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Performance As Expression

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Performer, teacher, and composer, Kyrese Washington(they/them), is a professional flutist who keeps an active schedule as a freelancer in North Carolina. Most recently, they gave their debut concerto performance of Carl Nielsen’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra and their “Rising Stars” concert. Washington will do a second performance of this concerto with the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Symphony Orchestra in October, as a result of being a winner of the UNC Greensboro Student Artist Competition.

A skilled performer, Washington has been a winner of the Raleigh Area Flute Association Review and Contest Competition consecutively for the past 3 years, and was runner-up for the National Association for Negro Musician’s Winds, Brass, and Percussion Scholarship Competition for the North Carolina Branch. As a member of the National Flute Association, Washington was one of six artists accepted into the Young Artist Mentorship Program. As a result, they were provided quality guidance to navigate career opportunities as a flutist who identifies with marginalized groups. During their time at UNC Greensboro, they performed in the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Opera, Symphonic Band, Conducting Lab, and Sinfonietta Casella. Additionally, aside from performing, Washington was the undergraduate representative for the UNC Greensboro School of Music Director Search Committee.

Music composed by Washington has been described as “music from the heavens.” This comment was made after a performance of Meditation at the 2021-22 UNC Greensboro School of Music Graduation Ceremony. Meditation is one of four pieces that Washington has premiered in the past two years. They enjoy writing and arranging music for a variety of instruments and combinations, such as flute duos, woodwind quintets, reed ensembles, and wind ensembles. Washington plans to premiere two more pieces by the end of 2022.

In addition to performing and composing, Kyrese is a strong advocate for music education. Beginning their degree in music education and switching to performance gave them a new perspective that made them seek out a career in teaching private lessons. Currently, Washington is a private lessons instructor at Music & Arts stores located in Greensboro and Burlington.

A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Kyrese was the principal flutist of the Triangle Youth Philharmonic and the North Carolina Youth Wind Ensemble for their senior year of high school. Currently, they are the principal flutist of Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony, and perform regularly with the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra and the Greensboro College Wind Ensemble. Washington holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from UNC Greensboro, and graduated as the 2021-2022 Presser Scholar. They are immensely grateful to their teachers, who include Dr. Erika Boysen, Sonora Slocum, Dr. Timothy Hagen, Dr. Catherine Ramirez, and Dr. Kelly Nivison.