William Bennett
JOHNSON CITY (Jan. 30, 2018) – “Once in a Lifetime,” a Guest Artist Recital by internationally known flutist William Bennett, will be presented Monday, Feb. 12, by the East Tennessee State University Department of Music and Suzuki Studies Program.
In this performance, to be held at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 500 N. Roan St., Bennett will present works by Bach, Schubert, Martinu, Bonis and other composers, accompanied by Lillian Pearson on piano.
Bennett, former principal flute of the London Symphony, has raised the profile of the flute to that of an instrument capable of a wide range of tonal colors, dynamics and expression, giving it the depth, dignity and grandeur of the voice or a string instrument.
Following studies in London and France, Bennett became an international soloist and recording artist who has performed and recorded with artists ranging from harpsichordist George Malcolm, pianist Clifford Benson and various British ensembles to such American artists as Jimi Hendrix and Wynton Marsalis.
Besides the London Symphony, Bennett has been principal flute in the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, the English Chamber Orchestra and other orchestras. He has been professor of flute in the Freiburg Hochschule of Music in Germany, and he teaches at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He also teaches masterclasses all over the world.
In addition to making a balalaika – a Russian stringed instrument – and a guitar while in school, Bennett has made and improved flutes from an early age and has done a lot of work on improving and refining the tuning of the flute. Several makers now make flutes on the “William Bennett Scale.”
He has received Lifetime Achievement awards from the National Flute Association and the Chicago Flute Club, and was appointed the British Flute Society’s “Flautist Laureate.” He was also awarded the title of “Flute of Gold” from the Italian “Falaut” Flute Society.
In January 1995, Bennett was presented the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II for his distinguished services to music.
Bennett’s visit to ETSU is part of a tour that is taking him not only to the U.S., but also to Holland, Singapore, Canada, Lithuania, Belgium, Japan, China and more. Tickets for his performance are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students and may be purchased at www.etsu.edu/music, by calling 423-439-4276 or at the door.
Also during Bennett’s visit to ETSU, he will present a two-day masterclass, in which he will teach Marcel Moyse’s “24 Little Melodic Studies with Variations.” Sessions will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Sunday, Feb. 11, from 1-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. and on Feb. 12 from 1-4 p.m. Admission for both participants and observers is $20 and includes a ticket to the recital. For more information, contact Rebecca Paluzzi, director of the ETSU Suzuki Studies Program, at paluzzir@etsu.edu.