Mona S
Instruments: Flute
Styles: Classical
Mona S
Instruments: Flute
Styles:
Classical
Where I Teach:
In Your Home
My Studio
Online
Ages Taught: 10-80
ABOUT
Degrees / Training / Special Info:
Fulbright Grantee, Sibelius Academy, University of the Arts Helsinki (2019)
GD Flute Performance, New England Conservatory (2018)
MM Flute Performance, New England Conservatory (2017)
BM Flute Performance, University of Washington (2015)
Awards:
Coeur d’Alene (ID) Young Artist Competition Winner (2015)
Seattle Philharmonic’s Don Bushell Concerto Competition Finalist (2015)
University of Washington Concerto Competition Finalist (2013, 2014)
Barbara, Walt, and David Dryfoos Music Award Finalist (2012)
Overview:
I am an active soloist, orchestral player, and chamber musician currently living in Boston! I have performed with leadership roles in a variety of local ensembles, including the New England Conservatory Philharmonia and Wind Ensemble, as well as the New England Philharmonic. My performance activities brought me on tour with the University of Washington Wind Ensemble to Beijing in 2013 and I have recently had the opportunity to travel internationally to work with renowned flute specialists, such as Jeanne Baxtresser, Bonita Boyd, and Leone Buyse. I have been a finalist in several competitions, including the Seattle Philharmonic's Don Bushell Concerto Competition, the University of Washington Concerto Competition, the Seattle Young Artist Music Festival Concerto Competition, and the Seattle Flute Society's Soloist Horsfall Competition. In addition, I was named the prizewinner of the 2015 Coeur d'Alene Young Artist Competition. I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Flute Performance (with departmental honors) and a minor in Japanese. I currently study with Paula Robison at the New England Conservatory.
EXPERIENCE
Mona’s activities as a performer and her dedication to education and art awareness have led her to many teaching and outreach opportunities. Her woodwind quintet performed in New England Conservatory’s historic Jordan Hall and throughout the greater Boston area as part of a community outreach project designed to bring awareness of wind instruments and chamber music to local elementary schools. Mona is passionate about the role of music in empowering underserved communities and served as a music volunteer in immigrant neighborhoods near San Jose, Costa Rica. Additionally, in 2017 Mona was the music director of the Shanti Bhavan Children's Project in Tamil Nadu, India, where she worked with the "untouchable" communities of India's poor. She also served on the Seattle Flute Society's Board of Directors as the Commercial Membership Coordinator and the Secretary for their 2014 - 2015 season.
METHODS USED
For all of my students, I stress the importance of fundamentals, and I use various etude studies and the works of Marcel Moyse to develop this. To further complement the development of fundamentals and to encourage stylistic choices in musical expression and phrasing, music theory, music history, and ear training skills will be incorporated into lessons. In addition, a portion of each lesson will be spent sight reading duets, which encourages sight reading skills and allows students to become accustomed to a more advanced level of playing. I allow students to choose solo repertoire, which encourages them to explore and discover repertoire on their own. I also believe that body awareness is very important, and will incorporate stretches as well as discussions about good practice techniques into each lesson, so that students will be efficient in their practice and have the tools to protect themselves from injuries.
LESSON STYLE
I believe that learning music should be fun and inspiring, but that 95% of artistry is simply hard work! I, therefore, aim to create a positive and encouraging environment for all of my students, while still setting challenging goals. Additionally, I tailor my teaching to fit each student’s needs so that he or she can maximize learning potential. All lessons begin with stretches - to teach the importance of body awareness and tension release - followed by exercises in tone, articulation, technique, and expression development.
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