My music studio's 2011 Spring Recital was a successful and enjoyable event. As usual, my students chose to play music that was unique to their taste and on this recital we had a lot of fun selections including a number of jazzy pieces. If your child performed in this recital and you would like a photo, I can email you a copy.
Congratulations to Grace McMullen for placing as a finalist at the graduating senior level in the Charlotte Piano Teacher's Forum Auditions! She will be performing one of her contest pieces at an awards recital in May. Grace has been taking piano from me since she began about nine years ago. Now she will be going to college this fall where she plans to continue her study in piano. I'm proud of you Grace! You will be greatly missed!
Congratulations to Michael Yang and Emily Wilkens for getting superior ratings in the 2011 Festival Flute Solo Event! You both played beautifully!
Congratulations to Daniella and Nico Longhi, and Jenna Grace Whelan for receiving a Superior rating in the 2011 Hymn Playing Festival. Well done!
Congratulations to all those who participated in my studio's 2010 Winter Recital. I am so proud of every one of you, especially if you were nervous and played anyway! If you would like a picture of yourself or your child performing, send me an email and I will send you a picture.
Just in time to get you into the Christmas spirit, I will be playing in the lobby of the Wachovia 1 building on December 9th from 11:30 - 1:30. I will be playing the flute accompanied by Christine VanArsdale on the harp. There is nearby seating and a coffee shop, perfect for a relaxed afternoon.
On Saturday, November 20th four of my flute students and four of Christina Beekman's cello students played for an open house event in Waxhaw. Christina and I also performed flute and cello, and double cello duets. We had fun and I think everyone did a great job.
Flute
I recently had a conversation with someone about music, and when I told her I play flute for weddings and events, she asked if I play with other musicians. I told her I do, but she was surprised when I told her that I also perform frequently as a soloist. Contrary to what many people assume, the flute sounds full and complete on its own, and is a beautiful and popular choice for wedding and event music. Solo flute can stand on its own, and here are the reasons why:
It’s Simple - When you listen to music, you probably focus on the melody, and might even hum along with the song, but you probably don’t pay much attention to the harmony beneath the melody. Solo flute gives you a pure and clean melody, and every nuance and expression in the music is highlighted in its simplicity.
It’s Unique - After playing solo flute for weddings, it is common for me to hear people say that they had never heard a flute soloist before and were impressed with its beauty and unique sound. Any time two instruments are played together they blend to create a different sound that is a little like each of the instruments played, but a bit different from both. When the flute is played apart from other instruments, it provides a unique sound that few people have heard.
It’s Affordable – When hiring musicians, it’s important to consider your budget, and solo flute is very budget friendly. With each extra musician you hire, your rates can double, so if you are on a budget, a soloist is the perfect choice.
It’s Versatile - Short on space? A soloist on the flute doesn’t take up much space, and certainly takes up less space than most other musicians
Have an echo? Some venues, particularly churches, have impressive echoes. Locations like Beaver Creek Chapel and Evans Memorial Chapel in Denver are perfect examples. Larger groups may sound muddled if there is too much of an echo, but solo flute has a full and clear sound, that is quite remarkable in these types of buildings.
Outdoor wedding? Flute is an excellent choice for the outdoors because its sound carries better than that of a string instrument. Also, unlike a guitar or keyboard, the flute does not need to be plugged in.
Too many stairs? A flute player has excellent mobility. We are not limited by stairs, grassy lawns, or mountain locations.
Next time you are planning a wedding or event, consider the clear melodies, unique sound, affordability, and versatility of the solo flute.
Listen to Solo Flute Music Samples
Wedding Music in Denver and the Colorado Mountains
music@christenstephens.com
704-275-1855
Copyright 2025 Flute and Strings by Christen Stephens, Ltd.
