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Mercedes Smith

News

June 23, 2019Summer ScheduleAmazing 2019 Summer Schedule includes 15 Utah Symphony concerts in and around Salt Lake City and Deer Valley Music Festival in Park City, UT, a teaching residency at Miami Music Festival, performances at Chamber Music Unbound in Mammoth Lakes, CA, multiple solo performances at the National Flute Convnetion, as well as solo and orchestra performances at the Grand Teton Music Festival!
October 23, 2018Guest Principal Flutist with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra on 2018 European TourMs. Smith will perform as Guest Principal Flutist with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra during their 2018 European Tour this fall. The tour spans five cities across Switzerland, Italy, and France.

Thierry Fischer, conductor
Sunwook Kim, pianist

Program:
Isang Yun, Muak for orchestra
Beethoven, Piano Concerto No.5 (in Geneva, Udine, Paris)
Schumann, Piano Concerto (**in Lucerne, Grenoble)
Berlioz, Symphonie Fantastique
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

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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.

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



Past Performances

Saturday, August 17, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...
Friday, August 16, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...
Tuesday, August 13, 2019Haberfeld Chamber Mu...
Saturday, August 10, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...
Friday, August 9, 2019Grand Teton Music Fe...
Friday, August 2, 2019Remembrance and Heal...
Thursday, August 1, 2019Utah Symphony Flute ...
Saturday, July 27, 2019Chamber Music Unboun...
Saturday, July 27, 2019Mini-Recital
Friday, July 26, 2019Chamber Music Unboun...
Thursday, July 25, 2019Chamber Music Unboun...
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
Flute LessonsAccepting a small number of highly motivated students of all ages for full or part-time study.mailto: mercedesflute@gmail.com
Salty CricketEl Sistema@Salty Cricket Our after school music program, El Sistema@Salty Cricket, is an immersive experience that targets underserved students and welcomes all. Based on the internationally renowned El Sistema model, this program seeks to facilitate positive social change through music. Our fully integrated music education provides students with a rigorous music theory, violin, and orchestral experience, with additional enrichment activities to maintain a high level of engagement. The program is provided free of charge for 13 hours weekly, 42 weeks per year.https://saltycricket.org/meet-the-board/
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
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Edgar Varese
Density 21.5
Recorded 2010
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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*