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Mercedes Smith

News

August 26, 2018Brandenburg Concerti with the Utah SymphonyMs. Smith will be featured as soloist with the Utah Symphony in nine performances of J.S. Bach's Brandenburg Concerti during the 2018-2019 season.
July 12, 2018Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto with the Utah SymphonyMercedes Smith and harpist Matthew Tursky will perform Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto with the Utah Symphony Wednesday, July 18th at St. Mary's in Park City as part of the Deer Valley Music Festival. Tickets: https://my.usuo.org/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=20961
October 18, 2014Utah Flute Association Recital Success!Mercedes' recent recital raised over $1000 for flutist Carson Tueller who is recovering from a spinal cord injury and training for the Paralympic Games.

Twitter

Thu Sep 06 22:00Finally getting those violin lessons I always wanted! Just kidding. I’m now on the board of El Sistema@Salty Cricke… https://t.co/nFoeCU1iov
Wed Sep 05 00:54And... the 2018-2019 @utahsymphony season is off to a running start! Two rehearsals down and about 500000000 more t… https://t.co/BbyxfT53n3
Mon Sep 03 17:13Anybody else laboring on Labor Day? This is what my fresh, clean part for East Wind (by Shulamit Ran) looks like on… https://t.co/EsCXZ9rh5w
Fri Oct 13 20:47Wednesday October 18, 8:30 PM. Tickets at https://t.co/SuOUgo0iiA https://t.co/F6GnL2z8qz
Thu Oct 12 20:35Practicing for @SkyVenueSLC Oct 18th! tickets at https://t.co/HLkaSiOXUy https://t.co/tLQXZQfVVF
Mercedes Smith is Principal Flutist of the Utah Symphony. A Texas native, she served as Principal Flutist of the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet Orchestras for nearly a decade. She has performed with the Seattle Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Houston Symphony, and served as Principal Flutist of the Pacific Symphony during the 2010-2011 season. Awarded First Prize in the National Flute Association’s 2010 Young Artist Competition, Ms. Smith was also the Second Prize winner of the 2007 Haynes International Flute Competition and top prizewinner of the Manhattan School of Music Concerto Competition Ms. Smith has performed multiple times in Carnegie Hall, Europe, and Asia, and will perform as guest Principal Flutist for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's 2018 European Tour. Currently on the faculty of the Miami Summer Music Festival, in previous summers she has performed at the Grand Teton Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Tanglewood, Music Academy of the West, Verbier Festival Orchestra, and Marlboro Music Festival. Ms. Smith was accepted as a scholarship student at the Manhattan School of Music at the age of 16 and is greatly indebted to her teachers Michael Parloff, Jeanne Baxtresser, and Dr. Ronda Mains.

REVIEWS

"...Smith sailed through it with flying colors. She gave a stunningly virtuosic performance that was nuanced and also underscored the lyrical content of the score. It was a superbly crafted reading that put Smith’s technical prowess and musicality on display."Ed ReichelReichel Arts Review
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"...Mercedes Smith’s virtuosic solo in the third movement was particularly magnificent."Ed ReichelReichel Arts Review
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Flutist Mercedes Smith, clarinetist Tad Calcara and bassoonist Lori Wike played with delightful piquancy. Every bar was utterly involving.Catherine Reese NewtonThe Salt Lake Tribune
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Mercedes Smith, who just took over the principal seat in the Utah Symphony, made the piece her own.Scott FarleySLUG Magazine
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Newly appointed principal flute Mercedes Smith played with gorgeously crafted expressiveness in the Pavane. Her low register especially sounded mellow and full. She was also wonderful in the Ravel...Edward ReichelReichel Recommends
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Especially noteworthy performances came from Mercedes Smith and Jason Hardink, who played the "enchanted" flute and bells, respectively.Catherine Reese NewtonThe Salt Lake Tribune
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Playing by woodwind principals Mercedes Smith (flute), Robert Stephenson (oboe), Tad Calcara (clarinet) and Lori Wike (bassoon), along with horn principal Bruce Gifford, was particularly enjoyableCatherine Reese NewtonThe Salt Lake Tribune
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Quaglia’s second piece, Fantasy Variations for Solo Flute, was handled just as skillfully by the Utah Symphony’s new principal flautist, Mercedes Smith. Smith’s reading of Quaglia’s often angular and robust score lent a pleasing lyrical quality to the music, while providing well-crafted phrases and a lovely tone.Matt DixonReichel Arts Review
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Quaglia’s second piece, Fantasy Variations for Solo Flute, was handled just as skillfully by the Utah Symphony’s new principal flautist, Mercedes Smith. Smith’s reading of Quaglia’s often angular and robust score lent a pleasing lyrical quality to the music, while providing well-crafted phrases and a lovely tone.Matt DixonReichel Recommends
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The first movement featured a particularly lovely interaction between the soloist and new Utah Symphony principal flutist Mercedes Smith.Catherine Reese NewtonThe Salt Lake Tribune
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"Scintillating..."Lawrence BudmenMusic and Vision Magazine
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ARTICLES

Thorough and Effective Music Preparation
Here are preparation techniques that I use for learning orchestral music, particularly when I am faced with a new pile of music each week and need to prepare quickly. I use this same method when I am working on chamber music or solo parts too.Mercedes SmithSupportFlutists.com
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The orchestra's new principal flutist, Mercedes Smith, is also in the group. "For people who haven't heard her, Mercedes' playing will be quite gripping," Porter said. "She has a gorgeous, focused sound that is hard to describe in words. When I first heard her play, it completely turned my head — she's really exceptional."The Salt Lake Tribune
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Regular concertgoers might notice some newcomers onstage, as the orchestra has hired four players and an associate librarian in the past year.Catherine Reese NewtonThe Salt Lake Tribune
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INTERVIEWS

