"Venezuelan Inspiration" Concert

Apple Tree Arts presents a special concert “Venezuelan Inspiration” showcasing the renowned Venezuelan flutist, conductor and composer Nicolas Real on Sept. 15, 4 p.m. at the Grafton Common. In the event of rain, the concert will be held at the Congregational Church of Grafton, 30 Grafton Common.  Admission is free and the public is welcome. A reception will follow at Apple Tree Arts, One Grafton Common.

 Mr. Real’s original compositions will be featured including a newly commissioned piece written for the event performed by Apple Tree Arts Flute Choir in collaboration with guest artists from several of New England’s finest flute choirs. The new composition was funded by a grant from the Brannen-Cooper Fund.

 “The general public is invited to attend an “Open Rehearsal” at Apple Tree Arts earlier in the day from Noon to 3 p.m. to meet the composer/conductor and the musicians,” said Linda Bento-Rei, the organizer and co-sponsor of the event. Ms. Bento-Rei is an accomplished flutist, a long time member of Apple Tree Arts faculty and has a Master of Music degree from the New England Conservatory of Music.

“It’s unusual to experience this great genre of music that’s not often played in the United States,” she explained. “Most of Nicolas Real’s compositions are folk tunes written for flute orchestras. He hears in his mind a jazz ensemble or symphony orchestra and adapts it to the flute orchestra. He has developed an extended technique that’s an ingenious way to reproduce sounds of a big orchestra and transcribe it to the flute. The technique creates sounds like a high-hat cymbal or percussion,” she added.

 Mr. Real has had a long and varied career as a flutist, conductor, composer and teacher. He has been a member of the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and several other musical chamber groups. He has been a guest conductor for various symphony and chamber groups in Venezuela and the United States. His compositions for flute chamber instruments have been performed by distinguished chamber ensembles in both countries. Currently, he is finishing his Doctorate Degree in Musical Art from Temple University.

 Join Apple Tree Arts for a memorable concert and tour the community arts school’s new location at One Grafton Common. Everyone is invited to attend the Open Rehearsal to experience first-hand Mr. Real conducting and working with the musicians to prepare for the evening’s performance.

Founded in 1989, Apple Tree Arts is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization whose goal is to foster a lifelong appreciation of the arts by providing high-quality music and theatre arts programs for individuals of all ages. The school has grown to serve over 1,000 children and adults annually with early childhood music classes, group keyboard lessons, private music and voice instruction, ensembles, theatre arts programs and concerts.

For more information, visit www.appletreearts.org or call 508-839-4286.