Flute Studio Founder, Joan Sparks
Educated at the University of
Delaware, and holding a Masters in Music Performance from
Temple University, flutist Joan Sparks has enjoyed a career
of musical diversity in the classical genre. For many years,
she was a busy freelance orchestral musician: a regular substitute
in the Philadelphia Orchestra, and a member of the Delaware
Symphony, the Bethlehem Bach Orchestra, soloist with the Lehigh
Valley Chamber Orchestra and the Performing Arts Society,
and frequent performer with the New Jersey Symphony, and the
Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia. Chamber Music has been
her focus for the last 15 years, as Ms Sparks and Anne Sullivan
make up the flute/harp duo, SPARX.
Winners of many national
awards, including the prestigious Chamber Music America Ensemble
Residency Award, the American Composers’ Forum’s
Performance Incentive Grant, SPARX was twice named winners
of the National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition.
SPARX has released three CD’s, has toured nationally,
and has performed live web, TV, and radio broadcasts. Currently
in residence at the Tatnall School, the duo presents its own
concert series in Wilmington, DE as well as an annual summer
chamber music festival. Ms Sparks was a student of Murray
Panitz, the former distinguished principal flute of the Philadelphia
Orchestra, and has studied with Trudy Kane, the principal
flutist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. She served as
a tutor at the Stratford-Upon-Avon International Flute Festival,
and has participated in several international master classes.
She lives in Wilmington Delaware with her husband, three Labrador
retrievers, two children in college, and is an active member
of United States Masters Swimming.
Currently, Ms Sparks is serving as Director of Marketing and Sales for Williams Flutes and Foster Enterprises.
Studio Pianist, Donna DeLaurentis
Donna DeLaurentis has been performing
solo and collaborative recitals on the East Coast for thirty
years. She earned her Bachelor of Music Degree with Honors
in Piano Performance at Marymount College, Tarrytown, studying
with world renowned pianist Seymour Lipkin. Donna’s
Masters Degree in Piano Performance is from the University
of Delaware where she worked with Michael Steinberg. Ms DeLaurentis
studied for several years with the noted composer, David Brown,
whose music she continues to champion and premiere. As an
active teacher, Ms DeLaurentis has served on the piano faculties
at Marymout College, Tarrytown, and the Wilmington Music School
and has maintained a private studio in Wilmington since 1975.
Instructors |
Adrienne Baker
Adrienne is currently a senior music
student at Ithaca College, pursuing a dual degree in Flute Performance
and Jazz Studies on Piano. She is currently the first flute
in the Wind Ensemble. Before going to Ithaca, Adrienne studied
with Joan Sparks in high school. Adrienne was a member of Delaware
All State Band and was first flute in her high school and district
bands. She is available to teach piano, flute, as well as music
theory lessons.
To contact this instructor, please email ALNBaker@flutestudiode.com
Natasha Loomis
Natasha has been playing the flute
for 13 years, having studied under Dr. Kim Reighley, Dr. Lynn
Cooksey, Jennifer Grim, and Joan Sparks. She has participated
in numerous ensembles in the Wilmington area over the years,
including the Delaware Youth Symphony and Junior and Senior
All State Bands. She also plays with Joseph Louden and Alyssa
Schulteiss in Triple Play, a local trio that provides music
for special occasions. Natasha is currently a sophomore at
Franklin & Marshall College, where she plays in the Orchestra
and Wind Ensemble.
To contact this instructor, please email nloomis@flutestudiode.com
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