Niurka Gonzalez Núñez is the Soloist of the National Concert Music Center and the Higher Institute of Art in Havana, Cuba. She has performed in Europe, America, Asia, and the Caribbean, where she has given both recitals and masterclasses. She has recorded several solo albums with Cuban and universal repertoire. Niurka has been a Sankyo Artist since 2021 and plays with a Handmade 14K flute.
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Can you tell us five highlights of your career?
Certainly, I am working with my students in the flute class at the Higher Institute of Art. Additionally, I start on January 20 and 21 at the National Theater of Cuba in the inauguration of the Jazz Festival, alongside José María Vitier, in an immersive concert titled "Noche Insular." On January 26, I will be at the Martí Theater as a guest in a concert by the young pianist Rodrigo García Ameneiro. In February, I am involved in an educational project with German flutist Michael Faust, and we will have joint masterclasses and concerts in Havana, Matanzas, and Santa Clara. In the first week of March, I will be in Concepción, Chile, playing Mozart's Re Major and giving masterclasses. On March 19, I will perform a recital with my daughter, Malva, at the Sala Cervantes in Havana. At the end of March, I have a project for Latin American concerts for flute and string orchestra in Havana with the Havana Chamber Orchestra. On April 1, at the National Theater, a concert with the National Symphony Orchestra. In May, participation in the Cubadisco Fair. In June, a concert of Mozart quartets and Haydn's London Trios with the Youth Academy of the Lyceum Orchestra members. Alongside this, I will be preparing to record a monograph with works by Leo Brouwer to celebrate his 85th birthday.
What are your personal and professional goals?
Well, I don't consider myself particularly ambitious, but I am determined and decisive. My personal goal is simple: to do good in every facet of life I can. Professionally, having the opportunity to showcase my work in concerts is one of my greatest achievements, as is being able to communicate through music and defend the works I am interpreting. I am also passionate about teaching and promoting musical and cultural projects.
What inspires you the most in life?
I am inspired by music and art, but also by the commitment of humans who defy human nature and overcome selfishness to become better. That positive and beautiful energy fascinates me.
What has been your greatest challenge?
My greatest challenge, and at the same time, my greatest joy, is to inhabit this "infinite island" with its lights and shadows. Music is everywhere here, and the utopia of free artistic education for all has been embraced. So, the challenge is to ground that wonderful idealism and make it minimally tangible.
Who were your musical mentors, and what did you learn from them?
Leo Brouwer: a true musical genius; what I learned from him, if I had to summarize it, was the power of synthesis. Alain Marion: thanks to his trust in me, I could study in France, in his class. I was impressed by his great musicality, generosity, and infinite passion for the flute; an exceptional human being. Sophie Cherrier: a true inspiration for her students, an outstanding teacher who demanded much without harm. A deep connoisseur of flute pedagogy, how to explain flute and musical processes in words, and also a person of great human quality.
Can you tell us five extravagant, secret, or fun hobbies or passions (without thinking too much)?
Spending time with my family and friends. Playing Candy Crush. Solving Sudoku puzzles, riddles, and mental challenges. Hiding to read a book without interruption. Cooking for those I care about.
What three pieces of advice would you offer to a young flutist?
This path (not a career) is about endurance, not speed; you must enjoy the process. The flute and all its wonders are a means to express music. Being a good instrumentalist or flutist is not the main goal; serving the music is essential. In the constant learning process we go through, face difficulties head-on and try to find explanations, be aware of our body, and apply a creative and intelligent dynamic to our daily practice.
By Viviana Guzmán
Available at: https://thefluteview.com/2024/02/artist-interview-cuban-flutist-niurka-g...