Emi Ferguson plays Paganini's Violin Caprice no.5 live on the flute
For more information please visit: www.emiferguson.com.
Stealing violin music one piece at a time...
Although this virtuosic masterpiece was originally written for the violin, it translates so well to the flute - showing off the incredible range, depth, and possibilities of such a truly virtuosic instrument. Emi's arrangement captures the brilliance of Paganini's writing while adapting it to better suit the demands of the flute. Watch more of her videos here: https://www.youtube.com/user/emiflutes
This video was filmed by Kenneth Kato as part of Charlotte White's Salon de Virtuosi concert series (www.sdev.org) in New York City. Emi was a 2014 Salon de Virtuosi grant winner.
About Emi
Hailed by critics for her “tonal bloom” and “hauntingly beautiful performances,” English-American flutist Emi Ferguson is a performer who stretches the boundaries of what is expected of modern-day instrumentalists. Emi’s unique approach to the flute can be heard in performances that alternate between the Silver Flute, Historical Flutes, and Auxilary Flutes, playing repertoire that stretches from the Renaissance to today.
Emi was a featured performer alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and James Taylor at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of 9/11 at Ground Zero, where her performance of Amazing Grace was televised worldwide. Her performance that day is now part of the permanent collection at the 911 Museum.
Emi’s playing can be heard live in concerts and festivals around the world as well as at home in New York City. Emi is passionate about developing new music for the flute and has premiered works by Wayne Oquin, Kendall Briggs, Elliott Carter and even CPE Bach. Emi has been a featured performer at the Marlboro Music and Lucerne Festivals, June in Buffalo, Twickenham Fest, and Chamberfest Dubuque, and has performed and taught with Juilliard Global in Brazil, PianoSonoma in California, Juilliard Baroque in Germany, and Les Arts Florissants in France and has been featured as a soloist and ambassador for Elliott Carter’s music in China and Japan.
Having passions for both “new” and “old” music, Emi is the only flutist to have worked simultaneously with conductors James Levine, Pierre Boulez, and William Christie on modern and baroque flutes in Lucerne, New York, and France.
Emi is the 1st Prize winner of the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, of the New York Flute Club Young Artist competition, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Competition, the Juilliard Concerto Competition, and the J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition and was a recipient of the 2014 Salon de Virtuosi grant.
As a Baroque Flutist, Emi is a frequent guest artist with period ensembles including Tafelmusik, the American Classical Orchestra, Trinity Baroque Orchestra, and Juilliard 415. She was the only flutist accepted to Juilliard’s inaugural Historical Performance class, and has performed alongside William Christie and Les Arts Florrisants, and with Christophe Hammer, Massaki Suzuki, Christopher Hogwood, and Nicholas McGegan with whom she was a concerto soloist in Alice Tully Hall and on WQXR, New York City’s classical music station.
Emi is currently on the faculty of the Juilliard School teaching Ear Training in the Evening and Pre-College divisions and has taught on the faculty of the University of Buffalo. Emi was the first person to have graduated from Juilliard with Undergraduate and Graduate degrees with Scholastic Distinction in flute performance, as well as a second Graduate degree in Historical Performance as a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow. While pursuing her Undergraduate degree, Emi cross-registered at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health studying Epidemiology.
Her principal teachers have been Carol Wincenc, Sandra Miller, Robert Langevin, and Judy Grant. Born in Japan and raised in London and Boston, she now resides in New York City.