Flutist makes Saugatuck debut

Thomas Robertello

The Chamber Music Festival of Saugatuck welcomes to its stage for the first time, internationally-known flutist Thomas Robertello in performances Thursday, Aug. 2 and Friday, Aug. 3.

Robertello has performed frequently as a soloist with orchestra and chamber groups and has made many solo recordings. He has been a member of the Cleveland Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony and the National Symphony in Washington, D.C.

He has performed with the world’s leading conductors in music centers and festivals across the U.S., Europe, South America and the Middle and Far East. He is currently on the faculty of Indiana University School of Music.

For his “Salute to the Flute” concerts at the festival, Robertello has chosen works including one of the major compositions for flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Quartet in D Major for Flute and Strings, K. 285. He will also perform Sonata in D Major for Flute and Piano, Op. 94 by Sergei Prokofiev and Sonata for Flute and Piano by Francis Poulenc.

CMFS associate artistic director, Robert Byren, viola and piano, will perform with Robertello on the Mozart and Prokofiev works.

Also performing will be Joan Conway, piano, CMFS artistic director and highly-regarded soloist, chamber musician, collaborative pianist, two-piano and piano four-hand performer; Renata Knific, violin, member of the Merling Trio, and professor of music and chair of the string department at Western Michigan University; and Judith Vander Weg, cello, principal cellist of the Flint Symphony Orchestra.

Performances are scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Saugatuck Woman’s Club, Butler and Hoffman Streets. The Thursday concert is sold out but limited seating may be available at time of performance. Tickets are available for the Friday performance. Call (616) 393-5555.

A “meet the artists” reception will follow each concert. More information is available at www.saugatuckmusic.org.