Mason Concerts: The Virtuoso Flute
$35
- Nikka Gershman, flute
- Vivian Fan, piano
Johann Sebastian Bach — "Schafe können sicher weiden lassen" ("Sheep may safely graze") from Was mir behagt ist nur die muntre Jagd ("The lively hunt is all my heart's desire"), BWV 208
Paul Taffanel / Carl Maria von Weber — Fantasy on Der Freischütz
Claude Debussy — Syrinx, L. 129
Pablo de Sarasate — Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20
Christoph Willibald Glück — "Dance of the Blessed Spirits" from Orfeo ed Euridice
Todd Mason — Prelude for Flute and Piano (world premiere)
Georges Bizet / François Borne — Fantaisie brillante sur 'Carmen' (arr. Ransom Wilson & Raffaele Trevisani)
Escape the everyday world through the enchanting voice of the flute paired with the seductive sound of the piano, featuring centuries of musical explorations of love, betrayal, jealousy, and devotion. From Bach and Debussy to Romani tunes, this program will keep you both mesmerized and dancing in your seats! The enchanting collaboration presents Nikka Gershman, a 15-year-old prodigious flutist and composer, who has already been celebrated on NPR and PBS; and Vivian Fan, pianist and head of the Accompanying Department at the Colburn Conservatory of Music.
Pre-concert talk by LA Phil's Dr. Kristi Brown.
About Nikka Gershman, flute
Described as “without question one of the finest and most dedicated young flute soloists and composers” by Mike Green, the President of the Grammy Foundation, Nikka Gershman is a 15-year-old musician. Haynes Flutes, the oldest flute manufacturing company in America, has invited Nikka to be their youngest ever Young Artist. She is currently attending the Colburn Music Academy under the mentorship of Jim Walker. The Academy has awarded her the prestigious Thibaudet Scholarship, in which Jean-Yves Thibaudet personally selects students for this merit-based grant. In addition, Nikka studies composition with renowned Polish composer Zbigniew Preisner.
Nikka is honored to be a National Finalist of YoungArts, the most prestigious award in the United States, which identifies exceptional young artists to invest in their lifelong careers. The Concorso Internazionale A Tutto Flauto awarded her the Absolute First Prize (Primo Premio Assoluto) in the adult category. In 2022, she was the only 14-year-old in the history of the Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition to win the Grand Prize for Exceptional Talent and Musicianship Award over all categories, judged by a panel of esteemed LA Philharmonic members. Nikka was the only flutist selected out of 13 winners internationally by the Classicalia Global PBS Televised Competition to perform in Vienna’s renowned Konzerthaus with the Győr Philharmonic. She is a recipient of the Sir James Galway “Outstanding Junior Performer” Award and a winner of the prestigious career grant for the Salon de Virtuosi. Nikka was a guest performer on NPR’s From the Top National Public Radio station, showcasing her performance and composition, and has also been interviewed by The Flute View magazine and featured multiple times by The Violin Channel.
Nikka is a first-prize winner in numerous competitions including the Music Teachers’ National Association (MTNA) national winner, British Flute Society International Young Performer Competition (BFS), Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Young Artists’ Concerto Competition, Colburn Academy Virtuosi Concerto Competition, Rising Stars Grand Prix (Berlin), Flutes by the Sea International Competition, Chicago Flute Club (Senior Division), the Los Angeles division of Music International Grand Prix, concerto soloist for the Whittier Regional Symphony, and New York Young Virtuoso Competition. The International Alliance for Women in Music has selected Nikka’s original composition "The Tears of Winter" for the Libby Larsen Prize in the 41st annual Search for New Music Competition.
Nikka’s solo concerts include performances at the Wiener Konzerthaus with the Győr Philharmonic; Beethoven House, Bonn, Germany; Merkin Hall for the Salon de Virtuosi Gala, NYC; Skyview Concert Hall with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra; and Théâtre Raymond Kabbaz with the Los Angeles Virtuosi Orchestra. Nikka has been chosen to perform in masterclasses with distinguished artists, including Sir James Galway, Carol Wincenc, Raffaele Trevisani, Kersten McCall, Denis Bouriakov, Marina Piccinini, Lorna McGhee, Andrea Griminelli, Emily Beynon, Viviana Guzman, Garrett Hudson, and Ransom Wilson.
At age six she discovered her love for music, and a year later, she performed with the Emmy-winning Honor’s Orchestra at UCLA Schoenberg Music Hall Concert where she was offered the position of principal flute in The All-Schools Elementary Honor Orchestra. Subsequently, she has been accepted as a soloist in the LA Youth Philharmonic for the 2019 Music Festival Concert at The Walt Disney Concert Hall and Colburn’s Zipper Hall. Currently, Nikka is the featured principal flutist of the Colburn Academy Virtuosi Orchestra, a chamber ensemble comprised of the most talented musicians from the Colburn Music Academy.
Community outreach is extremely important to Nikka, and she is dedicated to inspiring young audiences and bringing her music to underserved communities. In 2021, Nikka was named an ambassador to Music to Save Humanity Mentorship and Outreach Program. As a From the Top Fellow, she performed for the Colorado Children’s Hospital facilitated by the Ryan Seacrest Foundation.
https://www.nikkaflute.com/