It is the highly competitive aspect of gaining employment in the classical music field that it makes those in the industry often say that one wins a job rather than finds or gets one.Joel LuksCultureMap.com
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Reichel Recommends had the opportunity to interview Smith by email last week while she was at the Festival Internacional de Musica de Camera in Mexico. Below is the interview.Ed ReichelReichel Arts Review
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Upcoming Performances

Thursday, November 15, 2018Brandenburg Concerto No. 2
Friday, December 7, 2018Brandenburg Concerto No. 4
Friday, February 1, 2019Brandenburg Concerto No. 5
Sunday, March 10, 2019Nova Chamber Music Gallery Series
Sunday, May 19, 2019Nova Chamber Music Series


Past Performances

Wednesday, July 18, 2018Mozart Flute and Har...
Saturday, January 3, 2015Utah Symphony
Friday, January 2, 2015Utah Symphony
Saturday, December 13, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, December 12, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, December 6, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, December 5, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, November 22, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, November 21, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, November 15, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, November 14, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, November 8, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, November 7, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, November 1, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, October 31, 2014Utah Symphony
Tuesday, October 28, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, October 25, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, October 24, 2014Utah Symphony
Sunday, October 19, 2014Utah Opera
Friday, October 17, 2014Utah Opera
Wednesday, October 15, 2014Utah Opera
Monday, October 13, 2014Utah Opera
Saturday, October 11, 2014Utah Opera
Saturday, October 11, 2014Masterclass, Utah Fl...
Friday, October 10, 2014Solo Recital, Utah F...
Saturday, September 27, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, September 26, 2014Utah Symphony
Thursday, September 25, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, September 20, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, September 19, 2014Utah Symphony
Saturday, September 13, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, September 12, 2014Utah Symphony
Wednesday, July 9, 2014Utah Symphony
Friday, June 13, 2014Utah Symphony
May 23-24, 2014Utah Symphony
May 20, 2014Utah Symphony
May 10-18, 2014Utah Opera
May 3, 2014Utah Symphony
April 25-26, 2014Utah Symphony
April 19, 2014Utah Symphony
April 11-12, 2014Utah Symphony
March 28-29, 2014Utah Symphony
March 15-23, 2014Utah Opera
March 15, 2014Utah Symphony
March 7-8, 2014Utah Symphony
February 28-March 1, 2014Utah Symphony
February 21-22, 2014Utah Symphony
February 18, 2014Utah Symphony
February 14-15, 2014Utah Symphony
February 7-8, 2014Utah Symphony
January 31-February 1, 2014Utah Symphony
January 18-26, 2014Utah Opera
January 10-11, 2014Utah Symphony
January 3- 4, 2014Utah Symphony
December 14, 2013Utah Symphony
December 14, 2013Utah Symphony
December 13, 2013Utah Symphony
December 6-7, 2013Utah Symphony
November 22-23, 2013Utah Symphony
November 15-16, 2013Utah Symphony
November 8-9, 2013Utah Symphony
Monday, November 4, 2013Lecture Recital
November 2, 2013Utah Symphony
October 29, 2013Utah Symphony
October 25-26, 2013Utah Symphony
October 18 & 20, 2013Utah Opera
Saturday, October 12, 2013Private Event/Lectur...
October 1, 2013Utah Symphony
September 27-28, 2013Utah Symphony
September 20-21, 2013Utah Symphony
September 13-14, 2013Utah Symphony
Monday, September 9, 2013Masterclass
August 10, 2013Utah Symphony
August 9, 2013Utah Symphony
August 7, 2013Utah Symphony
July 29, 2013Intermezzo Chamber M...
July 25, 2013French Favorites
July 15-23, 2013Festival Internacion...
July 13, 2013Utah Symphony
July 12, 2013Utah Symphony
July 11, 2013Salty Cricket
July 6, 2013Utah Symphony
Saturday, June 29, 2013Salt Lake Flute Foru...
June 29, 2013Utah Symphony
June 23, 2012Mostly Dvorak
Flute LessonsAccepting a small number of highly motivated students of all ages for full or part-time study.mailto: mercedesflute@gmail.com
Aestheticize Mediaweb/graphic designhttp://www.aestheticize.com/
For booking or teaching inquires, please contact Ms. Smith at:

mercedesflute@gmail.com

Katherine Hoover
Kokopelli
Recorded 2010
LISTEN
Johann Sebastian Bach
Partita in A Minor
III - Sarabande, Recorded 2010
LISTEN
Edgar Varese
Density 21.5
Recorded 2010
LISTEN
Aubrey Tucker
Four Cantigas for Alto Flute, Bass Trombone, & Percussion
II. Cantiga Di Amigo, Recorded 2010
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Jacques Ibert
Concerto for Flute
III. Allegro Scherzando, Recorded *Live* in 2003
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VoliereClip from Carnival of the Animals recording session
Musicians of the Utah Symphony in HaitiMusic is a force that unites us all. In March, Musicians of the Utah Symphony went beyond their borders to have an impact on music education in Haiti. This t...
Mozart Flute Quartet in D major Mvt I *Live*
Scrivo in Vento, Elliott Carter *Live*
Mozart Flute Quartet in D major Mvt II *Live*
Mozart Flute Quartet in D major Mvt III *Live*
Sonata for flute, viola, and harp Mvt II by Debussy *Live*