Franziska Nabb
music and performing arts lecturer, 308.865.8618
Flutist Brooks de Wetter-Smith, the James Gordon Hanes Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will present a master class for middle and high school students Saturday, Feb. 26, at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Dr. de Wetter-Smith has appeared as a soloist, and has presented masterclasses, throughout the United States, Eastern and Western Europe, the Middle East, South America and Asia. A renowned judge and clinician, Dr. de Wetter-Smith has served as president of the National Flute Association. He recently returned from a semester-long sabbatical in Europe, where he performed solos with orchestras, gave chamber recitals, recorded a new CD and taught master classes. His recordings are available at major record stores.
The master class for middle and high school students will be from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the UNK Fine Arts Recital Hall. The class will include a session on technique and breathing for all students, as well as a coaching session for selected students on their solos and/or for small groups.
The master class will conclude with a noon concert by Dr. de Wetter-Smith. The concert is free and open to the public.
“In the past, flute players from Europe and South America have been invited to present master classes expand the knowledge UNK student have of different cultural traditions of flute playing,” said Franziska Nabb, UNK music department faculty member. There will be a UNK student master class with Dr. de Wetter-Smith on Friday, Feb. 25.
The Fulbright Commission awarded Dr. de Wetter-Smith a Senior Professorship to teach avant-garde performance techniques at the Hochschule fur Musik in Munich, Cologne and the Escola Superior in Lisbon, Portugal. In addition to his expertise in this specialty, his performances and recordings of music from the Romantic period are highly acclaimed. He has found and edited numerous works from that period, several of which are now published by International Music Company and Southern Music Company.
“We are very excited that Dr. de Wetter-Smith is coming to UNK to share his talents with our students, and area middle and high school players,” Nabb said. For more information about the master class, individuals can contact Nabb at 308.237.2909.
“Dr. de Wetter-Smith’s visit falls on the same date as the UNK music department’s open house,” she said. “Guest students and faculty are encouraged to stay on campus for an afternoon of concerts and other music related activities. The entire UNK music faculty will be available for conferences.”
The master class and concert by Dr. de Wetter-Smith are being made possible by grants from Faculty Senate’s Artists and Lecturers Committee; Kearney Area Arts Council and the Office of the Dean of Fine Arts and Humanities.
