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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. Ms. Smith has performed multiple times in Carnegie Hall, Europe, and Asia, and performed as guest Principal Flutist for the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra's 2018 European Tour. 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. 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. Ms. Smith lives in Salt Lake City with her husband, violinist David Porter, and serves as Board Chairman of Salty Cricket -a music program for those in underserved communities.

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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, July 25, 2019Chamber Music Unboun...

Friday, July 26, 2019Chamber Music Unboun...

Saturday, July 27, 2019Mini-Recital

Saturday, July 27, 2019Chamber Music Unboun...

Thursday, August 1, 2019Utah Symphony Flute ...

Friday, August 2, 2019Remembrance and Heal...

Friday, August 9, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...

Saturday, August 10, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...

Tuesday, August 13, 2019Haberfeld Chamber Mu...

Friday, August 16, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...

Saturday, August 17, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...

Past Performances

Friday, July 5, 2019Miami Music Festival

Thursday, July 4, 2019Miami Music Festival

Wednesday, July 3, 2019Miami Music Festival

Tuesday, July 2, 2019Miami Music Festival

Monday, July 1, 2019Miami Music Festival

Sunday, June 30, 2019Miami Music Festival

Saturday, June 29, 2019Miami Music Festival

Friday, June 28, 2019Miami Music Festival

Sunday, May 19, 2019Nova Chamber Music S...

Sunday, March 10, 2019Nova Chamber Music G...

Friday, February 1, 2019Brandenburg Concerto...

Friday, December 7, 2018Brandenburg Concerto...

Saturday, December 1, 2018Seoul Philharmonic O...

Friday, November 30, 2018Seoul Philharmonic O...

Thursday, November 29, 2018Seoul Philharmonic O...

Tuesday, November 27, 2018Seoul Philharmonic O...

Sunday, November 25, 2018Seoul Philharmonic O...

Thursday, November 22, 2018Seoul Philharmonic O...

Thursday, November 15, 2018Brandenburg Concerto...

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, 2014Masterclass, Utah Fl...

Saturday, October 11, 2014Utah Opera

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

June 29, 2013Utah Symphony

Saturday, June 29, 2013Salt Lake Flute Foru...

June 23, 2012Mostly Dvorak

For booking or teaching inquires, please contact Ms. Smith at:

mercedesflute@gmail.com

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music photos video

music photos video