Flutist-Singer-Songwriter
Geri Rizzo -
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Bio
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Geri Rizzo
is a freelance flutist
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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Geri was 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. She comes from a family with a
long line of musicians and artists from England; her
maternal grandfather was pianist John Eliot, accompanist to famous tenor, Richard Tauber.
After raising her children and a long corporate career, Geri returned to
music in 1990 and attended 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)!
Geri plays “Bach to Rock” and also writes music. She has participated in various wind and
chamber ensembles and orchestras, and was the front singer 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.
Since her move from the Hudson Valley, NY to South Jersey in 2001, 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,
the Cape Chorale Singers, and at Dante Hall in Atlantic City with the
Doug Murdock Meistersingers with whom she sings and
sometimes accompanies on flute, and Brenda Bass and the Swingettes.
Her own concert at Dante Hall is scheduled for April 25th 2009. Two of her most memorable events
include playing in a quintet at Carnegie Hall with flutist James Galway
and at a Gala concert for the Peruvian Ambassador in Washington D.C.
with the award winning Andean folk group
Inca Son.
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Geri performs with Cesar
Villalobos, Pan Flutist
and Music Director of World Famous
World Music Band, Inca Son at the Boston Marriott. |
In Washington D.C. at the Peruvian
Ambassador's Birthday Party |
With Pianist
Heera Ghorashi
at Mozart's Birthday Celebration. |
In
2005, Geri established Magic Flute Wedding Musicians (www.magicfluteweddings.com),
where she books herself with other musicians for weddings and special
events, arranging ensembles with different popular instrumentation or as
requested. This year Magic Flute Weddings was voted “Best of the
Jersey Shore” in wedding music by Fox Philly 5!
Geri also has founded and operates a national online registry,
www.Flutegigs.com,
to help other performing free lance flutists find work via the
internet. Her soothing solo flute CD of smooth jazz and originals,
Just Flutin’, is available for purchase along with her latest cd,
“Heartsong” (jazz) on
www.JustFlutin.com.
Her next endeavor will feature favorite flute classics. The
"Wedding Song" CD (flute and harp) is available upon request.
Affiliations: National
Flute Association; BMI; Atlantic City Musician’s Union, Local 661-708.
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