Summer Flute Institute
Ages 8+
The Summer Flute Institute is an opportunity for flutists ages 8 to adult to engage in interactive group sessions on a variety of topics expanding on the techniques of flute playing and performance. Flute Institute participants receive individualized instruction with guest artists and BMS faculty members. They will have the opportunity to play in an ensemble and participate in a final performance on Sunday, June 22.
Our guest artist this summer is Judith Mendenhall of The New School and American Ballet Theatre Orchestra in NYC.
Schedule
Friday, June 20, 12:00 – 5:00pm
Sunday, June 22, 9:00 – 1:00pm
12:00pm – Concert and reception
Prerequisite: Flutists ages 8 to adult with at least 2 years of study and ability to read music.
Meet the Faculty
Judith Mendenhall
Judith Mendenhall is the principal flutist of the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra and member of the Berkshire Bach Ensemble. She has appeared throughout Europe, Asia, and the US as soloist, orchestral musician, chamber musician, and pedagogue. She has been presented in thirteen nationwide “Musicians From Marlboro” tours, has been guest artist with the Cleveland, Concord, Emerson, and Mendelssohn String Quartets,
has been an assisting artist at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, was a founding member of the Naumburg Award-winning Aulos Wind Quintet, and a founding member of the “Music Today” ensemble under Gerard Schwarz. Her principal flute positions include the New York Chamber Symphony, the Mostly Mozart Festival, the Grand Teton Music Festival, and the Colorado Music Festival.
Ms Mendenhall is flute professor and chair of the wind department at the Manne School of Music, where she received the 2016 Distinguished Teaching Award from the New School University. She is also on the faculty of Queens College. A strong advocate
for robust, expressive wind playing, teaching and mentoring are central to her life. Her
summer festivals include the 2024 Beijing International Music Festival, the Interlochen
Flute Institute, the Aria Summer Music Academy, the Marlboro, Grand Teton and
Colorado Music Festivals, and four recital & master class tours to Taiwan. She has
recorded for Delos, Columbia, Vox, CRI, Koch, Bridge Records, and the Marlboro
Recording Society.
Anthea Kechley
Ms. Kechley is an accomplished flutist and educator with a diverse background in performance and teaching. Upon completing her Bachelor of Music Degree, she was immediately appointed as flute faculty and Director of Flute Choir at Williams College. Her teaching career has since expanded to include positions at Miami Arts Charter School, Miami Music Project, and the Harmony Program in New York City, the latter two based on Venezuela’s El Sistema model. Ms. Kechley’s pedagogical approach is deeply influenced by the Suzuki method, which she studied both as a student and teacher under her mother, Jerilee Kechley.
As a performer, Ms. Kechley has showcased her talents throughout the United States, Mexico, and Japan. Her orchestral experience is extensive, having appeared with Sarasota Orchestra, Florida Grand Opera, Palm Beach Symphony, Atlantic Classical Orchestra, Berkshire Symphony, and The Philadelphia Singers, among others. She has also performed as a concerto soloist with The Chelsea Symphony and Orchestra Seattle.
Ms. Kechley has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned classical musicians such as Lang Lang, Andrea Bocelli, and Itzhak Perlman. Her musical education was further enriched through participation in prestigious programs including Aspen Music Festival and School, Brevard Music Center, and Texas Music Festival.
Her approach to flute performance and pedagogy has been significantly shaped by Keith Underwood, Nadine Asin, Kim Lorimier, and Jerilee Kechley. Through her multifaceted career, Ms. Kechley continues to inspire both students and audiences with her passion for music and dedication to excellence.
Julianne Johnston
Julianne Johnston, a versatile flutist and educator, has been a valued member of the Brookline Music School faculty since 1997. Her teaching style blends Marcel Moyse’s 20th-century flute pedagogy with Shinichi Suzuki’s early childhood music learning philosophy, as informed by T. Takahashi. Julianne’s dedication to the Suzuki method led her to study at the Talent Education Institute in Japan.
Julianne’s classical flute training is extensive, with degrees from New England Conservatory, Augusta State University (BM), and the University of South Carolina (MM). She has also studied privately with renowned flutists Geoffrey Gilbert, William Bennett, Julius Baker, and Keith Underwood. Her musical versatility extends to jazz, having studied saxophone with Billy Novick and Shannon LeClair.
As a performer, Julianne has an impressive orchestral background. She served as principal flute with the Augusta Symphony Orchestra for 10 years and played with the ASO wind quintet. She has also held a principal position with the Kankakee Symphony Orchestra in Illinois. Her diverse skills have led to performances in regional opera orchestras and musical shows, where she has played flute, clarinet, saxophone, and piccolo.
Currently, Julianne performs on both flute and saxophone in the Boston area. She is a member of Herb’s Heard, a local big band, and frequently collaborates with her husband, Barry Johnston, on guitar. Through her multifaceted career as both an educator and performer, Julianne Johnston continues to inspire students and audiences alike.