The UW Oshkosh music department will host a guest recital featuring a flutist and a pianist for their first event this semester.

This coming Sat, Oct. 8, there will be a guest recital hosted by flutist, John McMurtery at 7:00 pm in the Arts & Communication Center. He will be performing with pianist, Ashlee Mack.

Mack specializes in contemporary music and has performed solo and chamber music with organizations such as the Society for Chromatic Art, Vox Novus, New Music Forum, Iowa Composers Forum, New Music Festival at Western Illinois and many more.

According to his website, John McMurtery enjoys a varied career as an orchestral flutist, soloist, chamber musician, teacher and composer.

Currently, he is section flutist of the New York City Opera Orchestra, principal flutist of the Peoria Symphony and professor of flute at Western Illinois University.

McMurtery said he has been passionate about music for a majority of his life.

“Music has played a central role in my life for the past 30 years,” McMurtery said. “Passion is only the beginning – I worked very hard to discover my purpose in music. I was fortunate to have inspiring teachers who encouraged my progress at every level.”

UW Oshkosh sophomore and music major Alyssa Belanger said students will want to come because the recital is different from other music.

“I think students would be interested to see how the instruments work together,” Belanger said.

McMurtery said he has enjoyed a lengthy career in the music world and has been a guest performer countless times, but there are performances that have left a lasting impression on him.

“Performing as guest principal flutist with the Chicago Symphony this past spring was a tremendous honor,” McMurtery said.

This semester, the music department will be presenting 30 concerts and recitals for the UWO community.

Associate Professor of Music Linda Pereksta said she is looking forward to Mack and McMurtery performing at UWO.

“John McMurtery is a very fine flutist with a great reputation,” Pereksta said. “When he told me that he and Ashlee Mack would be in our area during their fall recital tour, I was eager to have them play here so that our students could have the chance to hear them.”

McMurtery and Mack will be playing pieces from various composers such as Nick Omiccioli, Robert Morris, James Romig, Ashley Fu-Tsun Wang and Christian Carey.
Pereksta said these composers encompass a specific theme.

“I would say that there’s an “old and new” theme in the program.” Pereksta said.

“They begin and end the program with pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach and all the pieces in between are by composers who are still alive.”

All UW Oshkosh students are encouraged to attend the recital. The next guest recital is Oct. 17 featuring James Fusick on the saxophone and Karl Larson on the piano.