Auld Lang Syne Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Scottish Folk Song, "Auld Lang Syne". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 4/4, transitions to 6/8, then back to 4/4. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Great for those New Year's Eve Gigs! Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2:30 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "O Come, O Come Emmanuel". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 4/4, transitions to 6/8, then ends in 3/4 (eigth note remains constant). Highest note is E above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes and 30 seconds long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Coventry Carol - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "Coventry Carol". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 3/4, transitions to 3/8, then back to 3/4 (eigth note remains constant). Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

What Child Is This - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 3 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "What Child Is This". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece remains in 6/8. Highest note is 2nd A above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Piece is approximately 3 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Christmas Flute Duets

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Silent Night
Coventry Carol
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Pat-A-Pan
What Child Is This?

Arrangements of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", "Silent Night", "Coventry Carol", "What Child Is This?", "O Come, O Come Emmanuel", and "Pat-a-Pan". Buy all 6 in one click! Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Highest note is 2nd A above the staff. Lowest note is C below the staff. Each piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email. $12.00

Or Buy Them Seperately!
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Silent Night
Coventry Carol
What Child Is This?
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Pat-A-Pan

Pat-A-Pan - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 1 Minute 30 Seconds
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "Pat-A-Pan". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in Cut Time, transitions to 3/4 then 2/4, then back to Cut Time. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately one minute and thirty seconds long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Smorgasbord Published

Smorgasbord
by Nicole Chamberlain
for solo flute and solo piccolo

Learn more about Smorgasbord here

Smorgasbord explores the different styles and textures a flutist can convey through the manipulation of the air stream. Through punching, clicks, bending, popping, fluttering, and even singing while playing, the flute can take on a metamorphosis of sound. The titles of the movements are analogous to a variety of textures found in food as well as the sounds of the flute. Through punches and aggressive attacks, the sound can be crunchy; though bending, it can be gelatinous; through pops, clicks and different embouchure shapes, it can be carbonated; with our friend the piccolo, singing while playing, and fluttering, it can sound fluffy. Certainly the flute has a "smorgasbord" of ingredients in the pantry that can be whipped up a delicious audio-culinary work.

Silent Night - Flute Duet

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Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "Silent Night". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece remains in 3/4. Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Listen
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Duration: 2 Minutes
Format: PDF
Price: $2.00

This is an arrangement of the Christmas Carol "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Perfect for intermediate to advanced players. Piece starts in 6/8, transitions to 2/4, then back to 6/8 (eigth note remains constant). Highest note is 2nd G above the staff. Lowest note is D below the staff. Piece is approximately 2 minutes long. Piece will be delivered as a PDF through email.

Confession Cam!

Here is the Atlanta Opera's "Confession Cam" for the 24 Hour Opera Project. I am the second interview on the camera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yexVeRN06f8

Video of the 24-Hour Opera!

Here is is! Scrub a Dub Raw!

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1686970619254

Audience Choice Award!

We did it! We finished the opera and it won Audience Choice Award! I hope to have some photos and maybe even some video soon. The opera was called "Scrub a Dub Raw" and we had to use two props: a washboard and a rubber chicken. The theme had to be family reunion. I was then paired up at random with Vynnie Meli (http://www.vynniemeli.com) who was the librettist/lyricists. She was amazing to work with!

All three operas were incredible and I was glad to meet some nice, talented people (the bulk of whom were from Atlanta). I have to give alot of gratitude to the directors and cast who really sold the opera to the crowd and who I didn't get a chance to meet or hear until the performance: Beth Suryan (Stage Director), Catherine Schaefer (Music Director/Pianist), Vivian Clifton (Wife/Daughter-in-law), Andrea Green (Mother), Stephen McCool (Cop/Brother, Neighbor), Dennis Shumann (Brother).

Thanks to my cheerleading section which included my hubby, my parents, Brian Luckett, Julie Moxley, Gail Goodman, Curtis Bryant, and Clair and Margaret Hayes. Nice to have some support in the audience!

They did post the operning and you can see all of us picking our props and getting our partners: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XD6lUin2igc&feature=youtu.be

World Premiere of Opera I haven't written yet!

I am announcing the premiere of an opera I have not even written yet!

November 7 at 7:30pm - FREE and open to the public
Georgia State University, Kopleff Recital Hall
Corner of Gilmer Street and Peachtree Center Avenue.
Atlanta, GA

This Saturday I begin writing an opera while sequestered at the Atlanta Opera offices. I have 12 hours to work with a librettist before I have to hand off my work to a stage director, singers, and pianist. None of whom I have met as of yet. All I know is the work will be 7-10 minutes and that I will have to include certain items that will be dictated to me by the Atlanta Opera. Should be a fun time! The concert is free and open to the public! Read more here: http://www.atlantaopera.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=43245957

Hope to see the cheerleading section there!

24-Hour Opera Project by Atlanta Opera!

I just got the phone call this morning inviting me to participate in the Atlanta Opera's 24 Hour Opera Project on November 6-7. Naturally I said yes :) I will work with a lyricist to write a 7-10 minute opera in 12 hours, then a stage director and singers will rehearse to perform the work on November 7th!.

I should get a packet in a couple of days with all the details and I will share them as I get to know the details myself. The performance will be at Georgia State University and I hope the performance will be public, but I will let you know.

Here's some more info on the project: http://www.atlantaopera.org/calendar/view.aspx?id=43245957

Publication and Commission

I had a doubly good day yesterday. The publication of my flute quartet,
"Tamar", was released yesterday:

http://www.clearnote.net/Tamar.html

I also recorded the piece and you should be able to listen to a recording of me playing all four parts by clicking the preview button halfway down that page.

On another note, I just struck a deal with Audrey Murphy (director of Hopewell Middle School Band) to write a piece for her middle school band. They will perform the piece at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN in March 2011. The festival only accepted 4 middle school bands out of the country and Audrey's band was one of them.

Here's is a performance of the piece they commissioned last year and performed at the Georgia Music Educator's Association conference this year. The piece is called Pronto by William Pitts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejy8ulGjqmA

I am very impressed with this young group of musicians and look forward to working with Audrey.

Flute Concertino Published

I finally got a flute concertino I wrote several years ago published. It is
for flute and string ensemble. Instead of renting the piece out to orchestras,
we decided to go ahead and sell the copy to the orchestra (or more probable the
flutist). This piece has had some interest lately, so fingers crossed something
will come of it in the next year: http://www.clearnote.net/Apparition.html
I've also completed a flute quartet as well as some other pieces this year
that I hope to have published soon as well. The publisher is interested so I
just need to get my act together and do.
I am also working with some friends here in Atlanta in the hopes of getting
some new works performed. I'll keep you posted!

Nashville and the radio!

I heard there was some trouble with links, work getting in the way, etc. So in case you missed the radio show it is archived here: http://wpln.org/?cat=5 My performance is about 14 minutes in. The show will also be rebroadcast in Nashville on 90.3 fm on Sunday at 3pm and Tuesday at 8pm.

I had a wonderful time performing on "Live in Studio C" . Its such a great space and the staff is great about checking in and making sure you have everything you need. I got a chance to meet some wonderful composers and performers at the show. I love the music that's getting written by the concert composers in Nashville.

