Pender Island Flute Retreat

June 15 - 22, 2013

TELLING STORIES IN SOUND

A week long retreat held at Poets Cove Resort & Spa on BC's scenic Pender Island. The retreat is designed to explore the physical, emotional and mental aspects of flute performing and pedagogy. PIFR presents a unique opportunity for professional and advanced University flutists to reach new heights in performance and teaching through the integration of musical and personal development.

The combination of an encouraging, compassionate, non-competitive environment, brilliant teaching and a beautiful ocean front setting creates the opportunity to experience the mystery and magic of music on a profound level.

The Pender Island Flute Retreat is designed to address not only how we teach our students but also how we teach ourselves. We have a wonderful opportunity at PIFR to learn from one of the great pedagogues of our time, William Bennett (Wibb). This year Wibb has agreed to share his wealth of knowledge about flute construction. Enjoy an hour or two making your own flute!

Lorna McGhee will lead a workshop on "Prosody", the syllabic rhythm of language, exploring how it underpins our sense of phrasing in music. It is only by inflecting every note with meaning that we begin to come close to the expressiveness of the human voice. Without this inflection, beautiful tone and colours are simply decorative. By combining them, music becomes a living language. Lorna will also offer daily technique classes — based on what she observes in masterclasses throughout each day. Lorna will work in tandem with her Alexander Technique teacher, Dr. Gabriella Minnes Brandes in masterclasses to help participants unlock more of their expressive potential.

Heather Campbell will inspire us with enlightened insights into who we are as individuals and as part of the group. Gwen will tie it all together with a concise bow.

The retreat is open to both performers and auditors, ages 18+.

Faculty

William "Wibb" Bennett and Lorna McGhee
International flutists

Heather Campbell
Workshops

Gabriella Minnes Brandes, PhD
Alexander Technique

Colleen Athparia
Piano

Gwen Klassen
Founder & Director
 

Course details

All Attendees

• 12 flute masterclasses, including classes with William Bennett, Lorna McGhee and Gwen Klassen
• Flute faculty recital
• 5 workshops with Heather Campbell exploring the relationship to the flute, music, colleagues, and self
• Alexander Technique workshop with Dr. Gabriella Minnes-Brandes
• Flute construction and over-toning workshop with William Bennett
• Technique classes and workshop with Lorna McGhee
• Pre-PIFR prep.: Left Brain/Right Brain, Creative Drawing workshops with Gwen Klassen
• Opportunity for private sessions with Heather Campbell, Gabriella Minnes Brandes or Wayne McNab (Reiki), fees extra
• Perform in participant recital
• Participate in end of retreat "skit night"

Performers

• Perform in masterclass for William Bennett
• Perform in masterclass for Lorna McGhee and Dr. Gabriella Minnes-Brandes, exploring the psychophysical approach to music
• Opportunity to play in additional masterclass for William Bennett (Moyse 24 Melodic Studies)

Auditors

• Perform etude or orchestral excerpts in masterclass for Gwen Klassen (optional)
• 30 minute lesson with Gwen Klassen (optional)
• Attend all other masterclasses

Day Observers – please contact Gwen Klassen
 

Fees

Performers: $1500

Auditors: $1300

Fees include tuition, room (double occupancy), board and GST. Fees do not include travel. Please note that these fees cover only a portion of the program costs and without sponsorship, donors and government funding, the flute retreat would not be available.

Some scholarships are available, please visit www.fluteretreat.com for more details.
 

Application & Registration

There are only 13 performer and 6 auditor spots available. Applicants must be age of 18+. Apply online, or by mail

Application Package includes:

• The Application Form
• One-page Resume
• Recording: a CD/DVD for audition purposes, containing two contrasting pieces, with accompaniment. Please label the CD/DVD with name and contact information.
  Professional full time orchestral flutists or teachers at a University need not send a recording unless applying for financial assistance.

• Payment: in Canadian funds. Pay by credit card (preferred) or post-dated cheque (March 1, 2013) payable to 'Mount Royal University Conservatory'.

Send documents and recordings to gklassen@fluteretreat.com and telephone credit card number to 403-993-3402 or mail your application package and payment to:

Gwen Klassen,
Director, PIFR
5511 Dalhart Hill NW
Calgary, AB  T3A 1S8

You will be notified of your acceptance and placement by March 15, 2013.

Application deadline March 1, 2013.
 

Refund Policy

Cancellation request must be made in writing. If made before March 15, 2013, 100% of payment will be refunded less $100. No refunds after April 1, 2013. We recommend that you purchase insurance in case of accident or illness.
 

More information

For complete retreat information, visit www.fluteretreat.com