-
Laurel Zucker, flute
"Aas polished and gratifying as Rampal and Galway. Zucker's interpretations are splendid all round. Her tone is airy and sweet, her virtuosity graceful." In 2004 Gramophone "strongly recommended" The Complete Telemann Fantasies for Flute and The Complete J.S. Bach Flute Sonatas on Cantilena Records describing her performances as "intelligent, naturally phrased and highly musical with a rich sound beyond reproach." In the 2003 book, Inspirational Stories from the World's Best Flute Players, Laurel Zucker is featured along with James Galway, Paula Robison, Herbie Mann, Ian Andersen, and Julius Baker. Fanfare Magazine refers to Ms. Zucker "as a forceful advocate for 20th century music," & when she was awarded the Aaron Copland Fund for Music from the American Music Center to record Take a Walk on the Wilder Side CD, Fanfare Magazine stated "this disc fills an important niche in American Music as well as flute literature." With 50 CD releases available on Cantilena Records, Ms. Zucker is heard regularly on classical radio worldwide. She has performed many times in Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall.
As a concerto soloist she performed with American Symphony Orchestra, Erkel Chamber Orchestra of Budapest, The Orchestra of New York, Gold Country Orchestra, Merced Symphony, Sacramento Philharmonic, Arlington Symphony, & toured with Sumara Orchestra of Russia. As a chamber artist she performed with Marlboro Festival & Tour, Harvard Chamber Players, Music Fest of Arizona, Music in the Mountains, Wet Ink Festival & Chamber Music Alive!
As a jazz flutist Jazz Now 2005 describes her performance as "Laurel's flute cutting the still air with a deep-felt emotion to the very last note." Claude Bolling in March 2004 on Zucker's Bolling Jazz Suites CD writes "Dear Laurel Zucker, your recording is beautiful, musician partners are excellent and your flute playing superb!!!"
Of the Flute Music by French Composers CD, Sir James Galway recommends on his website"This is a really good record and should be in the library of all serious students. The repertoire is very good and it is beautifully played by Miss Zucker. I have a copy and think it is outstanding.."
As an active performer/ supporter of the flute community, Ms. Zucker has performed & conducted masterclasses at New York Flute Club, Portland Flute Society, Houston Flute Society, Los Angeles Flute Club, Dallas Flute Festival, North Carolina School of the Arts and the National Flute Association Convention.
In 2000 Year of the Rome Aureole Jubilee (hosted by the City of Rome and the Pope) 3 of Ms. Zucker's Cantilena Records CDs were played non-stop for six months throughout the largest Convention Center of Rome, Italy and featured in a documentary created at UCLA on the Santa Maria Maggiora Chapel of Rome.
In 2006 Ms. Zucker received THE BEST CLASSICAL SOLO INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM OF THE YEAR 2006 from Just Plain Folks Awards. As Professor of Flute at California State University in Sacramento since 1988, Ms. Zucker received the 1998 President's Award for Creative and Scholarly Research,& several Creative Research Awards. In 1978 she won Artists International Competition and gave her Carnegie Recital Hall Debut. Her first performances in Carnegie Hall & Kennedy Center were at the age of 16 performing in the Alexander Schneider's Orchestra. Ms. Zucker graduated from Juilliard. Her compositions are published by Clear Note Publications, Lyra International, Cantilena Records Publications & Bourne Music Co. & recorded on Cantilena Records.