestra of Raffaele Bellafronte, a world premiére.

Nicola teaches both flute and piccolo. Since 1982, he has taught at the “G.Verdi” music school in Prato. Between 1995 and 2001, he also taught at the “Teodulo Mabellini” school of Pistoia. He has also held three flute courses for the “Harmonia” association in Florence as well as a piccolo course for the “G. Verdi” school of Prato. Since 2001, he has held annual courses in piccolo flute at the “Esperienze Musicali” association based in Rovigo and at the Italian Flute Academy in Rome, where he co-operates with both Raymond Guiot and Angelo Persichilli. In 2002, he was invited to hold masterclassses during both the “Severino Gazzelloni” International Flute Festival in Roccasecca and the “Gazzelloni Days” in Florence. He also contributes regularly to “Syrinx”, the Italian Flute Academy’s quarterly magazine, with a column on the piccolo flute, its technique and repertoire.

http://www.piccoloflute.it

http://www.facebook.com/nicola.mazzanti

http://www.myspace.com/piccoloflute

http://www.powellflutes.com/studio/studio_t3/studio_search.asp?a=artist&ArtistID=119

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mazzanti

http://cdbaby.com/cd/mazzanti2

Nicola Mazzanti currently serves as Solo Piccolo of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, one of Italy's leading symphony orchestras, a position he has held since 1988. His performances have received praise from the many elite conductors who conduct the orchestra, including Music Director Zubin Mehta, Semyon Bychkov, Felix Slatkin, Eduardo Mata, Riccardo Muti, Claudio Abbado, Seiji Ozawa and Georges Prêtre. Orchestral career highlights include a 2002 invitation from the Berlin Philharmonic to audition for its solo piccolo chair, an invitation from Claudio Abbado to perform Verdi’s Falstaff under his direction in the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and performing in Maestro Mehta's production of Puccini's Turandot which was performed and filmed in China.
Mr. Mazzanti performs frequently as both a flute and piccolo soloist and in chamber ensembles in Italy and abroad. In his role of advocate for the piccolo as a solo voice, he has performed at the 2008 “Flautissimo” Falaut Festival (Italy), the first International Piccolo Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska (USA) in 2007, the 2006 International Convention of the British Flute Society, the 2005 National Flute Association Convention in San Diego, California, the 2003 Vienna Flute Festival and in several Italian Flute Conventions.

Since 2001, he has held annual piccolo courses at the “Esperienze Musicali” association in Rovigo and at the Italian Flute Academy in Rome. He is frequently invited to give masterclassses for flute associations and music schools in Italy and abroad. He writes a regular column on piccolo technique and repertoire in Syrinx, the Italian Flute Academy’s quarterly and has released two solo CD's. His web site is a regular destination for dedicated piccolo players.

Mr. Mazzanti is a 1982 graduate of the “Luigi Cherubini” Conservatory of Florence, where he studied with Sergio Giambi. He later took lessons or participated in masterclasses given by James Galway, Aurèle Nicolet, Maxence Larrieu, Raymond Guiot, Emmanuel Pahud, and Mario Ancillotti. In 1986, he earned an additional degree in Music History With Honors from D.A.M.S. (University of Arts and Music).
Since 1982, Mr. Mazzanti has taught both flute and piccolo at the G.Verdi School of Music in Prato, a small city near Florence where he was born, raised and continues to live For more information visit http://www.piccoloflute.it

CD Listings

The Crazy Acrobat
Six premiere recordings for piccolo and piano
Nicola Mazzanti, piccolo
Giovanni Verona, piano
View CD

Staff Accompanist for the Tracy Harris Flute Master Class: Concert Pianist, Svetlana Rudikova-Harris

Svetlana "Lana" Harris' performances have been described as "outstanding" and "magical". She has been featured as a concert pianist, choral conductor, composer, vocal music arranger, and vocal accompanist in over 160 concerts in Russia, its adjoining countries such as Ukraine and Georgia as well as the United States. Mrs. Harris has lived in the United States for over 9 years and is well versed in Western pedagogical techniques. Mrs. Harris graduated with the Highest Honors from the Krasnodar Academy of Arts and Culture in Krasnodar, Russia, with a Masters Degree in Piano Performance, Piano Accompaniment and Choral Conducting in 1990. Mrs. Harris served as assistant chairperson of the Opera department in the Academy as well as Chairperson of the Vocal Accompaniment Department. Mrs. Harris has performed with such renowned artists as Alexander Malinin, Concert Pianist with the Moscow Conservatory of Music, Sergei Dorensky, Concert Pianist with the Moscow Conservatory, Natalia Kirichenko, Concert Soloist and Chief of the Vocal department of the Krasnodar Academy of Music. Mrs. Harris is the winner of many competitions, both national and international and has received various gold medal awards for outstanding performance. Mrs. Harris has held the position of staff accompanist for the College of the Sequoias music department and is a highly sought after vocal and instrumental accompanist. She is also the accompanist for Yamaha Performing Artist Tracy Harris and is the pianist in the award winning Wyndfall Trio. Mrs. Harris has played with the Santa Maria Symphony and the Tulare County Symphony among others.
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