BIOGRAPHIES

 

SHORT-LENGTH PROFESSIONAL BIO

Internationally acclaimed flutist and Altus Performing Artist Nina Assimakopoulos is an integrative performing artist credited with over 85 international and national world-premiere performances and commissions for flute. She has recorded five solo CDs, is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes, and has performed with the Munich City Opera, Bavarian Radio Symphony Academy Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, and Toledo Symphony Orchestra. She is flute professor at West Virginia University and studied with Peter Lloyd and Paul Meisen.  www.ninaassimakopoulos.info



SHORT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC BIO

Internationally acclaimed flutist and Altus Performing Artist Nina Assimakopoulos credited with over 85 international and national world-premiere performances and commissions. She is a  multimedia collaborative and new music commission artist who integrates baroque through contemporary flute music with the  digital and visual arts, dance, and theater.


She has toured extensively in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America as a performing artist and masterclass presenter. Her five solo CDs, include Arcadian Murmurs, Pan in Pieces, Vol. I and Points of Entry, Works for Solo Flute by American Women Composers, Volumes I and II and Vayu, Multi-cultural Flute Solos from the Twenty-First Century, which was elected into the first round of the Grammy nominations for Best Classical Solo Instrumental 2015.


Assimakopoulos is the recipient of numerous grants and awards, including the Aaron Copland Fund Grant for New Music Recording, two Fulbright Grants, and the National Society of Arts and Letters Career Award.


She is flute professor at West Virginia University and studied with Peter Lloyd and Paul Meisen, earning degrees from Indiana University, Bloomington, and the Munich Academy of Music, Germany. www.ninaassimakopoulos.info



MID-LENGTH PROFESSIONAL BIO

Internationally acclaimed flutist and Altus Performing Artist Nina Assimakopoulos has been hailed as “...a marvel!” (Münchner Merkur), and a versatile virtuoso with a “dramatic sense of pacing” who demonstrates “not just perfect technique and total breath control but supreme intelligent, elegant phrasing; broad tone color; lyricism; a full range of dynamic expression; and above all STYLE that paints the differences from Bach to Bartok...” (American Record Guide).


A champion of contemporary music, Nina Assimakopoulos is credited with over 83 international world-premiere performances and commissions and has recorded 5 solo CDs, the most recent of which, Vayu, Multi-cultural Flute Solos from the Twenty-First Century, was elected into the first round of the Grammy nominations for Best Classical Solo Instrumental 2015. She is the recipient of numerous awards and prizes and has performed with the Munich City Opera, Bavarian Radio Symphony Academy Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, New Hampshire Symphony Orchestra, and Toledo Symphony Orchestra.


She is flute professor at West Virginia University, where she enjoys working with an inspiring and active community of talented undergraduate, masters, and doctoral flute students.


Nina Assimakopoulos studied with Peter Lloyd at the Indiana University School of Music and Paul Meisen at the Munich Academy of Music. She is grateful to them for their ongoing influence in her life as a performing artist and teacher. www.ninaassimakopoulos.info


LONG PROFESSIONAL BIO

Internationally acclaimed flutist Nina Assimakopoulos has been hailed as "...a marvel!" (Münchner Merkur), and a versatile virtuoso with a “dramatic sense of pacing” who demonstrates "not just perfect technique and total breath control but supreme intelligent, elegant phrasing; broad tone color; lyricism; a full range of dynamic expression; and above all STYLE that paints the differences from Bach to Bartok…” (American Record Guide).


A champion of contemporary music, Nina Assimakopoulos is credited with over 83 national and world-premiere performances and new work commissions, as well as multimedia collaborative projects and concerts integrating baroque through contemporary flute music with visual and digital arts, dance, and theater. She has toured extensively in the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America as a performing artist and masterclass presenter. Her five solo CDs, include Vayu, Multi-cultural Flute Solos from the Twenty-First Century, which was elected into the first round of the Grammy nominations for Best Classical Solo Instrumental 2015.


Assimakopoulos has performed with the Munich City Opera, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Academy Orchestra, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and has appeared as a featured recital soloist at Carnegie Hall, New York; the Alden Theater “Rising Stars” Concert Series in Washington, D.C.; the “Dame Myra Hess” Radio Broadcast Concert Series, Chicago, Illinois; and the “Live from Hochstein” Radio Broadcast Concert Series, Rochester, New York in addition to numerous contemporary music festivals including the AmBul New Music Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria and the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival (NYCEMF). She is the recipient of grants and awards from the Aaron Copland Fund for New Music Recording, the Fulbright Foundation, the National Society of Arts and Letters, and the Yehudi Menuhin Chamber Music Endowment.


As a teacher, Assimakopoulos has taught as a professor of flute performance for over 15 years and appears frequently as a masterclass clinician at universities, conservatories, and festivals across the globe.


