Merrie Siegel Parmley has been hailed by the U.S. and Mexican press as “…….magnificent, jovial and radiant, with purity of tone and great technical command of the instrument.” The American Record Guide said of her CD, Flute Music of the Americas, “This is wonderful—a joy to hear…. Her playing here is superb. She has a rich, well-controlled tone, and her technical facility is stunning…” Her CD on Beauport Classical, Flute Music of the Americas Vol. II is available for iTunes, amazon.com and other retailers. In addition, she has recorded on the Capstone and Sony labels.
In great demand as a recitalist and teacher, she has been a member of the faculties of the University of Puget Sound, University of Idaho, Houston Community College, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza, both in Monterrey, México, and at the Conservatorio de las Rosas, Morelia, Michoacán, México. An active orchestral musician, Merrie has held the position of Principal Flute with the Boise Philharmonic, the Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, the Filarmónica del Bajío, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes, and held the position of Fourth Flute with the Rochester Philharmonic. She has performed with the Houston Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Spokane Symphony, and Mozart Society of Philadelphia, among others.
She has appeared as guest artist at the Symposium on Latin American Music at the University of Arizona as well as at the University of Memphis, University of Central Florida, Universidad de Guanajuato, University of Texas-Arlington, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, University of South Carolina, Ball State University, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of Iowa, Rhode Island College, Bowling Green University, University of Washington, Cornish School for the Arts, Boise State University, and the University of Montana. In 2007, she was honored with a Distinguished Teaching and Artistry Award for her pedagogical contribution to the city of Monterrey, México.
A Philadelphia native, Merrie was greatly inspired by her teacher, Adeline Tomasone. At age 19, she made her New York debut in CAMI Hall as the winner of the New York Flute Club’s Young Artist Competition. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music, as a student of Bonita Boyd. The recipient of a full fellowship and teaching assistantship to complete her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Merrie studied with Leone Buyse, Walfrid Kujala, and Anne Diener Zentner. She considers herself very fortunate to have studied with such inspirational artists and teachers.
Her diverse summer festival experience includes Tanglewood, Eastern Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, and the Cactus Pear Music Festival. A resident of the Seattle area, Merrie has appeared as Principal Flute with the Northwest Symphony. With NSO, she performed the world premiere of the concerto House of Doors, dedicated to her by outstanding flutist-composer Sarah Bassingthwaighte. Now in her 14th season as Flute Choir Conductor with Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, Merrie loves creating chamber music as well as working with the talented flutists in her private studio.
Merrie relishes the time she has spent dividing her summers between Michoacán and Guerrero, México, and Bad Neustadt, Germany, as Artistic Director and Artist/Performer with the international musical consortium, Cruzando Fronteras. Last summer, along with the international collaboration of flutists from Germany, Poland, and Mexico, she performed the world premiere of Sarah’s flute quartet Nightsong at an ancient archeological site in Tingambato, Michoacán. This summer was full of concerts throughout Germany, including the European premiere of both Nightsong and Dog Days, along with the international collaboration of her German, Polish and Mexican colleagues.
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