I also got the opportunity to visit my sister and her kids in Clarksville. It was the usual kind of visit. Gossip lots, watch scary TV programs, and hang out with the kids. Doesn't get much better.

I also finally got the chance to catch up with a friend of mine who is a fellow flutist, and old college buddy. She's got some fabulous things going on and it was really great to see her and catch up. I can't wait for her latest Celtic album to go on. It seems exciting!

I am glad to be home and getting back to life a little bit. Catch up on lessons, music engraving, and more importantly sleep! In the meantime, I am waiting for some things to unfold and anxiously figuring out what might be next to write or perform.

On the radio!

I will performing my composition "Smorgasbord" for solo flute tomorrow (7/21) at 3pm Central time/ 4pm Eastern time on Nashville's public radio station WPLN's "Live in Studio C". You can listen to a live stream here: http://www.wpln.org (There is a link in the left side of the page to listen online). There will also be 4 other composers on the program, and I am looking forward to meeting them and hearing performances of their pieces as well.

Mangosteen at 9th Women Composers Festival

Yesterday I received the recording of my piece "Mangosteen" from the performance at the 9th Festival of Women Composers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Indiana, PA. I am performing with guitarist Irvin Kauffman. He is assistant principal cello for Pittsburgh Symphony. This was his first public performance on guitar in 20 years due to a hand injury. I was honored that he felt the time was right to make an appearance again and that this should be the piece. http://www.fsharpminor.com/nikki/Mangosteen.html

Irvin is also the oldest member of the Pittsburgh Symphony and was a wealth of knowledge and experience. He's certainly played everything with everybody. It was a wonderful experience to work with someone who's led an incredible music career, but leaves any ego at the door. He made me feel like an equal and seemed genuinely supportive and interested in the music I am writing. I wish him all the best and hope for an opportunity to work with him again. Perhaps on cello next time?

More good news is on the horizon. I'll keep y'all posted!

Back from Boston...now what?

Here we are back from Boston, and I think back on our feet. Provincetown was beautiful, and the wedding was just as beautiful. Thanks to Nick and Susie who kept our music stands from blowing away while we played on the beach for Dan and Lynn's wedding. Also thanks to Karl Henning for putting together the venues and helping us perform our music in Boston. He also took the time to show us around Boston some, and we hope we can all get together again in the future. I have recordings of "Maraschino" and "Toxicodendron" in the music section of www.nikkinotes.com. Thanks again to Karl for the performance and recording.

So now what? What's next? Brian has his final orals exams and one pesky class to complete this summer. Then he's finally done! Woohoo! I know he's also glad I've stopped scheduling him for a million things to perform and do...well for the time being. Or at least until I get some other wicked ideas.

I have some things in the works to get some of my compositions performed by others. Hopefully I will get some news of that shortly. In the meantime, I'm teaching a lot of students and thinking about what to write next. Maybe record some of it?

Married 1 year ago today!

Brian and I were married one year ago today. He's made me incredibly happy. We're living the dream! I love you, babe!

Chamberlain Duo

Now many of you know my husband,Brian Chamberlain, is a classical guitarist as well and he just finished the major hurdle of his graduate studies...his graduate recital. That has freed up some time for him and I to finally get to play together. So we hope to start out doing some weddings and private events and maybe earn some extra cash. So, I made a website: http://www.chamberlainduo.com We'll be performing our first wedding in Provincetown, MA for Brian's uncle's wedding. Then we scurry off to Boston to play a couple of concerts of our own music as well as Karl Henning's. Nothing like jumping straight into the fire! Poor Brian, he just doesn't get a break,maybe in August....oh wait, he'll have to study for his final graduate oral exams. Oh well. One day, Brian, one day.

Husband's Recital

The hubby's final graduate composition recital is coming up on Sunday, and we're both really excited about the performance. The music is great, the performers we secured are amazing. Should be one heck of a concert!

Sunday, May 2nd, 2010
3:00 PM
Florence Kopleff Recital Hall,
Georgia State University

Slipping on the Edge of Loss nn. 35, for Solo Piano - Performed by James Walker
Left to Rust nn. 32, for Tuba and Piano - Performed by Vince Jackson and Huu Mai
Lost Hollow Road nn. 15, for Flute and Guitar Duet - Performed by: duoATL
Levee nn. 37, for Flute and Guitar Quartet - Performed by Nicole Chamberlain, Brian Smith and Athens Guitar Trio

-Intermission-

Slow Motion Exit nn. 24, for String Quintet
Ecclesia nn. 39, for Mixed Chamber Ensemble - Performed by: Mercury Season

Women Composers Festival and Flutology

I am finally back to normal life, but had a great time at the 9th Festival of Women Composers. The performance of "Mangosteen" went very well, and I got to meet some fabulous people. I even got to have dinner with Katherine Hoover and she gave some good sound advice.

This week, I had my first flute book published called "Flutology - the Fundamentals". Basically its a reference guide with fingering charts, trill charts, scales, and exercises that I had been using in my lessons, and my publisher thought I should turn all those materials in a book. I even got to design the cover. So here it is: http://www.clearnote.net/Flutology.html

Next on my plate is to practice for Brian's masters composition recital. I am playing on 3 of the larger works and I am excited about the caliber of performers we were able to book for his recital. His recital is May 2nd at Georgia State University's Kopleff Recital Hall at 3pm and open to the public. More info as we get closer to the performance.

Dear March, Come In!

March is an exciting month this year, especially for a couple of my compositions. The best part is I get to travel and perform!

"Mangosteen" is having an especially good month. It is finally published by Clear Note Publications. You can buy a copy at Carere Music here in Atlanta or you can buy it online at http://www.clearnote.net/Mangosteen.html. Some copies have already been sold at the Georgia Guitar Symposium in Columbus, GA. I am also going to perform the work again on March 20 at 3pm with guitarist Irvin Kauffman at the International Festival of Women Composers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. I am looking forward to hearing alot of great works performed and learning about new pieces in the lectures from the 18-20th. And hopefully I'll get to visit some with the in-laws.

"Smorgasbord" is being performed today in Paris, France by James Strauss at Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot. I wish I could be there, but the finances just wouldn't allow it. I hope he is able to get a recording of it. It would be nice to hear someone else perform it for a change.

Last, but not least, I'll be performing with Mercury Season on March 17 at Georgia Perimeter College Dunwoody Campus at 1pm. We will be performing music from Ireland. The concert will include my arrangements of "Brian Borus March", "Irish Confetti", and "Molly on the Shore".

March is a busy month, but should also be a blast. Anytime I get to travel is a good time. I've already been to Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Florida, Columbus,GA, and Savannah, GA this year. We'll be making it out to Boston for a wedding and hopefully a concert in June. Should be an exciting year!

Back from the road, for a month anyway...

It's great to be home, but I feel I haven't quite gotten back to routine. Trying to round all the students back has been a little tricky. Hopefully over the next week it will all iron out. I did enjoy touring, however, I don't think I would want to do the same show on an extended tour.

