Published: November 12, 2009 08:34 pm         

Students invited to attend Indiana State University Flute Fair

The Indiana State University Music Department will host a Flute Fair on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Center for Performing and Fine Arts, at Seventh and Chestnut streets.

Flute Fair features flutist Katherine Borst Jones and ISU music professor Randy Mitchell, who will present the seminar “Taking the Mystery out of Improvisation.”

Exhibits by Paige’s Music and Conservatory of Music, seminars in topics such as improvisation and careers in music business, a recital and a masterclass featuring student competition winners are among the activities offered to students in grades 7-12.

Students interested in participating in the student performers competition should submit a cassette or CD recording of their solo along with the registration form no later than today. Winners will be notified by Nov. 18.

Jones has been at Ohio State University since 1985 and has served as chair of woodwinds, brass and percussion since 1999. She was awarded the Distinguished Teacher award in 1995.

She is a founding member and co-principal flutist of the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, a member of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and principal flute of the New Sousa Band, which has toured Japan and the US.

Created in 1976 by Jones, the Annual High School Flute Workshop program at Ohio State draws students nationally. Jones conducts the OSU Flute Troupe, a flute choir which has performed at state and national conventions. She is active in the National Flute Association where she has served twice as president and was a member of the 1989 delegation to tour the Soviet Union. She is a visiting professor at the Shenyang Conservatory of Music in China. She has several recordings to her credit, including commissioned works by Libby Larsen, Stephen Pauley and Dale Warland, among others.

A native of Evansville, Mitchell has been on the music faculty at Indiana State since 1990. He recently completed a three-year period serving as interim chairman of the music department. The 2009-2010 school year marks his return to the trombone/euphonium studio as well as his 20th year of teaching at ISU. A 1974 music education alum of Indiana State, he holds degrees in trombone performance from the University of Louisville and the University of North Texas.

He is a member of the ISU Faculty Brass Quintet and principal trombone of the Terre Haute Symphony Orchestra and the Danville Symphony Orchestra. He is also an original member of the Ambassador Brass Quintet. Mitchell has performed and taught in Germany, Austria, Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and China.