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Serenading the World

Gerry Saulter and Michelle LaPorte give a new sound to flute and guitar duos

August 14, 2007

Flutist Michelle LaPorte and guitarist Gerry Saulter – the Serenade Duo – have performed to consistently sold out audiences in Europe and the United States, including American Church in Paris, the United States and New Zealand Embassies in Paris, the International School of Paris, the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico in San Juan and Carnegie's Weill Recital Hall and Merkin Concert Hall in New York City. They have also appeared on WHSU Public Radio and have appeared on television with WLIW/PBS and News 12 Long Island, and have been granted four consecutive Outstanding Alumni Winner Awards in Chamber Music from Artists International. Just back from a tour in France, the duo will soon be releasing a new CD of French music for flute and guitar.

Urban Guitar: How was Paris?

Michelle LaPorte: We had an amazing 2 week tour in Paris in May. We had the pleasure of performing 5 concerts in such magnificent and historic venues as the American Church in Paris, the United States Embassy and the New Zealand Embassy...what inspirational sounding rooms with warm, receptive audiences! We were also honored to perform a piece for flute, guitar and choir with the American Church Choir under the direction of Fred Gramann as part of the American Church’s 150th anniversary celebration. In addition to our concert performances, we also taught 8 classes at the International School of Paris; it was a great joy to work with so many enthusiastic students from around the world.

Urban Guitar: As a chamber group, you two have cut a pretty unique path for yourselves. What is different about your duo compared to other flute and guitar ensembles?

Gerry Saulter: We have spent our entire careers developing and promoting the ensemble through adapting, arranging, commissioning and programming music that equally compliments the flute and guitar. We have always been attracted to a music compositional style that we describe as “World Chamber Music.” We each will also include thematic solos in our recitals; however the majority of our programming is contemporary ensemble music. Michelle recently finished a string quartet reduction of the Double Concerto in G Major by Carulli. Throughout our career she has also done alto flute and/or piccolo adaptations for selections and we have performed as a quartet with the addition of original bass and percussion accompaniments that I have created. We did this with Astor Piazzolla’s Histoire du Tango and premiered it as an original quartet arrangement at Merkin Concert Hall in April of 1999. This kind of creative work is fun, and it also gives us opportunity to be original. We recently put together a “Tango Nuevo” multi media presentation combining live performance with a historical video of Piazzolla.

Michelle LaPorte: It is my opinion that essentially everything that we are as soloists becomes magnified as chamber musicians. I think over the years we really have developed a sort of “specialist” mentality as a result of our commitment to expanding the perception of flute and guitar music.

I originally saw myself as an orchestral flutist however, following a severe automobile accident in 1989 in which I was hit head on by a driver who fled the scene of the accident, I began to re-evaluate many aspects of my life and career. Due to my injuries the prognosis was that I would never play the flute again professionally. It was a life changing moment physically and mentally that has left me more determined to enjoy each day to the fullest. I realized my heart really belonged to the many joys of chamber music and decided to follow that path. Gerry and I are both grateful to have our lives centered around music and over the years have performed many concerts for charitable organizations as a small way to say “thank you.” It has been truly rewarding to utilize music as a powerful source to assist worthy causes.

Urban Guitar: Do you find yourself doing a lot of grant writing?

Michelle LaPorte: It is really within the past few years that we have ventured into the process of grant writing. It certainly takes some investigative work to find organizations that are devoted to supporting unique and worthwhile projects of individual artists. After discovering appropriate eligibility it then entails somewhat of a time consuming process to complete applications and provide all the necessary paperwork and supplementary materials for submission. I think sometimes playing the actual concerts is easier! We have been fortunate to have received several grants, a Special Opportunity Stipend from the New York State Council of the Arts and a grant from Five Towns College to assist with our recent France Tour.

Gerry Saulter: In addition, we have been multiple award recipients from Artists International in which the organization has presented us numerous times in concert at Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall and Merkin Concert Hall. We have also been graciously supported by Juan Orozco, president of Aranjuez Strings. He presented us at Weill Recital Hall as well in October of 2001.

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