It was a wonderful experience and met some fabulously talented people who were more than willing to mingle before and after shows. The New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players had a wonderful cast, and I've never felt more welcomed from a group of people. Who would think that they would really listen to the orchestra, but they do! I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact I played the tiny beast, the piccolo ;)

It was a different experience each show, mainly because of change of venue. The first show we couldn't see the cast from the pit, and it was probably for the best. On the second show, there were plenty of distractions. Not only could we enjoy watching the cast during our tacets, but there was some pit movement during the opening overture. Talk about having to keep your focus! By the third show, I finally started feeling comfortable in my skin, but then the tour was over. Now I'm left singing all the songs over and over, and "I know that a policeman's lot is not a appy one...appy one".

I look forward to what new experience and travels that this year brings, and there seems to be some wonderful things on the horizon. This month will be fairly on schedule, I'll be teaching alot and writing some. But March brings concerts and travel. I can't wait!

On the road...

Well it's a new year, and I suppose I will have to get to my resolutions at some point. Right now, is not the time. It's a little crazy this week or two. The next week will include a ton of traveling.

Brian's great uncle died Friday, and we will make a sad return to Pennsylvania to attend his funeral. Not a pleasant reason to have to travel, but it will be good to see his family and get another chance to know everyone better.

We will drive back in time for me to get on the tour bus for the NY Gilbert and Sullivan player's production of "Pirates of Penzance". We'll have one rehearsal and dive right into the first performance at Appalachain State. We get back on the bus for a performance in Atlanta, then onward to Panama City. This will officially be my first time on a professional tour, and embarrassed to say my first time playing in a real pit. I'm looking forward to this tour! Something I've always wanted to do, I'm glad I get the chance. I am really busting it hard to play well, so I might get the opportunity to do it again if I end up loving the experience.

This will be the first time since Brian and I got married where we will be sleeping apart. I'll miss him, and I'll miss the puppies. They're not coming with us on this short trip to Pennsylvania. They'll be happier at the puppy hotel that they seem to love so much.

So it's a busy and crazy start to the year, with a lot of potential to travel for music and travel to see family (on more happier occasions). Brian will finish his master in composition and hopefully a start to our collaboration on performance, composition and perhaps teaching. 2010 has great potential, indeed.

Doing it!

So this was probably the first week where I finally felt like a professional musician and not someone who was taking a break from an office job. I had a jam packed week of performing, teaching, music engraving, networking and positive feedback from the whole thing. I really feel like I am actually working as a musician, not hoping to one day get more work. Its definitely here and I am working hard, but still having a blast doing it.

Because I've had 2 performances and 6 rehearsals in the past 5 days I had to reschedule most of my students, so needless to say I haven't seen my husband much. Its been a crammed week for sure. And I am looking forward to having tomorrow off, and having a break this morning is certainly refreshing.

Let's start with the orchestra gig I had this weekend with the concert on Monday. I was hired to play 2nd flute with an orchestra put together by a conducting grad student for his graduate recital. I wasn't expecting much, mainly I was expecting alot of students. That was not the case. Who walks in to play piccolo? Only a flute professor of UGA from when I was at UGA. Although it was fabulous to see him again and to finally get to play with him, it was nerve wracking. This is someone whom I respect as a player and think highly of, and although I had played many a jury with him sitting on the panel I really wanted to play my best this time as a professional. Lucky for me and anyone who has met him, he's so positive, encouraging, and laid back it made it easy to relax, have a good time, and in fact play well. It turned out to be a great experience, and another reminder to always be prepared, you never know who's gonna show up to play piccolo.

Now preparing for Tuesday's concert was a different ball game all together. I was premiering a work of my own for solo flute "Smorgasbord" as well as music by Boston composer Karl Henning. Karl and I were even performing a duet of his, but would only get two rehearsals to put it together. Lucky for me, he as gracious enough to send a midi of the clarinet track with and without a click track for me to rehearse with. I knew it would be a difficult piece to put together ensemble wise with only two days, I felt it was a good request to ask for and see if he could provide. He was more than happy to do so, whew! The rehearsals went well and we really didn't need as much rehearsal time as we had planned. I certainly hope to be able to perform with Karl in the future. We certainly clicked, maybe I'll get to go to Boston next time, a place I've always wanted to visit.

Enjoy a little clip of Karl Henning and I rehearsing his duet Heedless Watermelon:


I was incredibly surprised by the reaction to "Smorgasbord". It went over well, and many people, aka composers, asked about the techniques I used. It certainly raised people's curiosity and the audience found it amusing. I've recently been pushing myself to write more positive and humuorus music, since that is how I have been feeling recently. My life has changed for the better, I am happy, my music should reflect that. I am surprised at how easy that has been for me. "Mangosteen" and "Smorgasbord" are great examples of my upbeat disposition. "Nautica" reflects the intensity and spirit in which I've been tackling my life during this transition into being a wife and full-time musician. This has all been a good thing, and I am glad I took that leap from an intense, stressful office job as a single graphic designer, to a married full-time musician with new experiences every day and plenty of love and support.

Being able to quit my job, makes it easier to practice and write. I feel better prepared for everything, and I am certainly performing better. I am even more productive as a composer. The future is just as exciting, if not more so. "Mangosteen" has been accepted into the 2010 Festival of Women Composers at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. So in March, I will make the journey to Indiana, PA to perform it and hopefully check out the Jimmy Stewart Museum. I am also going on my first tour in January. Its only 5 days traveling throughout the south playing in the pit of a musical, but its a new exciting adventure. Playing music and traveling are my two favorite things, and I am gonna get paid to do both....wow. I have certainly been blessed, and I have lots to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Festival of Women Composers Here I Come!

I found out a score of mine, details to come, will be performed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania's Festival of Women Composers March 17-20, 2010! I'll get more details later this week, including which of the three scores they selected and if I might be performing. Looking forward to a fun adventure and possibly meeting composer Katherine Hoover :)

Irreplaceable Doodles and Other Flights of Musical Fancy

An evening of meaningfully unaccompanied musical modernisms

featuring the irrationally exuberant music of
Karl Henning

and the tastefully delicious world premiere of Smorgasbord by
Nicole Randall-Chamberlain

as performed by the composers themselves

Karl Henning, clarinet & Nicole Randall-Chamberlain, flute

Tuesday, 17 November 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Emory Presbyterian Church
1886 North Decatur Rd, NE, Atlanta, GA 30307


$10 general admission
$5 students with I.D.

Smorgasbord

Today I finished a new work for solo flute/piccolo. The piece is made up of 4 short movements:

I. Crunchy - Aggressive and punchy attacks on the extreme registers of the flute give this movement the characteristics of the title.

II. Gelatinous - Jazz influenced, like a lot of my music I suppose, but with a bit of humor. The thick and slow moving quality is credited to the use of quarter-sometimes half tone slides.

III. Carbonated - I use the pizzacato technique quite a bit in my writing for flute. I love exploring the different techniques at the flute's disposal. Unlike other instruments, we don't get to use mutes or other devices to change our sound. Its all in the face :) This movement exercises the flexibility of a player to not only play straight up pizzacato, but to use other syllables to produces different types of sounds. End is result is a poppy, fun, and incredibly humorous piece. Sometimes, music is taken to seriously. It can be fun without being ridiculous.

IV. Fluffy - I took a chance and gave this movement to the piccolo. I don't play the piccolo enough and it has a certain tone quality that a flute just can't produced. My gripe with most composers is that they tend to think of the piccolo as an extension of the flute's register. But there's so much more to this tiny wooded beast. It has its only personality, and in this movement I explore it's toy march persona.

