Guest Flute Recital – Amelia Lukas

A Multimedia Flute Concert

Gathers Community to Honor Ukraine

Powell Flutes Artist and directorial powerhouse Amelia Lukas steps into the spotlight with Natural Homeland: Honoring Ukraine, a multimedia, tour de force program of music that deepens emotional awareness around the meaning of home in light of current events. Presented by the University of Hawaii at Manoa in partnership with the Hawaii Flute Society and Pacific Gateway Center, this cohesive and moving modern concert experience weaves together stories of displacement and disaster with themes of hope and inner sanctuary. 

Lukas brings her highly acclaimed, multifaceted aesthetic to Hawaii, integrating “a diverse and gorgeous array of music” (Cascadia Daily News) for solo flute, piccolo, alto flute, bass flute, and electronics with beautiful, program-specific dance, visual art, lighting, videography, and poetry. Projections of “gorgeous” (Oregon ArtsWatch) artwork by local Ukrainian painter and muralist Tatyana Ostapenko will precede the concert and feature alongside Lukas’ performance of Gemma (by Ukrainian composer Ludmila Yurina). 

Known for her “fine balance of virtuosity and poetry” (The New York Times) Lukas is the rare musician who not only performs at the highest caliber, but pushes the classical music industry forward with visionary ideas and implementation. As the Founder and Principal of Aligned Artistry, “the gold standard for arts consulting in Oregon,” (Kenji Bunch, composer) Lukas expands the impact of artistic work through sophisticated creative strategy and public relations services. She also founded and for seven years directed New York City’s “scintillating; impeccably curated; truly original” (Time Out New York) Ear Heart Music series, which “arrived as a major cultural resource in the City, and… provided a solid base for satisfaction.” (New York Arts)

About Amelia Lukas, Flutist & Producer:

“Known for her especially pure tone, flexible technique, and passionate performances,” (Artslandia) flutist Amelia Lukas performs with “a fine balance of virtuosity and poetry.” (The New York Times) A Powell Flutes Artist and Portland resident, she “excels at bringing drama and fire to hyper-modernist works with challenging extended techniques.” (Oregon ArtsWatch) Her recent and upcoming engagements include solo appearances for Chamber Music Northwest, United for Ukraine, Hawaii Flute Society, Fear No Music, Orcas Center, Makrokosmos Project, Kenny Endo, March Music Moderne, Portland Taiko, the Astoria Music Festival, Music in the Woods, Cascadia Composers, and for All Classical Portland’s live radio broadcasts, with additional performances for the Willamette Valley Chamber Music Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Portland Piano International, TedX Portland, Friends of Chamber Music, 45th Parallel, and Oregon Music Festival. While in New York, Lukas’ career included founding and directing the “truly original… impeccably curated” (Time Out New York) multimedia series Ear Heart Music at Roulette, membership in the American Modern Ensemble, and performances at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, The Stone, Bargemusic, (Le) Poisson Rouge, Roulette, and New Music New York Festival. She holds degrees from the Royal Academy of Music (London), where she received three prizes for musical excellence, and from the Manhattan School of Music, where she joined twelve other students in the inaugural class of the Master’s Degree in Contemporary Performance. Amelia is a Board Member for Chamber Music Northwest and is the Principal and Founder of Aligned Artistry. amelialukas.com

About Tatyana Ostapenko, Painter:

Contemporary painter and muralist Tatyana Ostapenko creates art that is “gorgeous… [a] bold reflection of joy and resiliency.” (Oregon ArtsWatch) With a practice that’s deeply influenced by her experience as an immigrant, as well as by her formative years in post-Soviet Ukraine, she focuses on trans-generational trauma and the gender inequalities that persist in her country of origin as well as in the US. Ostapenko has a “talent for capturing human moments” (Oregon ArtsWatch) and uses images from her native Ukraine to speak about universal human experiences with an emphasis on empathy and strength in the face of adversity. “Ostapenko exudes strength and pride… [her] work normally has an edge. She uses the language of Socialist Realism… to critique power and misogyny, society and culture.” (The Oregonian) Her paintings have been exhibited in regional, national and international museums, galleries, and art fairs, and purchased by public, corporate, and private collections, including the City of Seattle, City of Portland, and Stumptown Coffee HQ. She holds a BFA in Studio Practice from Portland State University, and has received Professional Development Grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council and the Oregon Arts Commission. tatyanaostapenko.com