Marcela DeFaria Casaubon is a freelance flutist residing in Austin, Texas. Marcela holds a Master’s Degree in Flute Performance from The Ohio State University, where she studied with Katherine Borst Jones. She earned Bachelor’s Degrees in Flute Performance and Music History from the University of Florida, where she began her flute studies with Kristen Smith Stoner.

Marcela won the OSU graduate level concerto competition, was a winner in the MidSouth Flute Masterclass Competition, and was a finalist of the Florida Flute Association College Young Artist Competition. She has played in masterclasses for Eva Amsler, Ian Clarke, Jill Felber, Jean Ferrandis, Marianne Gedigian, D. Stanley Hasty, Karl Kraber, Goran Marcusson, Renee Siebert, Carol Wincenc, the Dorian Wind Quintet and the Artemis Quartet. Her convention performances include the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (Singapore), the National Flute Association (Pittsburgh, Kansas City, New Orleans, Washington D.C.), the Florida Flute Association, and the Central Ohio Flute Association. She has played with the Ocala Symphony Orchestra, Alhambra Orchestra, Austin Philharmonic, and the Gainesville Civic Chorus.

Marcela is an active volunteer with the Austin Flute Society and the National Flute Association in a variety of roles. She currently works as Assistant Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations for the Jackson School of Geosciences at The University of Texas at Austin.

Bryan Kennard is a composer, improviser and Adjunct Professor of Flute at Concordia University in Austin, Texas. He has appeared in concerts for the Austin Chamber Music Center, Cleveland Composers Guild, and National Flute Association in addition to numerous solo and chamber programs. He also regularly performs as a leader and sideman with several jazz groups in Austin. Bryan is a founding member of the Austin Flute Project and is its Composer-in-Residence. Currently pursuing a Masters in Jazz Composition at the University of Texas at Austin, Bryan’s recent works have included compositions for jazz big band, jazz combos, and small classical chamber groups. In addition to performances in Austin, his music has been performed across the country from small recitals to featured concerts at the National Flute Association Conventions. Bryan earned his Masters of Music in Flute Performance from Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio and his Bachelor of Music from Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. He teaches a successful studio of young musicians in Central Austin and Round Rock. For more, visit: www.bryankennard.com

 

A diverse freelancer, Kristine Reaume performs as a soloist and chamber musician specializing in classical, rock, experimental, and musical theatre in Austin, Texas. In recent seasons, she has appeared in the pit orchestra at Zach Scott Theatre, on stage with Sungod, and in concert with the Austin Flute Project.

Kristine has performed in concert halls in the United States and Europe, and her repertoire encompasses innovative new music as well as classics for the flute. Projects include curating 3-weeks of concerts with Revel and the Austin Flute Project, recording experimental music with Sungod on Holodeck Records, performing with the Round Rock Symphony, writing rock-and-roll music with Break Time, and a 2008 international tour with the University of Texas Wind Ensemble that found her performing across Europe.

She is a passionate and enthusiastic educator who seeks to share the joy of music with all students and currently maintains a private studio in Austin, Cedar Park and Round Rock. She frequently judges local solo contests, region auditions, and teaches masterclasses throughout the area. An advocate for the local flute community, she has volunteered with the Austin Flute Society since 2010. Kristine currently serves as the AFS Vice President and chair of the Young Artist Competition.

Kristine earned her M.M. in music performance from the University of Texas at Austin and her B.M. in music performance from Eastern Michigan University. Her primary teachers include Marianne Gedigian, Dr. Julie Stone, Helen Near, and Dr. Mihoko Watanabe.

Dr. Rachel Kaplan is a freelance flutist in Austin, Texas, where she performs with Austin Flute Project and Cedar Park Winds. She currently serves as President of the Austin Flute Society and maintains a large private flute studio.

She has performed with the Waco Symphony Orchestra, Sierra Vista Symphony Orchestra, Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Tucson Chamber Orchestra, Art.if.Act Dance Project, Tucson Masterworks Chorale Orchestra, Tucson Boys and Girls Choirs, Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Ratio H Wind Quintet, Pasticcio Chamber Players and the Ludovico Ensemble.  She has also performed alongside renowned jazz flutist Paul Horn and has appeared as a guest artist at Delta State University and in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  As a founding Member of Absolüte Flütes, she was a guest artist with the Lake Havasu Regional Orchestra.  In addition, Dr. Kaplan has performed with Flutefinity Spectrum at the National Flute Association Convention in Albuquerque and the Las Vegas Flute Club Flute Festival. Her performance travels have taken her to the Bahamas as a guest of the Bahamian National Youth Choir and to England to work with Clare Southworth, Helen Brew and Michael Cox. She has performed in masterclasses for Susan Milan, Walfrid Kujala, Mimi Stillman, Nan Raphael, Alexa Still, Bradley Garner, Jan Gippo, Kathleen Chastain, Leone Buyse, and the McCormick Duo, For two years, she held the position of librarian for the National Flute Association, maintaining the music collection of more than 15,000 works kept at the university of Arizona.  In this capacity, she presented at the annual convention in New York City. 

She has served as adjudicator for the Texas Flute Society’s Donna Marie Haire competition, the Austin Flute Society Young Artist Competition, the Texas Music Educator’s Association Region Auditions, the Arizona All-State Festival and the Tucson Philharmonia Youth Orchestra. Dr. Kaplan has presented her research at the Hawaii International Conference for Arts and Humanities. She holds degrees from the University of Arizona (DMA), the Boston Conservatory (MM) and the University of Miami (BM). She has studied with Helen Blackburn, Geralyn Coticone, Brian Luce, Christine Nield-Capote and Claire Johnson.