I am looking forward to performing this piece in November. I rather have someone else play my music, so I can relax and hear what I've written with some distance. But I feel I actually wrote within my capabilities with a little bit of challenge. It should go pretty well, its short and sweet and to the point. Hopefully it will add some contrast to the program in November.

duoATL Concert

On Sunday, October 25 at 3pm at MacLean Auditorium in Presser Hall at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA I will be performing with Dr. Brian Luckett in concert. We will be performing a new program. All works are by composers who's lifetime overlapped ours:

Lost Hollow Road by Brian Chamberlain (That's right the hubby)
Sonatina Mexicana by Carlo Domeniconi
New Castle Parade by Brian Luckett
Acrobats by David Leisner
Serenata al Alba del Dia by Joaquin Rodrigo
Six Pieces for Flute and Guitar by Annette Kruisbrink
Suite Buenos Aires by Maximo Deigo Pujol

We took off my work "Mangosteen". We've played it about 3 times for Agnes Scott College related events, I thought it was just time to swap it out for something else at least for this concert.

We found some new pieces and this seems to be a less intense concert than the ones we've done in the past. Hopefully I won't be completely exhausted at the end of this concert. That is if I make an appropriate shoe choice.

I was glad to make a new connection with Annette Kruisbrink via Brian Luckett's love of her guitar duet. We actually adapted her guitar duet for ourselves, but wanted to find a piece she had written specifically for flute and guitar. Low and behold she had written two. I dropped her an email and she was kind enough to send us the scores to read. Wouldn't you know it? The first two movements of "Six Pieces" was from the guitar duet we had adapted. So we just had to put it in our program.

Hope you all can come. Admission is free. Be sure to visit our new website for more concerts and information: http://www.duoatl.com

Mercury Season!

September has turned into the month of rehearsals, and I have to make a few leaps between genres. I love late night rehearsals when I don't have to be in at work the next day at nine. That was killer, I never had time to do any individual practice. Now I feel prepared when I go to rehearsals. Its fabulous!

Last night we kicked off Mercury Season rehearsal. Its a small chamber ensemble made up of flute, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, tuba, and cello. We're currently in residence at Georgia Perimeter College, so for the past 2 years we've had to come up with a unique program each concert based on a theme. This time we are doing music that was inspired by Autumn.

It was great to get back together with everyone and make some music. We're playing a little bit of everything, like always. Some Piazzolla, Joplin, Vivaldi, Schubert, and even some Neil Young. Last night we just touched on a little bit of everything so we all know where we stand and can adjust our individual practice time accordingly.

We did, however, get some bad news right before rehearsal. Bill got a text that Fred Mills had died. Fred Mills as the trumpet professor at UGA, my alma mater, and a former member of the Canadian Brass. It was shocking news, and not expected from anyone in the room. Hopefully we'll get more information on what happened, and hope the best for his family. I'm sure UGA School of Music will have a fantastic Memorial Concert for him. He did good things for the trumpet studio.

Well today's another day, and I better get to practicing. I have duoATL rehearsal tonight and jazz rehearsal with a new group tommorrow night. Its definately all keeping me on my toes.

Summer Shade in the Rain

duoATL performed at the Summer Shade Festival yesterday. Turned out to be a very rainy one. Luckily we did have a tent, but by the end of the concert I was standing in a good sized puddle. Right before we started the Pujol, Brian says "Don't touch the microphone." Great. Nothing like a bit of fear of death to put some life into the music. I was glad to be done with that gig. It went well, and I appreciate all the folks that stopped in the rain and listened. Next time I just hope its sunny. At least there was no wind turning my pages.

Concerts and Auditions

Its been a busy week for me and I am sure it has been for anyone else who is in the teaching field or has kids. The students have really poured in the past couple weeks, and I am adjusting to the new schedule.

I also had an audition for a substitute flute job in Augusta in Tuesday (no results yet but I'll keep you posted as soon as I do). It went ok, well pretty well for me. I regret the tempo I took for "Daphnis and Chloe" and I know my sound is a little "course" or "raw" in comparison to alot of flutist. We'll see, but I did have a good time.

I did stop in Madison, GA before the audition to walk the small town's historic district and have the best fried green tomato sandwich on the planet at Madison Chophouse Grille. I hope I get the sub job just so I have an excuse to get the sandwich on my way down. I always try to squeeze in a mini vacation on these auditions, because usually I am in places I have never been before.

Now that audition mania is over with for the time being, I need to focus on concerts, duoATL will be performing this Sunday(8/30) at 2pm at the Summer Shade Festival here in Atlanta at Grant Park. We will be at the Milledge Fountain stage. We'll be performing some Piazzolla, Pujol, Krusbrink, and a new piece by Brian Luckett, finally. :) So come down (pray the weather will be nice) and have a beer while we play. Admission is free, unfortunately not the beer.

I'll also post some new dates soon for Mercury Season (arranging more Piazzolla!), Agnes Scott College, some other venues, and I will start playing with the jazz group After Hours Quintet starting on September 18 at Trilogy in Marietta.

With each day I feel more like a musician and making a decent living doing it. I just regret not taking the leap earlier. But we all know I wasn't really ready to take that leap until I did this May. I'm glad I did.

Busy, Busy, Busy...Finally!

Things are really starting to pick up around here. This month I have two concerts, an audition and students are starting to sign up for lessons, not to mention I've got some engraving work and submitting works for competition. I hope to have a new choral work done by next week and start something new for a composers concert later this fall. I am so glad things are starting to break loose. I am definately adjusting to this new life style and am a lot happier than I was at a 9-6 job.

Last week I went to my old office to have lunch with my old office mate and got to say hi to my old co-workers. I kept getting the same response, "You look so happy and relaxed." Boy am I ever!

Next step, is to get Brian over to this side of music. I know he wants the stability of his 8-5 job while he's finishing grad school. Once grad school is over I'm sure he'll feel more flexible in taking students and working on music. I can't wait, it'll be nice to get our schedules in synch since now I work in the evenings and he works during the day.

Lessons and Competitions

Well this week has been a week of "getting out there". I've submitted some scores to some competitions, and taken out some ads to get more flute students. I really do enjoy being able to write, teach, practice, and not feel rushed about anything. I can really take my time and enjoy being in the moment.

There's only two things that do stink about it all. You know me, I always have to complain about something. I am alone a good part of the day and that has taken alot to get use to. I use to share an office with someone everyday for the past 5 years, and people were always coming and going. I do miss seeing my friends everyday and now that our work schedules are flipped flopped since I work alot in the evenings its been hard scheduling to get together with them.

There's also that monetary guilt. Right now I am not making what I was while I was a web designer. Hourly I make more, weekly...well let's say I don't have the hours yet. Sometimes I feel bad that Brian is having to carry me some until I get the students I hope to get once school starts up and peopel get back from vacation. He's totally for it, especially since we hope he'll get to do what I am doing once he's done with his masters and feels confident he is ready to take the plunge. It'll be an adventure and I can't wait until both of us are living it together!

