Paula Redinger has been playing the flute since she was 10 years old. She made her solo debut at the age of 16, with members of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. She received her B.M. summa cum laude from the Boston University School of Music. While in Boston, Paula was a member of the wind trio Vista Winds, semi-finalists in the 1990 Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition. At Boston University she was granted the Boston University Woodwind Honor Award.
She received her M.M. from the University of Miami, where she won the University of Miami Concerto Competition in 1991. In 1992, she was a finalist for the Myrna Brown Young Artist Competition in Texas. Paula held the post of Principal Flute in the Orquesta de San Luis, Argentina in 1991 and has played in the many orchestras of the Aspen Music Festival in the summers of 1992, 1993, and 1994.
Paula has played piccolo in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra since 1998. She also enjoys the post of Principal Flute in the Arizona Opera, which she has held since 1999. In the summer of 2003, she joined the Utah Festival Opera Company as Principal Flutist. Her solo performances include appearances with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra, the Catalina Chamber Orchestra, the Orquesta de San Luis, Argentina, and numerous recitals about the United States. Other prior endeavors include her appearance on the Catalina Chamber Orchestra’s first recorded compact disc where she was principal flutist, and regular performance with guitarist Judson Armstrong as Duo Rosa del’Oro. She currently has the unique opportunity to participate in Tucson’s “Opening Minds Through the Arts” program as part of a wind trio in residence at local kindergartens. This program uses music to teach and reinforce the students’ core currriculum.
When not playing her flute, Paula enjoys riding her motorcycle up Mount Lemmon.
What music is on your iPod?
I don’t even know. It’s a bunch of “junk food for the ears” that I listen to when I ride my motorcycle.
What was your first musical experience as performer or audience member?
Fifth grade band concerts!
Why did you choose your instrument?
I actually don’t recall giving it that much thought. My older sister played the flute, perhaps that’s why I chose it.
What is your favorite music to perform? Genre or specific piece
Whatever I’m playing at the moment.
What do you do besides music?
Ride motorcycles, cook (and eat!), hike, photography… then I write about my experiences in my blog, “Eating on Two Wheels.”
Where did you go to school?
Boston University, University of Miami. Despite that, I feel strangely self-taught when it comes to flute playing.
What are your favorite places in Tucson?
Oh my goodness, all the wonderful motorcycle roads and hiking trails. I grew up in CT, but can’t imagine ever living somewhere without mountains again!