Her students have achieved acclaim as finalists and prize winners in many national and international competitions including: the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, Paris (First Prize); the South Carolina Flute Society Young Artist  Competition, (First Prize); Great Composers Competition Series in the Art of Woodwind and Brass, (First Prize); Sigma Alpha Iota Graduate Competition (First Prize); Golden Classical International Music Competition (First Prize); Oklahoma Flute Society Young Artist Competition (First Prize); Music Teacher National Association High School and Collegiate competitions (First Prize, Second and Third Prizes); the Grand Prize Virtuoso Competition, Salzburg, (Second prize); the Alexander Buono International Flute Competition (Second Prize); the Grand Prize Virtuoso International Competition, Vienna, (Second Prize); the New York Flute Club Young Artist Competition; International Flute Competition Haifa-Galilee, Israel; International Intermusica Concerto Competition, Austria; the Kentucky Flute Association Duo and Young Artist Competition (Third Prize);  Byron Hester Young Artist Competition; Rochester Flute Association Young Artist Competition; Flute Society of Washington Young Artist competition; the MidSouth Young Artist Competition; Mid-Atlantic Flute Association Collegiate and Young Artist Competitions; the Southeast Michigan Flute Association Young Artist Competition;  the Fischoff Competition; and the National Flute Association Masterclass Competition.


Nina Assimakopoulos is flute professor at West Virginia University, where she enjoys working with an inspiring and active community of talented undergraduate, masters, and doctoral flute students.


In addition to her work as a musician, Assimakopoulos is a prize-winning painter whose work has been exhibited at museums and internationally juried shows. Her paintings have been used on the  cover art of her CD’s and appear on her website.


Nina Assimakopoulos studied with Peter Lloyd at the Indiana University School of Music and Paul Meisen at the Munich Academy of Music. She is grateful to them for their ongoing influence in her life as a performing artist and teacher.

www.ninaassimakopoulos.info

“A SUPERB MUSICIAN WHO PLAYS WITH MUSICAL UNDERSTANDING,

BRILLIANT TECHNIQUE, AND GREAT INTELLECT.”

                                                                Luba Edlina, pianist, Borodin Trio

“Nina is one of the few exceptionally talented players who has a natural feeling for music and just as important a real understanding of performance.”


Peter Lloyd, Former principal flute London Symphony Orchestra

Nina’s recital was inspiring, engaging, and a total pleasure to attend.  She has a wonderful ease with an audience as evidenced by her remarks throughout the recital, and her performance was impressive. 


Philip Dikeman, Former Principal Flute Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Assimakopoulos' playing is endowed with such a beautiful sense of line and consistency of tone. I found myself dazzled by her ability to adapt her interpretive approach to the varied repertoire she presented. 


Jonathan Keeble, Internationally Acclaimed Flute Soloist


A poised, colorful, and dynamic flutist, Nina is an effective communicator who puts great thoughts and effort into engaging her audience, both personally and musically.


Nancy Stagnitta Loudenslager, Internationally Acclaimed Flute Soloist


In Buffalo, Nina Assimakopoulos’ concert was striking in many ways. First, her rich, clear and colorful sounds, beautifully articulated, made an immediate impression. As a flutist she is clearly in the upper tier of our profession. Everything is there-rhythm, dynamics, a wealth of colors- all in service of a strong musical intellect, deeply felt.


Robert Dick, Internationally Acclaimed  Contemporary Flute Specialist


Nina Assimakopoulos is an excellent flutist. Her CU recital was filled with virtuosity, beautiful sounds, and interesting repertoire. Nina has a motivated, energetic, and creative manner that permeates her choices both as a teacher and performer.

 

Christina Jennings, Internationally Acclaimed Flute Soloist

In the hands of Nina Assimakopoulos the flute is a kite, a nymph, a bolt of lightning.”

Rochester City Paper

Impeccable intonation and superbly fluid flute playing...if one adds to those qualities her radiant presence on stage, it is not difficult to understand why her St. Louis recital was a sensational success.


Minoo Mehta, President Artist Presentation Society

Assimakopoulos guided this sonic world tour with genuine musicianship, excellent technique...and uncommon projection and richness of tone in the flute's lowest register....In this performance the only jury was the audience, and they showered Assimakopoulos with high marks in the form of hearty applause and a lengthy standing ovation.


New York Concert Review, Carnegie Hall Debut 2000

Assimakopoulos...has a beautiful tone and plays expressively.

Flute Talk Magazine, October 2002

Assimakopoulos has a dramatic sense of pacing...from beginning to end she changes styles freely and remains in control of what she is doing musically.


American Record Guide, Johnson (CD, Flute Impressions) 2002

Nina’s artistry, beautiful tone colors, intelligent interpretations, and brilliant stage presence are captivating. She is a wonderful performer and teacher.


Katherine Kemler, Internationally Acclaimed Flute Soloist