Perfecting Performance in Boston

In September I will be relocating from Christchurch, New Zealand where I have spent the last six and a half years living, studying and working, to Boston in the United States. I will be undertaking study at Boston University in their prestigious Performance Diploma programme. 

The Journey So Far:

I have always loved the sound of the flute and especially the sound of the flute in an orchestra. One of my earliest musical memories is of attending a New Zealand Symphony Orchestra concert, where the first piece of the programme was Debussy's Prelude to An Afternoon of a Faun, which starts with just a lone flute. I was enchanted on first hearing and thought, "I have to do that!"

Fast foward many years and I completed my Master of Music in 2017 at the University of Canterbury, studying under the expert tutelage of Anthony Ferner. To further my musical knowledge I looked overseas on where to go next and applied and auditioned for many schools in the United States, where I was accepted into the Performance Diploma programme, studying under renowned teacher and flute player Linda Toote.

Coming from humble roots in small town New Zealand, moving to one of the major cultural hubs in the United States is just incredible. I was honoured to be awarded a generous scholarship based on my audition at Boston University. 

Why Boston?

Boston is one of the most cultural places in the United States. Home to the world famous Boston Symphony Orchestra, and many other regional orchestras, music is well and truly alive in this city. I was able to spend a week in Boston in February while auditioning, and between the BSO and various other musical institutions I was able to go to a different concert every single night. To be surrounded by such high music making constantly is a dream!

Boston is also a sort of flute-hub, with almost all of the major flute makers being based in or around Boston. This means that the level of flute playing and participation of the flute community is incredibly high!

Boston University also has one of the best Orchestral Programmes in the country. Lead by Maestro Bramwell Tovey (Former conductor of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra), I am incredibly excited to make music alongside my fellow classmates. 

What next:

While I was incredibly fortunate to be offered a generous scholarship to study at Boston University, it does not cover all my tutition, and there are also other fees, including health insurance that I will have to pay for once I arrive in the United States.

Your donation will go towards covering the remainder of my tution and these various extra costs. 

Music has been the biggest thing in my life for as long as I can remember and I am incredibly excited to take this next step on my journey. I hope you will join me!