If you haven’t seen the news yet, we are so excited to announce our Grand Opening event featuring a clinic and concert by Altus artist George Pope! This event will be held in our “new” showroom at Paige’s Music on Thursday, November 9th at 7pm. Pope has taught flute at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory since 2002 and is emeritus professor of flute at the University of Akron where he was on faculty from 1978 to 2013. His solo and chamber music performances throughout the United States, Europe and South America have been universally acclaimed. Fanfare Magazine calls Pope’s playing “clean, interestingly vigorous and beautiful.” His Ohio premiere of the Christopher Rouse “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra” was hailed for its “eloquent narrative voice” and “magnificent force.” Pope was principal and solo flute of the Akron Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 2002 and is currently principal flute of the Blossom Festival Orchestra. He has also performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Ohio Ballet Orchestra, the Cleveland Philharmonic, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Cleveland, the Tulsa Philharmonic, the New Mexico Symphony, the Monteux Festival Orchestra and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra.

A graduate of Northwestern University and The University of Tulsa, George Pope studied with Marion McNally, Maurice Sharp, Walfrid Kujala, Bernard Goldberg, William Bennett and Geoffrey Gilbert. He is a founding member of the Solaris Wind Quintet in residence at The University of Akron. Solaris released its first CD, “American Quintets,” on Capstone Records in August 2000, which includes his transcription of Bernstein’s “Anniversaries” for woodwind quintet. Solaris’ second Capstone CD, “American Quintets II,” was released in August 2003. Solaris released its recording of five quintets by Alec Wilder on Crystal Records in August 2014. George Pope can also be heard on Opus One Records and with the Akron Symphony on Telarc. He is a founding member of The Chamber Music Society of Ohio and joined the Swannanoa Chamber Music Festival in 2008. He has performed with The Coryton Trio, Furious Band and the Garth Newel Chamber Players in Hot Springs, Virginia.

His master classes throughout the country and the Summer Flute Experience in Akron have firmly established his reputation as a motivational and highly successful teacher. He has appeared as the featured artist in many master classes and festivals, including the Texas Flute Society, the Upper Midwest Flute Association in Minneapolis, the Florida Flute Association, the Central Ohio Flute Association, the Northeastern Ohio Flute Association, the Greater Cleveland Flute Society, the Oklahoma Flute Society, the Arizona Flute Society, the Middle Tennessee Flute Association, the Northwest Flute Collegium in Tacoma, the Sweelinck Conservatory in Amsterdam and the German Flute Society in Frankfurt. Pope has published transcriptions and arrangements through ALRY Publications.

Pope is active in the National Flute Association, serving in the presidential cycle from 2000 to 2003; as program chair for the 2000 Convention in Columbus, Ohio; and as a member of the Board of Directors from 1995 to 1997. Tickets for this event are FREE but registration is required. Please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/george-pope-flute-clinic-hosted-by-indy-flute-shop-tickets-38942723735 to register for what is sure to be a fantastic event!