Mark Sparks, flute

Program subject to change.

Admission: Free to NYFC members, $25 for non-members, $15 for students and seniors (65+) at the door.

Mark Sparks is Solo Flutist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. Recognized for his colorful tone, spirited phrasing, and charismatic style (described by the Denver Post as "mesmerizing"), he is a dynamic orchestral artist, soloist, chamber musician, and teacher, and has performed in many of the world's most prestigious venues. He has made guest appearances with numerous top ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, the Chicago Symphony, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and was a member of the Baltimore Symphony before his appointment in St. Louis in 2000.

Sparks can be heard as recording artist on the Summit and AAM  labels, with various orchestras on the Sony, Telarc, Nonesuch, and Decca labels, and has recently released his third solo recording, "French Album," a collaboration with St. Louis pianist Peter Henderson on the Pesen label.

Recent activities included recitals and master classes for the Ohio Flute Association, Texas Flute Society, the Illinois Flute Society,  the Eastman School of Music, the  Curtis Institute of Music, Oberlin College,  Northwestern University, and Yale, among others, a residency at Baylor University's Flute Festival 2014, and a recital at the NFA Convention in Chicago.  Appearances also included performances of Christopher Rouse's Flute Concerto with the St. Louis Symphony under Music Director David Robertson both on the Orchestra's California tour and in St. Louis.  Plans are underway for performances of the concerto in China and Korea. Upcoming activities include a recital for the New York Flute Club, performance of the Bach b minor Suite with the SLSO for their 2014 Gala, residency at San Diego's Mainly Mozart Festival,  a class and recital at Ithaca college, and various recitals in the St. Louis area.

A dedicated teacher, Mr. Sparks is a former full-time faculty member of Baltimore's Peabody Institute, and presents an annual Flute Seminar in St. Louis. Sparks frequently coaches for top orchestral training programs, including the New World Symphony, NOI, and the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan. This summer he joined the coaching faculty of the Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestra.
Mr. Sparks is an artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival and School, where he teaches an annual studio of the nation's top talent, and is Principal flutist of the Aspen Chamber Symphony. An avid writer on flute-related subjects, he is a regular contributor to Flute Talk magazine, and is included in the book "Flute Stories: 101 Inspirational Stories of the World's Best Flute Players." As arranger, Sparks has recently completed and performed arrangements of Bruch's "Romanza" and Faure's "Elegie" for flute and piano, published by Theodore Presser.

Sparks graduated with honors from the Oberlin Conservatory as a student of Robert Willoughby. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda Society, and the National Flute Association.  As a student, he also trained at the Tanglewood Music Festival, Aspen, and the National Repertory Orchestra.

Read Mark Sparks's interview by Svjetlana Kabalin in the December 2014 NY Flute Club Newsletter.

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