New Solo Piano Work, Nautica

Since I've had some free time I've never had before, I've been busily writing in the hopes to make up for my lack of music writing in the past. So I managed to squeeze out this four movement piano work over the past two weeks. Now I just have to get someone to perform or record it so I can get rid of this mediocre MIDI rendering:

http://www.nikkinotes.com/music/Nautica/Index.html

I am going to try and run this by some very talented pianists friends and see if they have time to work it up and put it on a concert, as well as try to submit it to some competitions. Wish me luck!

Wedding Music

Brian and I agreed as a wedding present to each other we would write our wedding music for each other. I wrote the processional (so I knew when to come in and to keep the wedding coordinator from jumping the gun and sending people out during the prelude music *sigh*).

So here it is (Along with other music in the ceremony)!

http://www.briannikki.com/Ceremony.html

Welcome to Happy Land!

This summer has seen a lot of changes in my life. I got married, and its wonderful! I am sure I wouldn't have had the strength to make all of the other changes without his support and encouragement.

We bought a newer and bigger house. Both of us have our own studios and the dogs have a nice fenced in yard. A yard that they have pretty much destroyed, but as long as it keeps them from destroying the house I'm happy.

And if that wasn't enough change I quit my day job. I did it, I'm a full time musician. I spend my time doing some music engraving, teaching flute students, writing music for concert and multimedia. I've pretty much let web design go to the wayside. I just couldn't take the endless meetings, numerous bosses, and being trapped in an office where you were monitored all the time. Music is my deal, and I had to go for it.

Its been a little tough, but things are finally start to roll. By August things should be more comfortable with an influx of students at the music school. I've had quite a bit of free time to work out, cook, write music, practice, and it looks like I might actually get to have a hobby. No more working 9-6 and then coming home to do music. I do music full time and now have time to hang out with my husband.

However, his schedule winds up in August too. He'll start working 10 hour days then going to school on days he's not working. We're working for the day where both of us can be full-time musicians no matter how that may pan out and be parents. But, we'll enjoy this while we can. We're having the times of our lives!

Work and Radio

This past week had some pretty good news that may turn things around.

Because I didn't have enough on my plate, I'm starting work as a music engraver for Clear Note Publications. Fingers crossed that things will go well with this first score and I can do more of it and shake the day job!

On the composer front, my pieces "Mangosteen" and "Discombobulation" will be broadcast on WRSU in New Brunswick, NJ which can be heard locally at 88.7 FM and anywhere with an internet connection at www.wrsu.org. They have a new program that broadcasts new music by living composers. They will air on May 6 at 7pm. You can catch the full season schedule:http://epmusic.wordpress.com/explorations-schedule/

Now back to working, practicing, writing, finish setting up the new house, and healing from the beatings from my weekly personal training sessions.

Moving Right Along

I'm getting married. I'm moving. I'm teaching. I'm still working full time. I'm glad I have no concerts coming up.Its some hectic, happy, and exciting times, and I am ready to get on with it!
First big life change, getting married! June 13 is the big day, we're looking forward to it. We'll finally get both of our families together (outside of the parents) and our friends and have a big happy weddin. It will be good times, if I can get the invitations,veil, website, and music written, which will hopefully be done by April. Those 4 monsters are still looming...and they should be the most fun.

In the meantime, we've been keeping ourselves busy with the new to us house. Thanks, to Brian's dad who completely remodeled the upstairs bathrooms, and helped out with the electrical issues. Brian and I have been spending ALL of our free time painting, which should come to an end tonight. Then moving day on Saturday! Real pro movers this time. Its just too much to ask from friends. I rather have the pros do it and be done with it. No heavy lifting for me!

As in the job front, I'm teaching some students and its been great. I love it. My students seem to enjoy their lessons, even if they have to do scales :) I hope I get to do more of it. But it won't probably pick back up until August. And that's probably for the best.

I'm glad to be taking a break from concerts for a while, and focus on getting my life together. However, I am still practicing and taking lessons every once in a while just nothing public.
The next three months are going to be a little nutty, but will be some good times and I am sure some good stories.

Bring it on 2009!

Here's the 2008 Resolution Results:

1. Finish a composition! This did happen, and it was recorded. Whew! Finally I got something written, performed, and recorded in the same year.

2. Finish my website! Well, this bled into 2009, but its done. So I can stop being embarrassed about my cheesy website. This one is gonna be alot easier to update, and is certainly more representative of who I am. Maybe I should update this blog too?

3. Do new things! I didn't do too much out of the ordinary, but I did climb that rock wall and got addicted to Indian food.(Rose of India is the best!)

4. Take a risk! This is an ongoing process. I started teaching flute, and that's gonna help get me to the end result. I am auditioning, I am taking private lessons, and I am putting myself out there. Although I wouldn't call agreeing to marry Brian a risk, it certainly is exciting. He will be the unconditional, unstoppable, loving support that will help me pull through the tough times and celebrate during the good times. And I hope to be the same for him.

5. Don't forget others! This hasn't happened as much as I would like, I guess it never will, but I see it as I do my physical health. You can always be better. I made some tiny goals, but I'll keep at it.

Here's the 2009 Resolutions:

1. Be an awesome wife! This has to take priority. I got something good, I'm not gonna spoil it. We can really be there for each other, and he makes me happy. I hope his optimism rubs off on me.

2. Just do it already! I'm gonna cut the cord, launch my music career. I'm on the cusp, I've got a growing studio, all of my friends are confident I could do it, I have all the emotional support in the world, I just have to jump already. No one is going to push me.

3. Work on my faith! I've neglected this for a long time. Its important for many reasons. Maybe I feel more worthy enough to take this on than I have before. Its a tough challenge (hey I'm Catholic of course it is), and maybe that's why I've been avoiding it. Baby steps.

4. Get uber fit! I've been on a great health kick. I know the wedding puts a definate deadline on things. I've been working with an awesome trainer. My goal:decrease my body fat to well in the healthy range.

5. Help others! This is on my list again. It will never come off. I just need to find exactly how I should define this.

Coalescence and Accessible Contemporary Music

My string quartet, Coalescence, was recorded by an group in Chicago called Accessible Contemporary Music. ACM plays a piece of music every week by a living composer. I highly recommend subscribing to the weekly newsletter. You'll hear all sorts of fascinating music.

They put together a stellar performance for me here: http://www.acmusic.org/weeklystreaming.html

Coach and Be Coached

The more I teach the more I realize I need to be taught. So I've hired the help of ASO's very own principal flutist, Christina Smith, and boy what a change! She's corrected some things that I have feared were going quite south. And thanks to her help my tone has already improved over the last two lessons. I can only hope she can do the same for my articulation and technique. I'm pretty sure she can. Anywho, I am certain that she will get me in shape for the journey ahead.

As for getting in shape, I've also hired a personal trainer. And he is kicking my butt. Really? I am paying for this abuse? Well I'm sure I'll see a big pay off soon. I am sleeping a whole lot better at night.

As for coaching, Friday I got to live a little bit of the life I wish was everyday. I got to go to North Georgia College and State University for the North Georgia Guitar Summit and teach a composition masterclass as well as give a duoATL concert. What a blast! The students were good sports and it was just alot more fun than I ever anticipated. If only this is what it was like everyday. It certainly wet my appetite to keep on truckin!

