North Sydney Flute Studio

Congratulations to our students who received awards this month at eisteddfods in Sydney!

1. Ashton & Oli (Flute & Guitar Duo) at the Ryde Eisteddfod
2. Maddie & Jess receiving awards at the Ryde Eisteddfod

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday for our masterclass with oboist Nicola Bell, newly appointed Principal Cor Anglais with the Opera Australia Orchestra.

Nicola worked with five talented students on a range of repertoire by Bozza, Ferling, Lalliet & Neilson, offering valuable insights and beautiful demonstrations to support her teaching advice.

A warm congratulations to all of the students who participated, adn thank you also to the observers who attended and engaged in the day. We’re sure everyone came away with new ideas and inspiration from Nicola's experience as an orchestral performer and teacher.

Today at 10am, North Sydney Flute Studio presents an open masterclass with Nicola Bell, Principal Cor Anglais of the Opera Australia Orchestra.

We are delighted to welcome five oboe students who will work with Nicola on a range of repertoire by Bozza, Ferling, Lalliet & Neilson. If you would like to observe, Nicola's class will run from 10am-2pm with morning tea included.

About Nicola

Nicola Bell is a versatile Australian oboist whose career has spanned continents, performing with leading orchestras and chamber ensembles on some of the world’s most prestigious stages. You will find her most evenings in the pit of the Sydney Opera House as Principal Cor Anglais of the Opera Australia Orchestra. She also appears regularly with leading ensembles including the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Western Australia Symphony Orchestra, and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra. In 2022, she was honoured to perform with the Australian World Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta.

She began her journey with a first-class honours degree from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she now serves on the teaching faculty. Before returning to Australia, Nicola spent nearly a decade immersed in Europe’s rich musical culture. She earned her Master of Music in Munich under the guidance of renowned oboist Professor François Leleux, after earlier studies in Sweden and France.

While based in Germany, Nicola was invited to perform with several prominent ensembles, including the Munich Symphony Orchestra, Braunschweig Theatre Orchestra, WDR Funkhaus Orchestra, and the Württemberg Chamber Philharmonic Heidenheim. A close collaboration with the Georgian Chamber Orchestra in Ingolstadt led to invitations to work in Georgia with the Georgian Sinfonietta and the Georgian National Philharmonic, and she was featured at the 2014 Telavi International Music Festival.

In 2015, Nicola was appointed Principal Oboe with the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra, working with legendary conductor Neeme Järvi. She later joined the Finnish National Opera as Alternating Principal Oboe, and was invited as guest principal with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Swedish Chamber Orchestra, Norrköping and Gävle Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Tampere Philharmonic and Finnish Radio Orchestras.

A committed chamber musician, Nicola has performed at the Canberra International Music Festival, Hume Chamber Music Festival, and Arts in the Valley Festival, and has appeared with leading Australian ensembles such as Ensemble Offspring, Omega Ensemble and Sydney Chamber Choir. Her international chamber work includes performances with the Munich Winds and collaborations with the New Theatre Ensemble in Tallinn for the Tallinn Chamber Music Festival and Estonian Concert Elite Series.

https://events.humanitix.com/masterclassnicolabell

Thank you to everyone who joined us at North Sydney Flute Studio on Monday for our masterclass with James Kortum.

James began the day with a group workshop for all ages with an approach to natural breathing, simplifying the music to allow more focus on sound and phrase shapes, and a unique way to find destinations in phrasing.

Following the workshop, James worked with five high school and tertiary students on a wide range of solo repertoire including Doppler’s Fantaisie Pastorale Hongroise, Gaubert’s Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando and Mouquet’s La Flûte de Pan.

Congratulations to all of the students, it was a pleasure to hear such a high standard of work, and we’re sure everyone came away with new ideas and inspiration from James’s insightful teaching.

Our next masterclass is something a little different – an oboe masterclass! We're looking forward to host Nicola Bell, Principal Cor Anglais of the Opera Australia Orchestra next month on July 9th. https://events.humanitix.com/masterclassnicolabell

📣 Workshop-Masterclass Announcement 📣

Our next masterclass will take place on Monday June 8th with James Kortum, Lecturer in Flute at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. All masterclass places have now been filled, however participation in James’ special group workshop is open to all with no application necessary!

10-11am Group Workshop with James Kortum
James will begin with a group workshop on warm-ups and practice strategies designed to cater to a range of levels:
• Perform when you practice; Developing Good Playing Habits
• Rhythm & Pulse; The Inner Life to the Beat
• Finding the Music Beneath the Notes

11:15am-3:30pm Masterclass with James Kortum
• 11:15am Hayley (Piazzolla, Étude no. 3)
• 12pm Ashton (Doppler, Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy)
• 12:45pm 15min Break
• 1pm Maddie (Gaubert, Nocturne et Allegro Scherzando)
• 1:45pm Matthew (Mouquet, La Flûte de Pan - 1st Mov)
• 2:30pm 15min Break
• 2:45pm Danielle (Reinecke, Ballade Op.28)

Event Details
⏰ Monday June 8th – Workshop 10am, Masterclass 11:15am–3:30pm
📍 North Sydney Flute Studio, 181 Blues Point Road, North Sydney 2060
🎟️ Group workshop & Observer Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/masterclassjameskortum
For enquiries please contact [email protected]

James Kortum – Flute Masterclass North Sydney Flute Studio presents a group workshop & masterclass with James Kortum, Lecturer in Flute at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Applications Now Open! North Sydney Flute Studio presents a group workshop & masterclass with James Kortum, Lecturer in Flute at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

On Monday June 8 (King's Birthday Holiday), flute students are invited to take part in James' masterclass alongside a special group workshop designed to cater to a range of levels and topics:
• Perform when you practice; Developing Good Playing Habits
• Rhythm & Pulse; The Inner Life to the Beat
• Finding the Music Beneath the Notes

Participation is available as either an active performer or observer, with all welcome to engage in the full day of classes. The group workshop is open to all with no application necessary!

Places are limited to six participants in the masterclass, with registration closing on May 25. https://tinyurl.com/j7949pbt

Group workshop & Observer Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/masterclassjameskortum

For enquiries please email [email protected]

James Kortum – Flute Masterclass North Sydney Flute Studio presents a group workshop & masterclass with James Kortum, Lecturer in Flute at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at North Sydney Flute Studio today for our masterclass with Kate Lawson.

Kate began the day with an orchestral audition workshop, sharing valuable insights from her experience both in front of and behind the audition screen, and addressing a number of thoughtful questions. She then worked with a wonderful group of high school and tertiary students on a range of solo repertoire.

Congratulations to all of the students for your marvellous playing. It was a pleasure to hear such a high standard of work, and we’re sure everyone came away with new ideas and inspiration from Kate’s insightful teaching.