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Bio
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Geri Rizzo
is a first class freelance flutist
with jazz roots who began playing the flute at age ten, and
has studied with some of the most prestigious flutists in
the country from the "Golden Era" and today: At age 15 she studied with Claude
Monteux, world class flutist and son of famous guest
conductor, Pierre Monteux. She went on tour with the
American Symphony at age 17. Subsequent teachers
include James Pappoutsakis, former principal flutist Boston
Pops and Boston Symphony ; Julius Baker,
former principal flutist, New York Philharmonic, and Gary Schocker, world class soloist.
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Awarded a full scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston
to study classical music in applied flute with a minor in voice, Geri comes from a family with a
long line of musicians and artists from England; maternal grandfather ,pianist John Eliot, accompanist to famous tenor, Richard Tauber; maternal grandmother, a Bel Canto singer. She
plays by ear as well as reads.
Later studies include
SUNY New Paltz where she studied jazz with
Mark Dziuba and Ron Fink, and theory and composition with Dr. Gundaris
Pone. More classical studies ensued with world class flutist Gary Schocker. Soon after, she had the honor of being chosen second in the country to
attend Yale’s Norfolk Chamber Ensemble, proving it is never too late to
follow your dream (although her dream now is to accompany Andrea Boccelli in the Cathedral d’Notre Dame).
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"You are a natural" ... World renown Flutist-Conductor, Claude Monteux
"You are very gifted! But you must have been told this already!"
... Renowned Flutist Julius Baker (NY Philharmonic) |
She plays “Bach to Rock” and also writes music, and has participated in various wind and
chamber ensembles and orchestras. In addition, she was the front singer (as well as flutist) in the house
band for the Nevele, a Catskill Resort in NY, where she also MC’d acts
such as Julius La Rosa and other Las Vegas and Atlantic City
entertainers.
Geri has performed with various classical and jazz ensembles at the Jersey Shore Jazz Vespers, The Somers Point Jazz Festival, Caesars Hotel and Casino, The Sands Hotel and Casino, Resorts Hotel and
Casino, Showboat Hotel and Casino; Stockton College with the Cape Chorale Singers in the Bel Canto Orchestra; the Bel Canto Singers and Orchestra in Wildwood Crest, NJ; the Tri-State Orchestra,
Narrowburg, NY; the Fine Arts Symphony, Tarrytown, NY; and at Dante Hall in Atlantic City with the
Doug Murdock Meistersingers
with whom she sings and
sometimes accompanies on flute.
She is a regular singer/flutist with Denise Black's "The Black Magic Swing Band". Two of her most memorable events
include playing in a quintet at Carnegie Hall with flutist James Galway
and at a Gala birthday concert for the Peruvian Ambassador in Washington D.C.
with the Grammy award winning World Music Peruvian/Andean folk group,
Inca Son. A member of the National Flute Association, BMI Music Publishers, Ameican Federation of Musicians Local 661-708 and the Somers Point Jazz Society,
she is the founder of
www.Flutegigs.com,
a national performance promotional organization for flutists nationwide.
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Geri performs with Cesar
Villalobos,
Pan Flutist
and Music Director of
Grammy Award Winning Peruvian
World Music and Dance of the Andes Group, Inca Son, at the Boston Marriott. |
In Washington D.C. at the Peruvian
Ambassador's Birthday Party
as a guest with Inca Son. |
With Pianist
Heera Ghorashi
at Mozart's Birthday Celebration. |
She
established Magic Flute Wedding Musicians (www.magicfluteweddings.com),
a network of musicians for weddings and special
events, arranging ensembles with different popular instrumentation or as
requested. Magic Flute Weddings was voted “Best of the
Jersey Shore” in wedding music by Fox Philly 5 in 2008 AND 2009.
Her soothing solo flute CD of smooth jazz and originals,
Just Flutin’, is available for purchase along with her latest cd,
“Heartsong” (jazz) here.
Her next endeavor will feature favorite flute classics. The
"Wedding Song" CD (flute and harp) is available here.
Affiliations: National
Flute Association; BMI; Somers Point Jazz Society; AFM Local 661-708
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