UALR’s final Artspree event of the 2014-15 season will feature a musician regarded as the “greatest flute player alive” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10, in the Stella Boyle Smith Concert Hall of the Fine Arts Building.

Flutist William Bennett will perform including a rendition of Piano and Flute Sonata in A Minor) from opus 64 by Mel Bonis accompanied by pianist Kaeko Suzuki.

General admission is $15 and $10 for non-UALR students. Admission for UALR students, faculty, and staff is free.

By raising the profile of the flute to that of an instrument capable of a wide range of tonal colors, dynamics, and expression, Bennett is considered one of the foremost musical artists performing today.

He studied in London with Geoffrey Gilbert, and in France with Jean-Pierre Rampal and Marcel Moyse.

According to Artspree Director Naoki Hakutani, Bennett is a legend in the music world and in many circles is considered the greatest flute player alive.

His long list of accomplishments include earning the title of “Flute of Gold” from the Italian “Falaut” Flute society and the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (O.B.E) for his distinguished Services to Music from Queen Elizabeth II.
Prior to the April 10th performance, Bennett will host a free master class featuring students from UALR and local high schools at 12:15 pm. Thursday, April 9.

For more information, contact Hakutani at 501.683.7230 or nxhakutani@ualr.edu.

Artspree is funded in part by the UALR Chancellor’s Circle Foundation and KLRE Classical 90.5.