WHAT MUSIC AND THE FLUTE MEAN TO ANDRÉ:
“The flute is a lifeline for me. I often joke, but I mean it, that without music life would not be worth living. When COVID-19 struck the thought, “I could die,” was on my mind. Therefore, to keep me alive and sane, keeping up with the flute helped me to feel joy even during a dark time, and has done so before on other occasions in life.”
Alongside his administrative work, André remains an active musician. He maintains a consistent performance and practice schedule, pursues ongoing professional development, participates in chamber music collaborations, and regularly shares resources and opportunities with fellow creatives. He also serves on the boards of the Merrimack Valley Community Music School and The Dream Unfinished, contributing to each organization's mission as Secretary.
In 2023, André was recognized by the National Flute Association as a competition winner for his recordings of Alfredo Casella's “Barcarola et Scherzo, Op. 4” and Allison Loggins-Hull's “Homeland.” As part of the Association's Fall Virtual Series, he performed Alonso Malik Pirio's “Sonata for Flute and Piano” and participated in a live artist interview.
While classically trained and influenced by jazz, André's artistic practice increasingly explores contemporary, interdisciplinary, and experimental forms of music-making. He is currently developing an experimental music and spoken-word project inspired by a period of profound personal transition marked by heartbreak, housing instability, and prolonged unemployment. Through this work, he investigates how music can process, communicate, and transform experiences that often resist language.
Alongside fellow Carnegie Mellon alumna, sound artist, improviser, and flutist Trē Seguritan Abalos, André is also developing work-in-progress performance series that center experimentation, artistic risk-taking, and creative process. Envisioned as part performance, part laboratory, and part masterclass, these gatherings invite musicians and audiences alike into the often-unseen stages of creation, fostering curiosity, dialogue, and a deeper appreciation for artistic exploration.
AUDIO
Preserving sounds is preserving memories. Therefore, take a listen to these selections, which bring unique stories and distinct emotions to life. As you explore your definitions of sound, I hope these inspire you to create your own and ponder your own musical journeys.
VIDEOS
Film unites many of our senses, and there is an opportunity here to immerse yourself within. Feel the joy not only in the sounds but through facial expressions, or chills as the performance’s environment influences our sensations. I hope these videos provide depth upon the musician(s) where sound alone cannot fully convey.