Flutist 鈥檚 , loaded with 83 classical performances from her recital repertoire since age six, has garnered 2.63 million views from around the world. If each view represents a unique person, that number would fill 152 NBA-sized arenas.
Resmini began playing flute at age 3, 鈥渄etermined to figure it out, and by the end of the first year, there was no holding her back,鈥� says her mother Marilyn. Now 14, Resmini arrives on the stage of the as a seasoned performer, lauded a 鈥渞ising star鈥� by world-renowned flutist Sir James Galway.
鈥淵ouTube is terrific, and I hope more classical musicians become more comfortable with it,鈥� said Resmini from her home in northern Virginia several days prior to her two Bach Festival performances. 鈥淭he only distraction is that it can take a while to respond to people’s comments. And there are a lot of people who think I’m still 7 or 8 years old.鈥�
Her comments to viewers, many of them flute students her age, reveal a budding helpful teacher: 鈥淭he most important thing is to tell a story with the music and have fun telling the story. Don’t let your music exam be like a math exam. Show everyone why you love to play the flute!!!鈥�
And to another student鈥檚 query about vibrato, she wrote online, 鈥淭ry metronome work. Set it to 80 then do 2 vibrato pulses to a beat on a scale. Then 3 to a beat, then 4. Then every day make the metronome one click faster. In a few weeks your vibrato will be better!!! Let me know how it goes!!!鈥�
Resmini also attaches three exclamation points to other interests in her life. She enjoys flying model rockets with her father, a scientist. Recently, 鈥淚鈥檝e been getting into building and programming robots,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t can be tricky to get the coding and engineering to come together, but it鈥檚 so much fun when my little bot finally does exactly what I want.鈥� And she adores Maxi, her maltipoo, a cross between a Maltese and poodle.
This is her second year to perform at the Bach Festival; last year she played at a noon concert. This Thursday, June 12, at noon in , Resmini and Lise Keiter will perform a Sonata for Flute and Piano by Erwin Schulhoff. 鈥淗e was one of many Jewish musicians whose successful careers were cut short by the rise of Nazis in Germany,鈥� said Resmini. 鈥淗e was deported to a concentration camp where he died in 1942. His music then fell into obscurity.
鈥淗owever, his sonata is an amazing work that deserves to be played more. It鈥檚 impressionistic with some hints of jazz. The mood is sometimes dreamy, sometimes playful. It鈥檚 a very demanding piece that gives both the flutist and the pianist a real workout!鈥�
Finding musical gems like this sonata and stringing together a diverse musical repertoire is a hallmark of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival, under the artistic direction of Kenneth J. Nafziger for the past 22 years. From Bach, a thousand flowers bloom.
Another festival distinctive is showcasing youthful talent. Seasoned musicians gather year after year, family-reunion style, under the festival鈥檚 dome of community music-making. Pairing that experience with a new stream of youthful talent gives the Bach Festival its growing edge.
Six gifted instrumentalists, named Festival Fellows, 鈥渁re outstanding young musicians who apply to our youth program and are selected to play in the orchestra alongside the professionals, thus gaining valuable experience and mentoring,鈥� says , the festival鈥檚 executive director and principal flutist, who has played in the festival orchestra for each of its 22 seasons.
Festival Concerts 2 and 3, Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, at 7:30 in EMU鈥檚 Lehman Auditorium, will showcase this pairing of talented youth and experienced professionals.
On Saturday鈥檚 stage, 13-year old treble Augusta Nafziger joins Canadian bass-baritone , New York soprano (no relation), Texas tenor and New Jersey mezzo-soprano . The five soloists with the festival chorus and orchestra will reprise Mendelssohn鈥檚 Elijah, previously performed at 1995鈥檚 Bach Festival. Lichti sang the title role in that performance as well.
Emma Resmini and the festival orchestra will perform Ibert鈥檚 Concerto for Flute and Orchestra, after the intermission of Friday鈥檚 concert. 鈥淭he concerto is a masterpiece of the flute repertoire and a real tour-de-force,鈥� said Resmini. 鈥淚t is treasured by flutists for its masterful orchestration, virtuosic writing and fiendish technical challenges for the soloist.鈥�
Nothing quite matches hearing a live performance of the Shenandoah Valley Bach Festival. But if you can鈥檛 attend, you can soon watch Resmini鈥檚 two performances on her YouTube channel. (Views of her now stand at 22,566 and rising.)