Juliana Overmier, an adjunct flute instructor at East Central University, has been named a prize winner in the 2009 Solo Artist Competition sponsored by the Chicago Flute Club. The competition was held at the Music Institute of Chicago in Evanston.
Overmier was one of five finalists chosen from recorded entries of applicants from across the nation. She then performed before a panel of international judges who awarded her one of the three cash prizes.
An active performer and competitor, Overmier also has won first prize in several other competitions, including the James Pappoutsakis Memorial Flute Competition in Boston, the Concours Artistique Lucien Wurmser in Paris, and in 2007, the Byron Hester Solo Flute Competition in Houston.
Last August she was a winner in the National Flute Association's Convention Performers Competition and performed the world premiere of David Cutler's avant-garde work "Postcards" in New York.
After earning her bachelor's degree at DePauw University in Indiana, Overmier moved to Boston to study privately, then traveled to Paris to study at the Conservatory of Bourg-la-Reine/Sceaux, from which she received a gold medal, the highest diploma awarded.
In 1996 she earned her master's degree in flute performance from the University of Southern California, where she also won the Annual Concerto Competition. While living in Los Angeles, she performed on several film soundtracks, including "As Good As It Gets" and "Halloween H20."
Overmier is a member of the Tulsa Opera Orchestra and also performs with the Tulsa Symphony. She served as principal flutist for the Light Opera of Oklahoma Orchestra in Tulsa for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. She has performed with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, the former Tulsa Philharmonic, the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus and the Tulsa Ballet orchestra.
She joined the faculty at ECU in 2004. In addition to her freelance playing and large private teaching studio, Overmier is a member of the Cimarron Wind Quintet, serves on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Flute Society and is a frequent clinician and adjudicator for musical organizations statewide.
# # #