Tiny Signs

I've started teaching flute. It's something I said I wouldn't do again, but I guess you should never say never. I've had many tiny signs thrown up at me saying its time to make some kind of leap into music land for a long time, but over the past couple of months the tiny signs have turned into big Las Vegas style neon lights that I can't ignore any longer. So I started teaching, and I have actually enjoyed all of it so far. I hope I can get more students and do this more often.

I've had a pretty cush job in web design, but after a long day of designing, coding, tackling problems that I rather not tackle, unfamiliar corporate rules, I just feel better after hanging out with a student teaching them all the cool things they can do on a flute and all the different music we get to play. Its really helped me find an enthusiasm for music again. I hope it continues. So my goals have changed...at least the time frame. Things are going to be sped up, they have to. I'm obviously more happy as a musician, that's my calling.

This weekend

This weekend was a great weekend...and I hope one day that will be my every day life. Teaching lessons, dress rehearsal, and performing makes for a great "work" day.

The only thing I had to complain about (I know there's always something), was that there wasn't a large turnout. But the people that did come to the concert were people who really love the type of music we play and were warm enough to drop by afterwards to say they enjoyed the concert.

It was great to also play Brian C's music. A little nerve wracking to play with the composer present, even though he is my fiance and the most encouraging upbeat person I've ever met. It's still a little intimidating to know there is someone in the audience who knows every note.

The near future has some exciting things going on personally and professionally, and I am looking forward to embracing the changes.

Up and Coming

It's been a while since I've posted an update, but since concert season is about to rev back up I thought I would catch you up and let you know what lies ahead.

First off, I just signed a contract with New Atlanta Conservatory as flute/composition/theory teacher. They've also asked I start a Digital Media/Animation class for their art department and a student flute ensemble.

I have a few concerts lined up over the next couple of months at Agnes Scott College, Georgia Perimeter College, and even a concert/masterclass with duoATL at the Guitar Summit held at North Georgia College. But stay tuned because a past concert of duoATL is also airing on WABE's (an NPR station) Atlanta Music Scene in the coming months.

Lastly there is some negotiating in the works to have a couple of my pieces played in the coming year by New Atlanta Philharmonic. And that should be some outstanding performances!

And that's it, well besides planning a wedding by June. Plenty of time, right Brian? (Don't even get me started on his impossible schedule).

Catching Up

Long time no blog, but I have a million great excuses and lots of fantastic news.

Let's start with the biggest and best first. I am getting married in June 2009. I am marrying another composer, classical guitar being his instrument of choice. When you get a chance check out his website with his fabulous music: www.nobridantes.com.

Next up, I was awarded composer of the year by the Atlanta Pen Women. It was a nice surprise and got me anxious to write some more.

Then I had a flute/guitar piece premiered and professionally recorded at Allgood Productions. duoATL performed/recorded and we had a fantastic experience with an equally satisfying recording. Check it out: Mangosteen

I also got to sub for the second flute in the New Atlanta Philharmonic. Good times, excellent orchestra, I hope I get to do it again.

I've also been doin a bit of running. I ran my first 10K this past weekend. Not my best time, but the Peachtree Road Race is pretty fun.

So no bad news (fingers crossed). Works fine, life's great, looks like smooth sailing.

Mangosteen premieres tommorrow!

Tomorrow (Sunday 4/6) at 3pm at Agnes Scott College's MacLean Auditorium,my work for flute and guitar "Mangosteen" will be premiered on the Bella Musica concert by duoATL: http://www.nikkinotes.com/BellaMusicaProgram.pdf
This event is co-sponsored by the Georgia Committee of The National Museum of Women in the Arts of Washington DC.

Call 404-471-6430 for free tickets, or show up early to snag one!

http://www.agnesscott.edu/admission/undergraduate/visit/maps_directions.aspx

duoATL concert this Saturday (3/8)

duoATL is in concert this Saturday (3/8) at 7pm at the Douglasville Cultural Arts Center in Douglasville, GA.

Cost of tickets are $12 and there's even a reception afterward! Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended (770.949.2787).

Address: The Cultural Arts Center

8652 Campbellton Street in historic Douglasville, Georgia

Exit #36 north off of I-20

http://www.artsdouglas.org/

We will be performing works by Rodrigo, Yague, Pipo, Hoover, Piazzolla, and much more!

More concerts in April at Agnes Scott College and Callanwolde Fine Arts Center.

Composer of the Year 2008?

As odd and out of the blue as it seems, in May I will be awarded the Atlanta Pen Women award as Composer of the Year for 2008. They are an organization whose aim is to promote literacy, educational, and charitable activities in all three disciplines of music, art, literature. Their local website is www.atlantapenwomen.org I'm looking foward to meeting the organization in May, and hope to meet some outstanding artist, writers, and musicians from Atlanta.

Society of Composers National Conference

Well I'm in for a pretty busy week, and I have to say my day job is really starting to cramp my style. Wednesday night at 7:30pm I will be performing a piece with neoPhonia at Georgia State University at the National Conference for the Society of Composers. I will also be performing a piece Friday night at 8pm with Bent Frequency at Georgia State for the same conference. I am uncertain whether or not you have to be a memeber of the Society of Composers to get into the conference concerts, details to come.

On Tuesday early morning I will be performing with Mercury Season at the Walker School for a private concert for the student body.

duoATL is not on any break either. We have a few more concerts coming up shortly. Its really packed in between now and April! Hopefully I'll start well and sane.

duoATL on WUGA

Catch me on WUGA this Friday (2/8) at 4pm EST! duoATL has been asked to
perform and talk a little about ourselves. The program is 1 hour long
and so far it looks like we have the whole program to ourselves. You
can catch us online at http://www.wuga.org for those of you outside of
the Athens, GA listening area.

Vote for Toby!

Atlanta Pet Rescue get $1 a vote for each Toby vote!
http://www.atlantapetrescue.org/FiredogContest.htm

Coalesensce

I got the mp3's from the Mercury Season concert last month. And Coalesensce was performed as a flute quartet since we didn't have two violins I had to pretend to be one. And I gotta say it came off pretty well. I may even like Movement I. Coagulation better with a flute. I'm still undecided on Discombobulation, listen for yourself(the concert was at a bar we rented out, so that's why all the extra noise:
http://www.nikkinotes.com/music.html

I also got to play Blackbird as arranged by Erik Kofoed: http://www.nikkinotes.com/flute.html

Also on a side note, a couple tracks I wrote for Flashkit has been getting alot of use on games:
http://www.behindthepulse.com/trucktown/kidspage.php (Click on Road Ride)
http://kids.ambrasoft.nl/letterdoolhof2.swf
http://www.dragonsauce.com/formatives/fruit_crush/index.html

Hope all is well and I will keep you posted with upcoming concerts and even some radio shows!

