Musician = Entrepreneur: Building Success in a New Musical Landscape
A masterclass for young musicians on the verge of professional careers
Pictured with Sabrina Saiki-Mita, Professor of Flute at the University of Hawai’i
Performer and business owner Amelia Lukas inspires students and offers tangible advice for building creative, satisfying, and joyful careers. Lukas addresses the career challenges of our modern musical landscape and explains how leveraging unique character strengths and passions is key to generating success. With reference to her own path, which includes a solo and chamber music career, working as a promotion manager for G. Schirmer, founding and directing a multimedia music series in New York City (2008-2015), working as the Director of Community Engagement for All Classical Portland, serving on numerous Boards of Directors, and running a boutique PR company that curates branding and communications for artists and arts organizations, Amelia offers a wide perspective that is easily adaptable.
This session provides ample opportunity for questions!
Flute Masterclasses
Lukas has offered flute performance masterclasses at many major universities and academic institutions. “Known for her especially pure tone, flexible technique, and passionate performances,” (Artslandia) flutist Amelia Lukas performs with “a fine balance of virtuosity and poetry.” (The New York Times) A Powell Flutes Artist and resident of Portland, Oregon, “[Lukas] excels at bringing drama and fire to hyper-modernist works with challenging extended techniques.” (Oregon ArtsWatch) Weaving together globally informed stylistic elements with an impressive range of extended techniques, Lukas offers an original, modern, and compelling voice, which she shares with students. Lukas was one of two flutists in the inaugural class of thirteen musicians to earn Master's Degrees in Contemporary Performance from the Manhattan School of Music in 2009, and graduated on The Dean’s List. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the Royal Academy of Music in London where she received three prizes for musical excellence. Her greatest mentors include Trevor Wye and William Bennett (both protégés of Marcel Moyse), John Heiss, Kate Hill, Patricia Morris, and Tara Helen O’Connor.
Photos at University of Hawai’i at Manoa
“We’re thrilled to have [had] this residency with Amelia, a supremely compelling musician, artist and performer. Our students greatly enjoyed playing for and learning from Amelia in her masterclass, and our concert audience was very moved by her performance. And partnering with the Pacific Gateway Center and the Hawaiʻi Flute Society allowed for a rich exchange and conversation with several important communities.”
“The masterclass was both productive and enriching! It was great to receive personal feedback on the piece I am studying along with gaining insight on flute technique through others’ performances. Amelia Lukas has been a joy to work with, creating an environment conducive to growth and learning. I am very grateful I had the opportunity to work with her.” - Rachel Hatanaka
“This masterclass was great because I got to learn from an amazing musician… I learned a lot from Ms. Lukas while observing the other performers as well as what she told me personally. She helped me understand something that I had been struggling with and was not able to fix yet myself.” - Amanda Matsukawa
Testimonials
"We are all so very grateful to you for your amazing master class on Wednesday. The students have been commenting on how much knowledge and inspiration they gained. Many of us are still talking about all the wonderful advice you were able to pass along. All that coupled with your unbelievably stunning playing, aptly depicting your descriptive narratives… it was truly a breathtaking, first-class performance. Personally, I am in awe of all the avenues you have explored and ultimately created. Thank you SO much!"
- Marilyn Thompson, Piano Faculty & Chamber Music Director, Sonoma State University
Student feedback from a residency at Western Washington University:
