Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company hosts December Sunday Soirée for flutists to gather

The December Sunday Soiree ended with a flute choir reading session

The Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company is bringing together the greater Texas flute community by hosting these charming Sunday Soirées. A soirée, as defined by Google, is "an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music." Originally, these rituals were held at the home of flutist Claire Johnson as a way for flutists to gather and perform in a low-pressure environment. Carolyn then took the initiative to revive the tradition for musicians down at her music shop in Plano, Texas.

I was always enraptured by these Sunday Soirées, but I never went until I forced myself out on the evening of December 8th. On the Facebook page, the event description emphasized how the soirées were "beautifully casual." I never quite understood how casual they truly were until I attended one myself. Upon arriving, I was greeted by employee Carole Overturf, who led me to the refreshment table featuring a smorgasbord of cookies, cheese, crackers, and wine. The performance room, featuring a backdrop draped in an elegant blue curtain, was pleasantly warm and comfortably lit. As I sat down, I noticed how the performers themselves were lighthearted and warmly received by the audience; there was hardly any judgment passed upon players. Even Carolyn's adorable little dog Stella was there, surreptitiously scavenging the room for a lost crumb from inadvertent listeners.

This event thus brought together a delightful mix in the audience. Among them, there was Tyler Shropshire, an agreeable and talented young man from UNT; Minh Kim, a bold graduate from the University of Cincinnati; Ellen Kaner, a good-natured teacher of a flute and clarinet studio; and James Ivey, a flute hobbyist and close friend of Carolyn.

First, Carole Overturf and her husband Patrick Overturf played a quaint duet called “In a Jolly Mood” by Eckhard Kopetski for flute and vibraphone. The couple played confidently, clearly demonstrating high standards of professionalism in their craft.

Afterward, Michelle Pokley, a newcomer to the Dallas music scene, performed a sweet rendition of Sigfrid Karg-Elert's Sonata Appassionata. Michelle had this bouncy and inviting energy about her, making it easy to approach and talk to her. We had a brief discussion on flute alloys and she credited her gold flute for the rich tone created. She brought her husband and friends as well to watch.

James Ivey next took up the stage playing along some CDs of holiday tracks. Despite his aging appearance, James's energy exhibited an acuteness to phrases and vibrato. 

Finally, audience members were invited to perform flute choir pieces. Carolyn Nussbaum was gracious enough to lend flutes to unfortunate comers who forgot or left theirs at home. For me, Carolyn tossed over a silver Trevor James flute and a Jupiter alto flute.

"What's 20,000 dollars?" she laughed, eyes twinkling.

The ensemble played fun Christmas pieces, including a lively arrangement of the Nutcracker. This final musical event was a warming way of bringing in the audience members together.

Overall, the December 8th Soirée was a lovely evening and an amazing chance to meet many talented musicians. I had such an exciting time meeting so many flutists from different backgrounds. Flutists of all ages should seriously consider attending these Sunday Soirées, as they serve as excellent networking, performance, and sight-reading opportunities.

The Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company is hosting their next soirée on Sunday, January 12th from 4-6pm. To RSVP for their next event, visit https://www.facebook.com/CarolynNussbaumMusicCompany/