Ouachita Stories

Dr. John Barcellona, “The Flute Doctor,” will be the featured artist and lecturer at this year’s Flute Seminar, sponsored by Ouachita Baptist University and the Hot Springs Flute Ensemble. The seminar will be held Saturday, March 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus and will include a 2:30 p.m. concert by Barcellona in McBeth Recital Hall that is free and open to the public.

“We have been fortunate to bring in nationally known guest artists yearly for the Flute Seminar, and are excited to welcome Barcellona to this year’s event,” said Kristin Grant, coordinator for the event and assistant professor of music at OBU. Barcellona serves as director of woodwind studies and professor of flute at California State University Long Beach

The morning will open with a lecture by Barcellona on perfecting flute intonation at 9 a.m. in Mabee Fine Arts Center, room 308. That afternoon, an open rehearsal will be held at 1 p.m. in McBeth Recital Hall. Barcellona will perform in his recital at 2:30 p.m. The day will conclude with a master class taught by Barcellona at 4 p.m.

Barcellona’s recital will feature diverse flutes and styles, including the new glissando headjoint for flute, which allows the flute to bend pitches, and performances on Native America flute, piccolo and Baroque flute. Dr. Jackie Flowers, executive director of the Hot Spring Flute Ensemble, will join Barcellona for a Baroque flute duo. Dr. Adam Haas, OBU lecturer in music, will accompany on harpsichord and piano.

“This event is beneficial for Ouachita music students,” Grant said. “It addresses specifics such as music techniques, practicing and performance.” Use of the glissando headjoint, in particular, allows the flutist to slide to notes in a way that Grant describes as “much the same manner as a trombone slides from a high note to a low note.”

Barcellona received his Bachelor of Music degree from Hartt School of Music, Master of Arts degree from CSULB and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California. He currently is a flutist with the Westwood Wind Quintet, a member of the Caliendo Trio, teaches doctoral students at Claremont Graduate University and has numerous recordings. Working as a consultant for the Maramatsu Flute Company, he has designed the Barcellona Model Kori Flute.

His studio credits include recordings for Disney and film scores composed by Christopher Caliendo. Barcellona’s album, Is This the Way to Carnegie Hall?, was nominated by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences for a Grammy Award.

For more information about Barcellona’s visit or registration information for the seminar, contact Kristin Grant at [email protected] or (870) 245-5518.

 

By Lauren Scarbrough