213 East 82nd St, New York, NY 10028
Organized by the Liszt Institute New York up-and-coming Hungarian flutist Andrea Ábel will present an exciting concert featuring compositions by renowned artists such as Béla Bartók, Valerie Coleman, Steve Reich, Guillaume Connesson and also flutist Andrea Ábel incorporating mesmerizing electronic music elements, creating a truly immersive and innovative musical experience.
Contemporary music plays a vital role in fostering diversity and inclusion within our cultural landscape. It challenges traditional boundaries, embraces new perspectives, and amplifies underrepresented voices. By showcasing contemporary compositions, Andrea Ábel aims to celebrate the richness of diverse artistic expressions and promote inclusivity within the realm of classical music. In addition to exploring contemporary works, she seeks to create a captivating cultural exchange between Hungarian folk culture and contemporary American music. By intertwining elements of Hungarian folk traditions with the vibrant sounds of contemporary compositions, Andrea aims to bridge the gap between two distinct musical worlds, fostering a deeper appreciation for both.
About the Artist
Hungarian flutist, Andrea Abel is a recent graduate of the Bard College Conservatory of Music’s double degree program, studying with Tara Helen O’Connor as the recipient of the Laszlo Z. Bito Scholarship. Prior to her studies in the United States, Ms. Abel studied at the Leo Weiner Conservatory of Music in Budapest, with Eszter Horgas and frequently performed as a soloist with the Budapest String Orchestra and the Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. She has also given numeros concerts at the national classical music station, Bartók Radio and she won distinguished first prize on the X. National Chamber Music Competition with her Budapest-based trio in 2018. During her studies at Bard, she has worked with renowned musicians such as Joan Tower, Tara Helen O’Connor, Patricia Spencer, David Krakauer, Leon Botstein, Tan Dun, Peter Wiley and Peter Serkin and has premiered and recorded over a dozen works by Bard composers during the covid-19 pandemic. She has appeared in many concerts at Bard, including the annual Kurtag Festival, Music Alive! concert series, performances with the Da Capo Chamber Players and at the Bard Music Festival 2022 with The Orchestra Now.
In 2019, Ms. Abel has toured as the principal flute player with the Bard Philharmonic Orchestra to Hainan, China with Academy Award winning composer and conductor, Tan Dun, as well as filled the principal chair for the Bard Conservatory Orchestra’s performances such as Strauss’ Salome, Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony among many others. She was invited to participate in the Boston University at Tanglewood Institute’s summer program under the directorship of Valerie Coleman as well as the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at the Mannes School of Music in the summer of 2022. As the winner of the 2021 Bard Conservatory Concerto Competition, she performed Joan Tower’s Flute Concerto in the fall of 2022 with The Orchestra Now, conducted by the composer herself. Ms. Abel pursued her second degree in Multidisciplinary Studies, through which she hopes to create a bridge between the different art
disciplines and incorporate them in her works for stage as a writer, composer and performer. In April 2023, she he had premiered her first staged performance (written, composed and directed by Ms. Abel), titled From Ictus to Raptus, which was centered around a philosophical and theological investigation of emergence of sound and rhythm, incorporating dance, visual art, music, electronic arts and video in an immersive multimedia event.
Ms Abel has received an admission offer from Manhattan School of Music’s Contemporary Performance Program to continue her education pursuing a master’s degree in contemporary flute performance and composition. In the future, she would like to follow her passion to bring new compositions to life, create a bridge of cultural exchange between her Hungarian heritage and her work while in the US and inspire new generations of young composers to expand the repertoire for the flute.