The Artist Residency Sessions with Mark Sparks

We are incredibly excited to announce #FlutistryBoston’s first ever Artist Residency Sessions with Mark Sparks, principal flutist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and faculty at Depaul University School of Music and the Aspen Music Festival. He is known to be a dynamic orchestral artist, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher. Recognized for his colorful tone, spirited phrasing, and charismatic style (described by the Denver Post as “mesmerizing”), he has performed in many of the world’s most prestigious venues. Mr. Sparks will be joined by master collaborative pianist Timothy Carey throughout the Residency events.

The Residency includes two nights of masterclasses from 7-9 pm on Wednesday, April 12th and Thursday,  April 13th, followed by Mark Sparks and Tim Carey in recital on Friday, April 14th at 8pm – all events will take place at Flutistry Boston’s iconic Concert Room.

Admission fees for each event will be $15/adults $10/students and can be purchased at www.flutistry.com/residency2017. These events will be livestreamed on our Facebook page and www.fluteevents.com! {flute + artistry = #flutistry} www.flutistry.com

About Mark Sparks (flute):

Mark Sparks was appointed Principal Flutist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra in 2000. He has appeared as soloist with the orchestra numerous times, most recently in March 2017.  He has performed with top ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Cincinnati, Houston, and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestras, and was a member of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra before his appointment to the STL Symphony.  Sparks can be heard as solo recording artist on the Summit and AAM  labels, with various orchestras on the Sony, Telarc, Nonesuch, and Decca labels, and has recently released his third solo recording, “French Album.”

Recent and upcoming activities include appearances at many major music schools, including Rice, Manhattan, and Mannes, recitals and classes for the New York, South Carolina, Houston, and Chicago Flute Clubs, the world premiere of Katherine Hoover’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra,  a residency at Boston’s Flutistry, and solo appearances in Sydney, Australia and Beijing.  Sparks is a faculty member of DePaul University, the Aspen Music Festival, and Flauti al Castello, an annual master class in Tuscany. He frequently coaches at top orchestral training programs such as the New World Symphony, the National Youth Orchestra, NOI, and the Pacific Music Festival.   He is a  Contributing Editor of Flute Talk Magazine, and has also recently published flute and piano arrangements of works by Bruch and Faure with Theodore Presser.  Mr. Sparks graduated with honors from the Oberlin Conservatory as a student of Robert Willoughby.

About Timothy Carey (piano):

The English pianist, Tim Carey, continues to enjoy a career full of variety, as solo performer, chamber-music player, orchestral keyboard player and teacher. His early studies were with Harold Parker and the great Hungarian pianist, Louis Kentner, then later at the Royal College of Music, London,  with Kendall Taylor, David Parkhouse, and Bernard Roberts. He was awarded many prizes and scholarships during his time there, both in and outside college.

Tim now spends his time partnering many instrumentalists, especially flautists, in a large variety of chamber-music combinations, as well as giving the occasional solo recital or concerto performance. He is the regular pianist for many flute courses and festivals in England, America, Australia, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Scandinavia, Slovenia and all round Europe and he has established an international reputation as a specialist in flute and piano music.

As orchestral keyboard player he has worked with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Bournemouth Orchestras, the Philharmonia, the Ulster Orchestra in Northern Ireland and the BBC Concert Orchestra. He continues to find himself much in demand as a teacher and accompanist throughout his home county of Essex, as well as accompanist at most of London’s music colleges.

Whilst piano playing has taken Mr. Carey all over the world, his other interests include reading, languages, anything to do with cars, aircraft and boats, as well as spending time with his ever-increasing family!