Renaissance Video
The latest release from Michele McGovern is an amazing renaissance video called Nocturne. This is an original piece by world famous flutist Michele McGovern. This music video will most likely be added to her other award-winning projects on YouTube and Vimeo, where she is beginning to make a real sensation. Her crossover classical music style can be found in this renaissance video, as well as her other music videos online that highlight different genres and time periods.
Ms. McGovern is undeniably the best flutist Chicago residents have seen in a while. Her career started as a classical flutist, where she performed with a number of well-known orchestras and symphonies, including Mozart's D Major Concerto, Mozart's Andante, Vivaldi's Il Gardellino Concerto, Vivaldi's La Notte Concerto, Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 for two flutes and violin (with flutist Mary Stolper and violinist Rachel Barton Pine), and Lukas Foss' "For Toru" (Lukas Foss conducting). She was also the Principle Flute with the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra for over 15 years. You can see the influence of her orchestral career in her renaissance video, Nocturne.
During her career she has worked and studied with some of the greatest musicians of our time, such as Jean Berkenstock (former principal Lyric Opera Orchestra), Alexander Murray (former principal London Symphony), Donald Peck (former principal Chicago Symphony), Mary Stolper (principle Grant Park Symphony), and was also a piano student of Melody Lord. Michele received a full scholarship to Chicago Musical College of Roosevelt University. She earned both a Bachelor and Master’s degree in Music Performance. Her renaissance video making would not come until later in her career, but her talent was recognized early on by her teacher, mentor, and colleague, Melody Lord.
Before she created this renaissance video, her first endeavor was a tribute to Ms. Lord. The video titled Moonlight Sonata is based on an arrangement of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata (Mvt. 1) that Michele and Melody completed during their 12 year working relationship. This was Michele’s first video. Unlike her current renaissance video, the setting for this arrangement is the 1920’s. Ms. McGovern received her first awards for best music video for this breathtaking musical arrangement and story written by Michele.
Her current renaissance video is much more mysterious than her previous works. In Pavane, Ms. McGovern incorporates a variety of Steam Punk inspired elements in her cover of this famous modern arrangement of a classical endeavor. YouTube and Vimeo have afforded Michele a new outlet for her immense creativity that includes not only her amazing talents as a flutist, but also her skills as an actress, writer, producer, and director. It appears there is nothing that she cannot excel at, once she puts her mind to it.
The future plans for Michele McGovern include an exciting new adventure into musical theater with Vadula. Vadula will be a combination of instrumental music, singing, dance, silks and acting. The process of creating this theater production is currently in the works with talented individuals from the Chicago and surrounding area being encouraged to audition. We look forward to the debut of this exciting new venture for Michele.