Notice Board

Music at Noon concert series presents:
Sarah MacDonald, flute & Cheryl Emery-Karapita, piano
12:15 p.m. | March 26, 2024
University Recital Hall

This program is a collection of quintessentially beautiful flute repertoire. The program opens with Gaubert’s first Sonata, showcasing the lyricism and vast colour palette indicative of traditional French music. The piano is an equal partner here with beautiful lines and cascading harmonies passed between the two instruments, each going back and forth between melody and accompaniment. Partly inspired by the ocean and whale song, Deep Blue showcases contemporary flute techniques such as lip bends and quarter tones. Lastly, the Sonatine by the American composer Walter Gieseking puts the pianist to the test once again where the two instruments become equal partners. The first movement is simple with a hint of folk tune inspiration. The second movement, written in 6/8 is not a typical slow movement, rather it contains a humorous quality as the flute and piano play with rubato and character within the lilting time signature. The final movement is a true showcase for the piano with the flute offering soaring melodies about the technical brilliance and lyricism demanded of the pianist.

About the Artists

Canadian flutist Sarah (Gieck) MacDonald is a prominent freelance artist in Calgary and Southern Alberta. Sarah enjoys a varied performance career that includes orchestral, solo and chamber music. As a teacher, Sarah has been active in both Calgary and Lethbridge for well over a decade, teaching students of all levels and ages.

Sarah received her first Juno nomination as a soloist on the Luminous Voices album “Sea Dreams” released in 2020. She has performed regularly with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra since the age of 24 with experience in every position including piccolo. She has been a featured soloist with many ensembles including the Kensington Sinfonia, Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, University of Lethbridge Music at Noon Series, Cantando Festival and Luminous Voices.

Sarah’s students have gone on to successfully pursue undergraduate and master’s degrees across Canada becoming music teachers, community teachers and professional players. She has taught flute at the University of Lethbridge since 2008 and maintains a private studio in Calgary.

Sarah holds a BMus from the University of Calgary, a MMus from the Royal Northern College of Music and an ADD from the University of Cincinnati. She has studied with many of the world’s premiere flutists including Peter Lloyd, Dr. Bradley Garner, Lorna McGhee and William Bennett.

Canadian Pianist Cheryl Emery-Karapita specializes in the field of song in recital with Canadian vocal and instrumental talent. After completing a M.Mus in Vocal Operatic Coaching at McGill, Cheryl moved to Europe to pursue a Post-Graduate degree in Concert Collaborative Piano with Julius Drake at the Kunst Universität in Graz, Austria. In addition to studies in Graz, Cheryl spent two summers in Baden bei Wien working with Helmut Deutsch, Roger Vignoles, Rudolph Jansen and Wolfram Rieger at the Franz Schubert-Institut. Current activities include recital and recording projects, teaching students at Lethbridge Piano Intensive and CASA Art Centre, collaborating with Mezzo Soprano Liesel Fedkenheuer (Calgary), Ventus Women’s Choir (Lethbridge), Juno nominated Luminous Voices (Calgary), and Fourtitude (Lethbridge).