The Roche Guest Artist Series will be bringing flautist Cobus du Toit, D.M.A., and pianist Doreen Lee, D.M.A., to Mercyhurst on April 9 at 8 p.m. for a recital and on April 10 at 12:45 p.m. to conduct a flute masterclass.
Du Toit studied at the University of Pretoria and received his master’s and doctoral degrees in Flute Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.
In addition, ­du Toit is an internationally renowned flautist and has appeared as a soloist with such orchestras as the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic, the International Symphony Orchestra “Taurida” in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Boulder Philharmonic, the Johannesburg Festival Orchestra and the Boulder Chamber Orchestra.
Their recital will feature Muramatsu’s “Earth,” Adams’ “Misinterpreted Cries” for bass flute and piano, Faure’s “Fantasie,” Coleman’s “WISH Sonatine for Flute and Piano,” Clarke’s “Zoom Tube,” Hall’s “A Room of Quiet” for C flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo and Piano and Harberg’s “Court Dances.”
The masterclass will feature flautists Isaiah Howard, Performance major; Jessica Finney, Music major; and Morgan Dowches, Music Therapy major.
Howard will perform “Les folies d’Espagne” by Marin Marais. Howard said that “this piece is based off the Spanish word folia.”
“Folias have a specific chord progression and tend to be in a minor key,” Howard said.
The piece Howard will play is a theme and variations piece.
While the original melodic line remains the same, it is subject to a great deal of rhythmic variation.
Both the recital and masterclass will take place in Walker Recital Hall.
They are free and open to the public.