Students and guests can expect to be entertained and inspired through an upcoming flute performance featuring Rachel Taratoot Ciraldo, instructor and lecturer of flute.
The recital will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 in Ralph R. Pottle Recital Hall. Accompanied by Dr. Henry Jones, associate professor of piano, Ciraldo will perform a variety of standard classical pieces. Everyone is invited to attend free of charge.
“I try to do a recital every year for my students. We don’t have the opportunity to have  many guest artists come,” said Ciraldo. “It’s really important for them to see what I’m teaching, hear the repertoire and see what a professional flutist does in a solo setting.”
In addition to her position at Southeastern, Ciraldo currently serves as a principal flutist of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra.  She began her orchestral career performing with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago and has played with orchestras of Austin, Santa Fe, Acadiana, Mobile and Mississippi.
“It is very physically and mentally taxing to teach privately. It’s a huge commitment,” said Ciraldo. “I’m happy because I’m always doing what I love, and it’s always different.
Ciraldo has also won a multitude of flute performance awards including third prize and award for the Best Performance of the Newly Commissioned Work in the 2007 National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition.
“I’ve played several times with Rachel before, and it’s always been artistically rewarding.  She’s also easy to work with,” said Jones. “Her repertoire is really interesting and varied.”
The evening showcases pieces by Aaron Copeland, Johann Sebastion Bach, Sofia Gubaidulina and Jolivet. Ciraldo highlighted her closing piece, “Chant du Linos,” composed by Jolivet.
“The Jolivet is a one-movement work that invokes a lot of images of primitive dance. It’s a very common work for competition. The piece is sound-wise technically demanding. It’s requires so many colors because it’s very expressive.”
Ciraldo was born in Atlanta, Georgia and after extensive travel has settled down in Hattiesburg, Miss., where her husband, Nicholas Ciraldo, teaches classical guitar at the University of Southern Mississippi.
“I consider myself very lucky to only have to drive two hours to work,” said Ciraldo. “It is a good bit of driving, but musicians and artists will do what they have to do in order to do what they love.”
The scarcity of flute teachers and the pressure to sharpen her musical skills motivates Ciraldo to perform an annual solo recital.
“It’s not something I get paid for or am required to do. It keeps me working and on the same level as my students in a lot of ways. As I learn the repertoire, I’m able to teach it better,” said Ciraldo. “There is no other flute teacher here or anywhere in this community. I feel like I not only have to, but also want to do this.”