2008 Year of Completion

So like most people I didn't get to do all my resolutions last year. Here's my resolutions from 2007:

1. Give more: Somewhat. In ways I did in others I didn't, maybe this year I can continue giving.
2. Write it and record it: I did start writing lots of stuff, I didn't finish. I did finally get the first movement of Coalescense recorded, so this was half way fulfilled.
3. Schedule more concert dates for 2008 for duoATL: Oh yeah, this did happen. So I can check this off my list.
4. Drop a dress size: I did do this. And I think I may be on my way to high school weight. I ran my first race and beat a coworker. I certainly have more energy and I do feel better about myself.
5. Be more "outdoorsy": I did not camp this year, or go white water rafting, with Jesse getting cancer earlier this year I just didn't want to leave him behind for a minute knowing we only had a little time left together. I don't know if being "outdoorsy" is that important to me this year, but being more green is.
6. Clean house. Mentally and literally: I did get some junk cleared out of the house, and I did grab the bull by the horns on all the emotional junk that's been floating around. I think I can whole heartily check this off my list.
7. Conquer my fears: I never got to the rock wall. Coordinating friends has been a challenge, maybe something I'll do on my own. But I did travel to New York on my own. I always wanted to go but I had a certain fear about doin it on my own. I went, I had a blast, I went by myself for a week and even went to the top of the Empire State Building. I think this is the best thing I ever did by myself. I no longer have any insecurites about going out on my own.

So last year was a year of change. I said good bye to a long term boyfriend and an even more heartbreaking good bye to my dog and best friend, Jesse, who fought the good fight with prostate and lung cancer but after 3 months of chemo I had to let him go.It was a tough decision and I was glad I could be there for him like he had been there for me through the good and tough times.

But during the summer things took a happier turn. I met a wonderful, musical, intelligent, and caring person who loves me and I found a doggie who needed me as much as I needed him. I hate to sound like a cliche but things do happen for a reason, and when things get bad eventually they will get better. They certainly have for me. So now that my personal and professional life seem to be in a good groover (hard to believe) I can finally make some headway. So here's to 2008, the year of completion. I will get things done by golly!


1. Finish a composition! Now I know this has to happen because duoATL is scheduled to perform it by April. So I am gonna knock this out this month if it kills me!
2. Finish my website! My current one is four years old which is pretty embarrassing for a web designer. I got it started, I am happy with the direction, now I just need to finish it!
3. Do new things! I found out last year that doing things out of my comfort zone have paid off for memorable experiences I would never trade for the world. I don't know specifically what that will be...I hear the rock wall calling my name.
4. Take a risk! I'm tired of playing it safe. I need to start putting it out on the line if I want to make things happen. I want to be a musician full time. That's my dream. I don't want to regret not trying whole heartily. Now I just got to figure out what that means to me.
5. Don't forget others! I do have the tendency to be introspective and forget about others who may need help. People help me out all the time. I hope I can find a way to something to help other who may need a helping hand in a pinch.

So there it is in black and white on cyber space. Putting it out on the line, setting goals.

String Quartet Performed

Coalescense is being performed by Mercury Season Sunday night (12/30) at 5 Seasons North. I will be playing the first violin part so its kinda turned into a flute quartet and it works pretty well. Iw ill also be playing Brian Chamberlain's "Lost Hollow Road"

Here's the info:
December, 30 2007 at 5 Seasons North 3655 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta, Georgia 30005Cost : Donations Accepted

8th Annual New Years Party. Come relax and enjoy a fun night of music and good cheer at the 5 Seasons North! Food and drink will be available through the restaurant & brewery. Music will be provided by the Mercury Season ensemble. Will there be more than one string player in this sea of wind players? How many French horns can get along in one place? Find the answers and more when you join Mercury Season in celebrating the beginning of the start of the New Year. Why not get your New Year’s started early?! We hope to see you there!

duoATL concert this Friday (12/21) at Redlight Cafe

duoATL is performing this Friday (12/21) at 8:30pm at Redlight Cafe (http://www.redlightcafe.com/). World Circus will be opening up for us at 7:30pm. Redlight Cafe has alcoholic beverages and a tasty menu, and we only play for about an hour. So if you always wanted to come to a concert, but without the pretentious atmosphere here's your chance.

The address is: 553 Amsterdam Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306

Here's a map: Click Here

Last chance to hear this program! We change it up after this concert! Admission is $7, so come and have a good time so they'll invite us back!

Concerts this week

This week I have two lunch time concerts. Thursday (11/29) I will be performing with Mercury Season at noon at Georgia Perimeter College, the Dunwoody Campus (http://www.gpc.edu/~gpcdun/). We will be performing works from or influenced by the Balkans. Come see me tear up Monti's Czardas that Erik Kofoed arranged for solo flute, clarinet, horn, and tuba. Friday (11/30) at noon I will be premiering a work by composer and guitarist

Brian Chamberlain(http://www.nobridantes.com/) called "Lost Hollow Road" for flute and guitar at Georgia State University's Kopleff Recital Hall(http://www.music.gsu.edu/locations.aspx) also at noon. Brian is a graduate student at the University and this is a part of his credit work. Its a fantastic new piece, and many other students will be having works premiered on this recital as well.

duoATL has added more concerts to our schedule. We're really packing it in for 2008! I'll keep you posted!

Concerts and a Recording

I have lots of concerts coming up over the next couple months, kicking it off on Nov 4 at 3pm with Brian Luckett for our duoATL concert at Northside Drive Baptist Church for their Music on the Hill series. You can get directions and more information here: http://www.nsdbc.org/

I also have a new concert to announce. I will be performing a work by Brian Chamberlain for flute and guitar (Brian Chamberlain will be playing guitar) at Georgia State University on November 30 at noon. Brian is a graduate student in music composition at the University. I have also recorded a piece of his for solo flute called "Sense of Blue", which you can listen to the recording as well as other pieces here: http://www.nobridantes.com/mp3.php

He is an excellent composer and what I have seen of the flute and guitar work it should be a very exciting piece, not that I'm biased...well maybe a little :)

There's also other Mercury Season and duoATL concerts coming up, but I'll give more details closer to the concert dates!

What a week!

After virtually killing my coworker and his friend handily at the 5k race, I did in fact get a dog at the adoption they were having at the race. I got an American Bulldog/Dalmatian mix who happens to be deaf. I named him Sam, after Samuel Barber. This works out great for me because I can bring him to rehearsals with me and I do not need to worry about all the howling. He doesn't hear a thing.
My computer also half died last week, so I got a new computer. Fortunately the boyfriend is coming to the rescue to get all the data off the hard drive. I perhaps waited too long to get a new computer. Eeek!
Tonight duoATL is performing at Hungry Ear. The show starts at 8, but we don't go on until 9 and play a 30 minute set. You can get more info here: http://nwuuc.org/index/programs/hungry_ear_coffee_house
duoATL has also been asked to perform on Studio GPB. It is a radio show produced here in Atlanta and broadcasts on every npr station in Georgia with the exception of Atlanta, ironic huh? We record on November 17 and get an hour set with an interview. I'll let you know when it airs. You can find more information about the show and find a station here: http://www.gpb.org/public/radio/studiogpb/

Back from New York!

