Member
Contact Information
alanberquist@gmail.comhttps://www.alanberquist.com
Location
Walnut Creek, California
Early Music Skills & Interests
Flute, Harp, Harpsichord, Recorder
Early Music Affiliations
Advocate, Educator, Enthusiast/Supporter, Merchant, Music/Artistic Director, Performer
Biography
Dr. Alan Berquist is a flutist and educator based in Northern California on faculty at California State University, Stanislaus and Diablo Valley College. He performs most frequently with his partner harpist Dr. Vincent Pierce, Bay Area Rainbow Symphony, and Awesöme Orchestra Collective. He has also performed with the California Symphony, San José Symphonic Choir, The American Opera Project, Brooklyn Wind Symphony, and the Albany (GA), Astoria (NY), Madison (WI), and Tallahassee Symphony Orchestras.
An advocate of new music, he has commissioned, performed premieres, and collaborated with composers Matthew Briggs, Viet Cuong, David DelTredici, Mark Fromm, Scott Gendel, Libby Larsen, David Maslanka, Sami Seif, and David Stock. He serves as the a judge for the Flute New Music Consortium’s annual composition competition, frequently performing works of new composers. On the other end of the spectrum, Alan’s deep affinity for early music has led to the study of baroque traverso, recorder, and renaissance recorders, taking classes from early flute specialists like Barthold Kuijken and Na’ama Lion
Alan has judged for the National Flute Association Newly Published Music, Music Teachers' Association of California, and Fanfares of Lviv International Competitions (Ukraine), and a competition coordinator for the Florida Flute Association, also performing solo and chamber works at yearly conventions. Winner of two National Flute Association competitions: 2021 C.R.E.A.T.E. (Creating Resources through Engagement, Artistry, Teamwork, and Entrepreneurship) with Ensemble 126, and 2019 Convention Performers. He has also served the NFA as 2004 Associate Program Chair.
Alan has performed in dozens of masterclasses across the country, for international flute luminaries like Sir James Galway, Paul Edmund-Davies, Karl-Heinz Schütz, Leone Buyse, and Julius Baker. He holds degrees from Florida State University (DM, BM), University of Wisconsin-Madison (MM), and a Certificate in Advanced Flute Studies from Carnegie Mellon University. His principal teachers include Eva Amsler, Alberto Almarza, Stephanie Jutt, Caryl Mae Scott, and Susan Clark. He was also a student of Dalcroze Eurhythmics at the Marta Sanchez Dalcroze Training Center at Carnegie Mellon University with support from the Dalcroze Society of America.