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Southeast Michigan Flute Association

Cadenza 2020 SEMFA Online Symposium

When the COVID-19 global pandemic brought live events to a standstill, SEMFA, along with artists everywhere, realized the time to improvise and create a new online source of learning, celebrating, and performing was necessary. SEMFA is proud to present the Cadenza SEMFA Online Symposium. Although we cannot be together in person, we can be together virtually. Join us for an exciting weekend, December 4-6, 2020 featuring guest artist Sharon Sparrow of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. 

View all of the Cadenza 2020 SEMFA Online Symposium with exclusive access on SEMFA's YouTube channel until February 14, 2021. Registration for the Cadenza 2020 SEMFA Online Symposium includes 2021 SEMFA Membership. 

Sharon Sparrow

Sharon Sparrow is currently Assistant Principal Flute of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. She remains tenured in the position of Assistant Principal Flute granted to her by Leonard Slatkin in 2014, and before that, was tenured as DSO’s Second Flutist for nine years. 

She earned a Bachelor’s degree at The Juilliard School and a Master’s degree at Mannes College of Music, studying with renowned teachers Julius Baker, Thomas Nyfenger and Geoffrey Gilbert. She has given master classes all over the world and locally is the Instructor of Flute at Oakland University and Wayne State University.

Sharon is a sought-after trainer for orchestral auditions on all instruments, and she has coached players who have won major jobs in orchestras throughout the US. Her specialty is helping musicians with their mindset, confidence and certainty through preparation so they can master the audition experience. Her book, “6 Weeks to Finals”, published by Theodore Presser in 2016 is in high demand.

In August of 2018, a set of duets, “Telemann for Two” that she co-wrote with colleague Jeffery Zook, based on Telemann’s Solo Fantasies was released by Theodore Presser. 

Sharon Sparrow is a hands-on advocate for music education at all ages, and has hosted and written children’s shows for both the Detroit Symphony and the CutTime Players, based in Michigan. 

Besides having been a frequent concerto soloist with the Detroit Symphony and other local orchestras, she has held Principal positions with the Memphis Symphony, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, as well as been a guest flutist in the Chicago, Pittsburgh, Hong Kong and Baltimore Symphony.  

Her children have continued with a passion for music. Daughter, Hannah, graduated with a degree in Choral Music Education from U of M and is a professional singer, and son, Zack, graduated from Belmont University with a degree in Music Business and works for the recording label Easy Eye Sound and The Black Keys in Nashville.

Sharon is proud to be a resident of downtown Detroit.

Rudolf Ozolins

Rudolf Ozolins was born into a family of musicians in Riga, Latvia.  He began his music studies at the age of five at E. Darzins Music School for gifted children. Soon after starting his music education, Mr. Ozolins began to perform publicly. At the age of twelve he had his first appearance with the National Symphony Orchestra of Latvia. Mr. Ozolins’ musical education continued at Jazeps Medins Riga Music College and the Latvian Music Academy. During these years he studied with professors L. Sarkisjana, J. Kalnciems, and T. Bikis.

Since 2001, Rudolf Ozolins has been studying music in the United States. He has received his Bachelor and Masters degrees in piano performance from Indiana University.  In 2013 he completed a Doctoral degree in piano performance at Michigan State University. During these years he was under the tutelage of world renown pianists M. Zeltser , A. Toradze, G. Vatchnadze, and M. Sohn.

Mr. Ozolins has been among winners in several international piano competitions, including the Concours Musical de FranceGrand Prix Darius Milhaud and the Beethoven Piano Sonata Competition.  He has continuously and substantially enriched his accompanying and teaching knowledge through collaboration with various ensembles and artists including Metropolitan Opera soloist Maija Kovalevska, Latvian National Opera soloist Viesturs Jansons, Detroit Symphony musicians Sharon Sparrow, Jeffery Zook, Amanda Blakie, Una O’Riordane, Ralph Skiano, Avalon String quartet violist Tony Devroye, Yury Gandelsman and many others. He has also performed as a soloist with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra and the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra in Latvia. He actively concertizes in the US as a chamber musician and a soloist.

Recital Program

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Cadenza 2020 SEMFA Online Symposium Events

The events below premiered on Zoom and SEMFA's YouTube channel, December 4-6, 2020. Extended viewing with exclusive access is available through February 14, 2021 with Cadenza 2020 Online Symposium registration.