Erika Boysen Interview - Flutes by the Sea Masterclass

Artist Interview with Erika Boysen

You teach at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. Tell us about this. When did you start? How do you like it? Pros? Cons?

I started fall of 2015 and I am living my dream job! I get to work one-on-one with individuals, collaborate with colleagues and develop long term projects

What projects have you been working on?

My current project is curating a recital that addresses personal recurring questions:

What responsibility do performers have in the music they choose to program? How do we respect the Canon while recognizing centuries of exclusion?

What do our recital programs communicate?

What concerts do you have coming up?

A recital that discusses the above questions and more is scheduled at UNCG on Jan. 16 and at the Central Iowa Flute Festival February 29th

I am finally learning Joel Puckett’s extraordinary work, Shadow of Sirius for performance and recording it with the UNCG Wind Ensemble April of 2020.

The start of my summer will be spent in China! I am looking forward to performing Shuying Li’s flute concerto: The Dryad with Gil Rose and the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra

What is your greatest challenge as an flutist/artist?

Making time away from my art has proven to be challenging. Given that music and the flute is my life’s passion, it infiltrates much of my life. I have to make a concerted effort to carve out time for other pursuits apart from the flute.

What are you most grateful for as an flutist/artist?

The community of artists I have met and worked with through the years. Never would I have traveled all over the world and met such dear friends but for the opportunities that were granted to me as a flutist/educator.

What are some of your current professional goals?

My primary goal in 2020 is the release of my my first solo album/app entitled, Listening to Movement, will be available for download on both Apple and Android devices. It has been in the making for almost 4 years and showcases three newly commissioned works for the solo singing/moving/acting flutist; interviews by composers; behind the scenes footage and an interactive mobile app interface.