I am back from New York, I had a blast going to the opera, the new york phil, and seeing all the sites. Here's some photos:

Day 1
http://www.spottedrocket.com/NewYork01/NewYork01.html

Day 2
http://www.spottedrocket.com/NewYork02/NewYork02.html

Day 3
http://www.spottedrocket.com/NewYork03/NewYork03.html

Day 4
http://www.spottedrocket.com/NewYork04/NewYork04.html

Day 5
http://www.spottedrocket.com/NewYork05/NewYork05.html

Tommorrow I run the big race against my coworker, who tells me he hasn't been running....somehow I don't believe him. So here your last chance to sponsor me. All proceeds goes to the building of a low income animal hospital: http://www.spottedrocket.com/NewYork01/NewYork01.html

Next Saturday I will be performing with Brian Luckett in duoATL at Hungry Ear. Its not our standard venue, but I've played there a few times before and its always a very attentive audience. We will be playing a 30 minute set. There will be a couple other groups performing that night as well. ( more details later). You can find more info here: http://nwuuc.org/index/programs/hungry_ear_coffee_house

Lots of concerts coming up fast, too many to post here. I'll send out another email after the race!

Another 5K for the Pups!

Well since I had so much fun at my last 5K I thought this time I would
run for a cause. Its for the Atlanta Animal Alliance. The race takes
place on September 29. You can even sponsor me and help raise money
for the welfare of the pups! You can do that online here:
http://www.firstgiving.com/NicoleRandall

There is also a pet adoption, I think my parents are taking bets on if
I bring home a dog after the race. We'll see, but that may still be a
little early for me to get another dog.

Yes, my poor coworker has agreed for a rematch at this race....I
haven't told him I've shaved 4 minutes off my time, and I don't think
he's been running...we'll see if I can run him into the ground again!
(As you can tell the smack talk has already started).

Mercury Season has a slew of concerts planned starting in October,
more info on that within the week.

Miami!!!

I love to travel, and its even better when you get to travel with 60 of your good friends from work :) I love these people, and I look forward to these trips every year. This year we went to Miami for the weekend.

5K's, Vacations, and Mercury Season

Its been a relatively quiet July and August, but things are about to kick back into high gear. I ran my first 5K last Saturday, I wasn't too fast but at least I beat a guy at work...and I've rubbed it in. It looks like we'll be running another next month so this time he won't "cramp up" from the August heat.

I'll be off over the next month going to Miami on a company trip, seeing my folks in Savannah, and taking my own vacation in New York City. That's right, on my own much to the detriment of mom's ulcers. I wouldn't be me if I didn't worry mom about something.

There is a tentative date for a Mercury Season concert on September 20 at the Spruill Arts Center. More info on that soon...we don't have much time, so over the next week or so things should get nailed down.

I am writing a new piece for duoATL to perform this year. It is for an Agnes Scott College concert of women composers, and I just so happen to qualify. So I've been writing alot more, it looks like I have alot to write about after this summer :)

The Big Apple!

Well I finally got my time off approved! I am headed to New York City for a little vacation in September! Woohoo!

Mercury Season at Spruill Arts Center

Mercury Season, a new chamber music ensemble here in Atlanta, is throwing a chamber music concert at the The Spruill Art Gallery in Dunwoody on Tuesday the 19th of June at 7:30pm. Featuring original works and arrangements by Atlanta Composers Erik Kofoed.

Tues. June 19th, 7:30pm
4681 Ashford Dunwoody Road
Atlanta, GA 30338
Cost : Donations accepted
http://www.spruillarts.org/gallery.htm
A free concert of chamber music. Performing amidst the gallery's emerging artist showcase, we are presenting music borrowed, adapted, and not usually heard in a concert hall. Drinks and refreshments will be available. Works by Bach, Villa-Lobos, Massenet,Lennon, Byrd, Monk, Beyonce, and Kofoed

Mercury Season is a collective of classical musicians that take classic and pop music and recombine it through varied instrumental possibilities to present eclectic but emotionally connected programs that engage and entertain mind and soul.

This concert features Nicole Randall on Flute, Brendon Bushman and Kallie England on Oboes, Catharine Sinon and Terrina Anderson on Clarinets, Kiyo Kojima on Bassoon and Saxophone, Greg McClean on Trumpet, Erik Kofoed on Trombone and Alto Horn, Bill Pritchard on Tuba, and Caroline Stutzman on Cello.

Donations welcome. Drinks and refreshments will be available, please join the performers for a brief reception following the concert.

Visual artists utilize their distinct techniques and artistry to communicate their impressions of images and ideas around them. In the same vein, this group of young musicians have taken the music around them - from the traditional to the cutting-edge - and made it their own. They have borrowed from other instruments, from Popular music, Jazz and traditional songs, taking the amazing maelstrom of music that surrounds them everyday, and integrated it into one engaging program.


Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring
J. S. Bach Arr. Kofoed

Aria for Flute and Bassoon
Hector Villa-Lobos

Elegie Op. 10 No. 5
Jules Massenet

Blackbird
John Lennon Arr. Kofoed

And think ye Nymphs to scorn at love
Love is a fit of pleasure
William Byrd

Sonata VI
Jan Dismas Zelenka

March of the Lemmings
Spy vs. Spy
Erik Kofoed

Round Midnight
Thelonius Monk Arr. Pilzer

Baby Boy
Beyoncé Knowles

Geamparale and Maruntica
Traditional Slavic

More info about Mercury Season here: http://www.myspace.com/mercuryseason

duoATL playing West End Funk on YouTube

I'm A Bird By Erik Kofoed

I finally got my hands on a recording of a concert I did with a bunch of talented musicians here in Atlanta on December 29. So here's a woodwind quintet written by local composer and brass player, Erik Kofoed, called "I'm a Bird":

http://www.nikkinotes.com/music/flute/Bird.mp3

The musicians were Brendon Bushman (oboe), Catherine Sinon (clarient...soon to be Mrs. Bushman), Dan Wions (horn), Kiyo Kojima (bassoon), and myself(flute). We only had a couple reheasals, and one as a complete group since many people were coming in an outta town for the holidays and other gigs. Myself included.

There are more musicians on that concert, and it looks like Erik is coordinating another concert in June. The series/group is called Mercury Season and there is a site: http://www.myspace.com/mercuryseason

Hopefully I'll get the recording to the GSU solo from the April concert too.

GSU and duoATL

The concert today went very well, and I believe the composer Daniel
Perttu, was really happy with the performance...whew! A really nice
guy, and I wish him well as he searches for a job as a composition
professor and on his upcoming wedding in July. If you know a college
hiring, I recommend this guy.

Now back to duoATL stuff: duoATL will be performing in Williams Hall
at Oxford College in Oxford, GA at 8pm. We will be performing works
by Piazzolla, Assad, Daugherty, Hoover, and much more.

Directions are here: http://www.emory.edu/OXFORD/map.html

We also solidified concerts at Late Nights at the Academy on June 2,
Callanwolde Fine Arts Center on June 17, and a our first chamber
music series "Music on the Hill" at Northside Drive Baptist Church on
November 4.

First Guest Artist Gig!

This Friday (4/20) at noon I will be performing a solo flute work by Ohio Composer Daniel Perttu for the Socity of Composers, Inc. concert at Georgia State University's Kopleff Recital Hall. The concert is free and open to the public. There will be other composers having their works performed and should be a good variety of music as well as the opportunity to hear world premieres of recently composed works. To hear more of Daniel's works visit: http://www.danielperttu.com ( I am a fan of Tonospheres).

So if you around GSU and can make it out during your lunch break, check out the concert. The composer will be in attendance...no pressure...ahh the shoe's on the other foot for a change.