Moores School of Music Guest Artist & Faculty Recital: Beatriz Macias, flute & Timonthy Hester, piano

The Moores School of Music at the University of Houston presents a Moores School of Music Guest Artist & Faculty Recital: Beatriz Macias, flute & Timonthy Hester, piano. Friday, May 2 at 7:30pm in Dudley Recital Hall.

This 'Guest Recital' Concert features two of the most internationally renowned artists from Texas. This event brings the Houston area the unique opportunity to experience the diverse and broad scope of European music, with a touch of oriental melodies.

Flutist Beatriz Macias takes the spotlight alongside pianist Timothy Hester. The music will take you on a magical ride throughout the world: from the exotic lands of Azerbaijan, to the romantic and poetical works of Schubert and Enescu and finally, to the capital of Europe, Belgium.

The program bridges these distinct musical styles, creating an interesting palette of sounds for the ear.

"Her playing is of extreme beauty, emotion and color. Beatriz is a very pure and holistic musician, who will bring new excitement in the world of classical music!" Antony Hermus, International Conductor

Celebrated for the beauty of her playing and for her ability to communicate directly with audiences, flutist Beatriz Macias (‘88) has established a successful career as both a soloist and an orchestral player. Her performances have received international praise, following well-received appearances in America, Europe and Asia.

A charismatic performer, Beatriz always strives to express herself through her playing, so every performance reflects her personality, her sense of adventure and her deep love for the music she plays.

Beatriz received her first musical training at the age of four, learning piano with the Yamaha Program for Children in Mexico. A few years later, Beatriz moved to Texas where she developed further as a musician through the State’s celebrated music education program. At the age of eleven, she made her first decisive step towards a career in music, hearing a television broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

She was so impressed by the dynamic voice of the soprano that she immediately decided she wanted to be a singer. However, Beatriz soon changed direction when she was introduced to the flute, which initially engaged her curiosity because she found it so difficult to make the instrument sound.

A passion for singing continues to guide Beatriz’s music making. It is clearly reflected in her flute playing, which has an intensely lyrical quality, and in her pure, voice-like tone. Inspired by opera, Beatriz enjoys exploring the flute’s ability to perform dramatic music. She is particularly drawn to works with a virtuosic, frantic and emotional character, which she conveys through a range of dark tone colors, like an operatic soprano in a sinister role.

In 2007 Beatriz made her solo debut at the prestigious DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, DC, performing Reinecke’s Flute Concerto to an audience of over 3,000. Beatriz’s expressive and technically fluent playing has impressed many influential musicians, and in 2008 she was awarded the position of Young Performing Artist with the Yamaha Corporation of America. A year later, she became the youngest finalist in the Pappoutsakis Flute Competition, and in 2010 completed her Bachelor of Music Degree at the Boston Conservatory of Music, graduating a year in advance on grounds of Artistic Merit.

Through her studies in Boston, Beatriz developed a performance technique based on flawless and meticulous execution. She is recognized for her pure yet colorful sound, a quality promoted by her mentor, Geralyn Coticone, former piccolo of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Beatriz was able to further develop and perfect her distinctive approach through graduate studies in Europe with esteemed flutist Carlos Bruneel.

In 2011 Beatriz had the honor of performing for the opening of the Ars Musica International Contemporary Music Festival, and in 2012, she completed her Masters of Music Degree at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, graduating with the Highest Distinction.

Her career as a professional orchestral musician began even before Beatriz had completed her studies. In 2011 she won the Academy Position with the Royal Flemish Philharmonic, and since 2012 has been actively playing with the world-famous Royal Opera House ‘La Monnaie’ in Brussels, Belgium. She has also had the pleasure of working with the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra and has acted as Principal Flutist in the Nederlandse Orkest in Holland and in the renowned Encuentro de Musica y Academia de Santander in Spain.

Distinctive, versatile and dynamic, Beatriz Macias is a musician who always engages her audiences with the power and passion of her playing. For Beatriz, the flute is an extension of her personality, making her every performance truly inspiring.

Beatriz plays on a heavy-wall Platinum Muramatsu flute with a white gold Haynes headjoint. In 2013 she was named a Haynes Embassador.

Biography by Gavin Dixon, writer and journalist.

Native Houstonian TIMOTHY HESTER graduated from The Juilliard School as a student of the renowned pedagogue Adele Marcus. Currently, Mr. Hester is Associate Professor of Piano at the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music where he also enjoys instructing students in the skills of sight reading, collaborative techniques and also serves as Director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts. Named Outstanding Faculty Member of the year in 2003 as presented by the Moores Society, Mr. Hester works with many vocalists in the Houston area and has taught Opera Studies at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and is currently on the faculty of the Houston Grand Opera Studio.

Mr. Hester’s has appeared worldwide in venues in Britain, France, Italy, The Netherlands, Mexico, Canada, Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. He has been a regular performing faculty member of the Schlern International Music Festival in Northern Italy. In the United States, he has performed the NYC Bargemusic Series, the Ojai Festival in California, the Park City International Chamber Music Festival in Utah, the Texas Music Festival, and the OK Mozart Festival in Oklahoma as well as performing with Da Camera, a Houston-based chamber music ensemble.

Scheduled Program:

Works by Amirov, Schubert, Enescu and Jongen.