Flutist, Paula Gudmundson is Professor of Music. Miyazawa Performing Artist is Recipient of the 2022-2023 McKnight Fellowship for Performing Musicians. Her work focuses on centering her work around collaboration, community engagement and bringing voice to the absent narratives in the arts. Recordings include La Flauta of Buenos Aires (2014), Breaking Waves (2019) and Melodies of the Forest (2022) She has also been featured on Minnesota Public Radio’s Regional Spotlight. Gudmundson has performed at numerous music festivals and events, including regional, national and international conferences of the College Music Society, various National Flute Association conventions, a Minnesota Public Radio’s Class Notes Artist, Invited artist in at the the American Embassy School in New Delhi, India, International Flute Festival of Costa Rica, and La Côte Flûte Festival in Switzerland.
Dr. Gudmuundson has been recipient of the Albert Tezla Teacher/Scholar Award and College of Liberal Arts Research/Creative Activity Award from the University of Minnesota Duluth. She has also received numerous grants from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Minnesota State Arts Board and the University of Minnesota. Her interdisciplinary work has taken her to residencies at Tofte Lake Center in Ely, MN and Kala Art Institute in Berkley, CA.
Dr. Gudmundson has completed her Suzuki Book 1 training through the UMKC Suzuki Flute Institute. Her Suzuki teachers include Meret Bitticks, Zara Lawler and Mary Bassett Shemon. Dr. Gudmundson is a practitioner of the Alexander Technique, which focuses on the effective means of changing tension habits and improving coordination. This has contributed to her innovative and observant teaching style. Her Alexander Technique study has included the Sweet Briar Alexander Institute in Lynchburg, VA and study with Pedro Alcantara, Missy Vineyard, Lisa First and Tully Hall. Dr. Gudmundson has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses for Jeanne Baxtresser, Tadeu Cohelo, Carol Wincenc, Keith Underwood, Jeffery Kahner, Jim Walker, and Baroque flutist Barthold Kuijken.
Dr. Gudmundson is a member of the College Music Society, American Composers Forum, Upper Midwest Association (UMFA) and National Flute Association (NFA). She is currently on the Board of Directors of the National Flute Association. Dr. Gudmundson is a graduate of Lawrence University (B.M), University of North Texas (M.M), and University of Minnesota (DMA) as a Berneking Fellow. Her principal teachers include Immanuel Davis, Terri Sundberg, Ernestine Whitman and Adrianne Greenbaum.
For more information check out her website: www.paulagudmundson.com