Lorna McGhee
Scottish flutist, Lorna McGhee was formerly Co-Principal Flute of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, England. She has played guest principal flute with the Pittsburgh Symphony, London Symphony, London Philharmonic, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, and has given concerto performances with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Victoria Symphony, Manitoba Chamber Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and NFA 2004 Convention. Lorna is a member of the flute, viola, harp trio “Trio Verlaine.” For a full playing bio, please visit www.trioverlaine.com.
Teaching
Lorna’s principal teachers were William Bennett (Royal Academy of Music) and David Nicholson (junior department Royals Scottish Academy of Music). Both placed great emphasis on quality and expressiveness of sound. Her mentors, through teaching and example, include former principal oboist of the New York Philharmonic, Joe Robinson and baroque flute player Barthold Kujiken. Lorna was Visiting Associate Flute Professor at the University of Michigan 1998—99 and currently teaches at the University of British Columbia. She has given masterclasses at the Royal Academy of Music, Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music, Royal Scottish Academy of Music, William Bennett International Flute Summer School, Trevor Wye’s flute studio, National Flute Association 2007 Convention, and universities across Canada. Lorna has also been a guest artist/teacher at the Banff International Centre for the Arts. In April 2011 she will serve on the jury for the Boehm International Flute Competition.
Lorna’s Teaching Philosophy
“One’s work should be a salute to life.” -- Pablo Casals
“I try to awaken the student’s own curiosity, enthusiasm, discernment, and artistry. I support a love, and reverence for the music, respect for one’s own work and a ‘generosity towards’, not ‘fear of’ the audience. My approach oriented towards the art of playing, not merely towards jumping through career hoops. We are best able to learn and integrate new ideas in an environment where stress levels are low. Technique is merely physical co-ordination and we are at our most coordinated when the body is free from tension. Our body is also an instrument and involved in the creation of beautiful sound. We should treat it with respect. Body awareness is a big part of my teaching – releasing excess tension and building our trust & connection with the airstream, which is after all the basis of all expression. This is part of finding the balance in our efforts and in our development as players. The aim is to find greater and greater ease and mastery – on a physical and mental level. As Pablo Casals said, “playing an instrument should increase a person’s confidence, not increase their fear.
"I would say my greatest interest with regards to flute playing is finding a natural connection to the breath. This gives us the ability to tap into the narrative quality of any piece of music. We can then bring depth to the narrative by following the example of great actors. Their performance is enhanced by the range and subtlety with which they can vary their tone of voice. We too can bring great expression to our story through unwavering commitment and also delight in sound and tonal colours. This is not only an art but a discipline too. We have such a great opportunity on the flute to train in this – to come as close as we possibly can to the expressiveness of the human voice. I will never tire of that exploration! This is the reason I play and is the foundation of my teaching.”
Lorna McGhee