02/01/10

Story by Peggy Graham

Trio Enlivens Ruel Joyce Recital

left to right: Ronda Ford, Jerry Pope, Emily Smith

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Emily Smith, flute, Ronda Ford, flute, and Jerry Pope, piano, perform at noon Monday, March 1, in the Recital Hall of the Carlsen Center, Johnson County Community College, as part of the free Ruel Joyce Recital Series featuring classical Kansas City musicians.

Smith is a founder and co-director of the Kansas City Flute Choir, principal flute with the Olathe Community Orchestra and a teaching artist with Kansas City Young Audiences.  She holds a bachelor's degree in music education from Kansas State University and a master's degree in music education from the University of Kansas. A free-lance flutist and flute instructor, Smith is accomplished on a variety of flutes including C flute, piccolo, alto and bass flutes, and fife. She performs regularly with the Sunflower Ragtime Orchestra and the Silverwood Quartet. She has also performed with the St. Joseph Symphony, Liberty Symphony, Kansas City Civic Orchestra and Overland Park Community Orchestra.

Ford is currently the second flutist with the Topeka Symphony and has played with several orchestras in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Texas and Arkansas.  She received her bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Central Arkansas, master's degree in music in flute performance from Illinois State University and doctor of musical arts degree in flute performance and pedagogy from the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds two positions with the National Flute Association. Ford has been featured on Mississippi Public Radio and has had articles published in The Flutist Quarterly and FluteTalk.  She has served on the faculties of Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, National American University, Truman State University, Park University, Missouri Western State University, Kansas City Kansas Community College and Parkland College.  

Pope has had a varied career ranging from religion to computer networks to corporate finance, but he has always returned to his musical roots. He first completed a bachelor's degree in religion at East Texas Baptist University and then began graduate work in psychology at Stephen F. Austin State University. Music was his primary interest, however, and he switched programs; he completed his master's degree in music and moved to Kansas City to work on a doctorate. After a hiatus in corporate America, Pope returned to being a full-time musician. He joined the faculty at Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2003 as staff accompanist and is now assistant professor of music and the coordinator of the music department. He currently serves as organist at Country Club Congregational Church, Kansas City, Mo.

The Ruel Joyce Recital Series continues at noon Mondays in the Recital Hall with:

March 8	Cindy Egger, guitar
March 15	Alberto Suarez, horn
March 22	Hay Carter, countertenor
March 29	Andrew Fuller, violin Laura Fuller, viola
April 5	Ron Stinson, trumpet Patricia Higdon, piano
April 12	Steven Elisha, cello Larisa Elisha, violin

The series, named for Ruel Joyce, a longtime jazz bassist who headed the local musicians’ federation from 1977 until his death in 1989, is cosponsored by the JCCC music departments, Community Services and the Richard J. Stern Foundation for the Arts. Seating is available first-come, first-served.

For more information, call 913-469-8500, ext. 3605.

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