Nicole Esposito Artist Interview
Nicole Esposito is Professor of Flute and chair of the woodwind area at the University of Iowa School of Music and also a Permanent Visiting Professor at the University of Chile. She is sought after around the world as a performer and teacher. Nicole Esposito is a Miyazawa Flutes, Burkart Piccolo, and LefreQue Artist and can heard on the Albany, Con Brio, and MSR Classics labels.
Q: Can you give us 5 career highlights?
A: Honestly, every moment for me is a highlight. Part of my philosophy and approach is to never qualify my experiences in terms of “good”, “important”, “difficult”, “easy”, etc. If I’m involved in it, it is important to me, and I aim to approach every experience with care and integrity. This could be giving an online master class to high school students or teaching at a big conservatory, a concert at a major venue or performing at a retirement home. The circumstances truly make no difference to me. I feel immensely blessed to be able to share what I do in different ways with many different types of people. It is all part of what feeds my creativity and infuses, in turn, what I uniquely have to offer.
Q: How about 3 pivotal moments that were essential to creating the artist that you've become?
A: I’m happy to share three pivotal moments that came early on in my development. When I was in high school, I was at a crossroads with my flute studies as I was from a small town, and we did not have any flute teachers that worked with advanced students nearby. My father had a chance meeting with the then concert master of the Boston Symphony who arranged a lesson for me with Fenwick Smith, who was at the time second flutist with the BSO. Fenwick helped me find a teacher in Boston, a three-hour drive, from my home. I was fortunate to be able to work with Catherine Payne, however she soon left for her current job in the San Francisco Symphony. The next pivotal moment was Catherine arranging for me to study with the wonderful Marianne Gedigian who was also then living and working in Boston. I studied with Marianne for two years until it was time for me to apply to college. After already applying to all my selected schools, I saw an advertisement in Flute Talk magazine announcing that Jeanne Baxtresser would start teaching at Carnegie Mellon University. It was my dream to study with her. Unfortunately, there was a big snafu with the audition that I was supposed to take, and I was worried that I missed my chance. Luckily, I was able to have a lesson with Baxtresser in New York. At this lesson, she invited me to be her student at Carnegie Mellon, which was undoubtably the moment the solidified my path to becoming a professional flutist.
Q: What do you like best about teaching?
A: Teaching is the biggest learning experience in the world. If you cease to learn from your students, about many things- humanity, communication, thought processes, diversity of experience- I think you cease to be an effective teacher. Teaching for me is not about disseminating information or preserving legacies, that may be a part of it, rather it is about helping students use this information to get to know themselves better and to achieve what they desire, whatever that may be. It is important to understand where we came from, and who paved the path, but also to remember that others did not pave the way, so the path could end with us. We must take what we have learned and innovate and evolve so that we can continue paving the way for future generations. Other than this, I have no specific agenda or goals for my students. I only care that they approach their work with honesty, integrity and curiosity. After I find out what their goals are for themselves, it is my job to hold them accountable to the work it will take to achieve these aspirations through a comprehensive training that suits their needs. I find that one of the biggest causes of hardship or burnout is working only to meet other’s expectations. When the student truly discovers their own inner motivation and drive stemming from what inspires them the most, this leads to their desired outcomes and a more sustainable future.
Q: What do you like best about performing?
A: Performing is all about sharing. The actual act of performing is more of a bonus for me. It isn’t the goal, rather a consequence. A consequence of getting to know a piece of music so intimately as if you feel that you wrote it yourself. I often hear the phrase…”When you are alone in the practice room…”. We are never alone in the practice room. We are always with the composer. Music is a living thing coming from a living being. We don’t need to bring it to life, we need to recognize how it lives. This process is the goal for me. To get to know it and understand it just as I would as if it were an actual person. Because ultimately, it is a reflection of the inner most thoughts, emotions and experiences of another person. This process is what I love. Sharing it in performance is the icing on the cake.
Q: CD releases?
A: My two most recent CD releases are with the wonderful Turkish harpist Çağatay Akyol. When we recorded our first album in 2021, it was the first time we actually met in person. During the Covid pandemic we did some virtual recordings that were very popular, and many people suggested that we should do an album together. When travel restrictions lifted, we were able to make it happen. This album is titled Dancing in Dreams and features music of Ravel, Debussy, Faure and Piazzolla. The second album, Intersections, is comprised of folk-inspired music from Turkey and countries in the surrounding region, both albums are available on MSR Classic and all digital platforms. Other recordings include the wind chamber music of Francis Poulenc also on MSR classics and an album of Latin American music for flute, viola and guitar on Con Brio Records.
Q: What are your goals personally? Professionally?
A: My personal and professional goals are basically the same. They are the same goals I mentioned having with my students: to approach every situation with care, honesty, integrity and curiosity. When you stay true to your own convictions in the face of whatever may be in front of you, it helps you maintain a certain sense of peace as well as resiliency. External validation or rewards, although enjoyable, become less of a goal, rather a bonus.
I am an extremely driven and goal-oriented person, however with that said, I do not like to feel too locked in. My schedule is always full but I’m not trying to fill it. I like to leave room for spontaneity and or even less active periods, because forced artistic activity, when the universe may be calling on you to do something else, is not usually that successful. This is what helps me to not get tired or burned out and I can continue to do what I love and what I do best.
Q: What inspires you the most in life?
A: Life itself! Nature. People. Places. I love to travel, but I hate being a tourist. I never go to a place and try to get the “greatest hits” of what the location has to offer. I like the feeling of being in different places as If I am actually living there, just enjoying life, not needing to do anything special but just taking in the surroundings, observing and experiencing things in a very authentic way. This always gives me such a renewed sense of energy and inspiration.
Q: What has been your greatest challenge?
A: Every day we have challenges, successes and failures. This is a normal part of life and the process of pursuing our goals. Failing is living. Failing often teaches us more than the successes.
I enjoy challenges because I enjoy discovering. If we are never challenged, we won’t move forward. I immediately accept the fact that I will fail, and I will fail often, but I never stop moving forward, even if that means to take a few steps back to gain a wider viewpoint and perspective. Too much focus on either the ups or the downs is more about ego. When we are faced with challenges, we should ask ourselves questions and connect with our sense of self, rather than support the ego by only seeking validation. What do I believe in? What are my ideals? Do I have the tools to figure it out? Am I letting others control my own narrative? Be honest with yourself. It is easy to feel doubtful or insecure but more often than not, we are stronger and know more than we may think.
Q: Can you give us 5 quirky, secret, fun, (don't think too much about this) hobbies or passions?
A: I love learning languages and speak several. I am a pretty good ventriloquist as well. I love cooking and some people have suggested I open a restaurant. My favorite animals are foxes and donkeys. When I practice flute, it’s almost always while watching TV.
Q: What 3 things would you offer as advice for a young flutist?
A: Do not let yourself be defined by others. Only you can truly put limitations on yourself - be fierce in the pursuit of your dreams. Learn to fall in love with doing the work that most people don’t like to do- this is what will make you exceptional. If you love getting results, the work is also part of the result.
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Instagram @neflute
YouTube @neflute
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