Flute, Music History

Dr. Andra Bohnet is a flutist who embraces a rich variety of musical styles with both virtuosity and sensitivity. In addition to her position as Professor of Music at USA where she teaches flute, music history/literature and chamber music, she is the principal flutist with Mobile Symphony Orchestra where she has been a featured soloist on several occasions. Her newest project is the CD Clinton on Clinton, the culmination of a research project which has been to rediscover the music of John Clinton (1809-1864), an Irish flutist, composer and flutemaker who was a major figure in the nineteenth-century flute design controversy. For this project, she performed Clinton's music on seven flutes manufactured by Clinton & Co. over 150 years ago! Her chamber ensemble for flute and strings, the Silverwood Quartet, has performed throughout the United States and in Japan, including a performance for the National Flute Association. The group specializes in exploring popular and world music in addition to the classical repertoire. Also the group’s primary arranger, Andra’s creative charts capture the musical essence of styles ranging from Irish traditional to Tibetan Chant and alternative rock and roll. Their newest project, A Celtic Mosaic, will explore a variety of unique and original music from Celtic sources including music from Riverdance, Lord of the Rings, Ballykissangel and a trilogy of tunes by Loreena McKennitt. The Classic Rock Album, was released in 2005. Rock icon Ian Anderson, flutist and leader of Jethro Tull, said, "Many thanks for the CD. I enjoyed it very much and especially the variety of musical styles it incorporated. Keep up the good work and help bring the worlds of pop/rock and the Classical traditions together." She also performs on Irish and other folk flutes with her group Mithril, a high-energy Celtic/world music band, which has released four CDs which have been featured on NPR's syndicated show "Celtic Connections." Mithril is currently being featured with symphony orchestras for “Celtic Christmas” and "Celtic Celebration" pops concerts. Andra performs and records on flutes of all shapes and sizes (classical, traditional wooden, baroque and a variety of ethnic instruments), as well as Celtic harp. She has performed and presented workshops at several conventions of the National Flute Association.