Patricia Creighton

Education

• BMus (Toronto)
• Banff Centre for the Performing Arts
• Teachers: Louis Moyse, Jeanne Baxtresser, Marcel Moyse, Nora Shulman, Julius Baker, Jean-Pierre Rampal

Research & creative activity

Patricia Creighton is currently Principal Flautist with Symphony Nova Scotia, a position she has held since 1984.  Her extensive repertoire spans from baroque to modern.  She has performed with many illustrious musicians from around the country and is well known and loved by audiences around the Maritimes for her concerto, recital and chamber performances.

Selected performances

• The Transcontinental, Ms. Creighton's second recording, represents musical snapshots of different countries.
• Her latest recording, The 12 Celtic Winds (2009), pairs her with didgeridoo master Paul Newton in a fascinating improvised mandala depicting characteristics of the twelve directional winds as observed by the ancient Gaelic people.
• As a chamber and orchestral artist, Ms. Creighton has performed with such distinguished artists as Julius Baker, Robert Cram, Victor Yampolsky, Isaac Stern, Maureen Forrester, William Tritt, Peter Bowman, Steven Dann, Fred Sherry, Malcolm Lowe, Erica Goodman, Anton Kuerti, Peter Allen, Jeanne Lamon, Georg Tintner, Simon Streatfield, Mario Bernardi, Grant Llewelyn, Boris Brott, Denise Djokic, Rene Fleming, Bernhard Gueller and many others.
• Wind Song, with pianist Peter Allen, was nominated for a 2009 ECMA and MIANS Best Classical Album award.  buy on iTunes or here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/creightonallen
• The 12 Celtic Winds (2009), pairs her with didgeridoo master Paul Newton in a improvised mandala depicting characteristics of the twelve directional winds as observed by the ancient Gaelic people.  buy on iTunes or here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/creightonnewton
• As a chamber and orchestral artist, Ms. Creighton has performed with such distinguished artists as Julius Baker, Victor Yampolsky, Isaac Stern, Maureen Forrester, William Tritt, Peter Bowman, Steven Dann, Fred Sherry, Malcolm Lowe, Erica Goodman, Anton Kuerti, Peter Allen, Jeanne Lamon, Georg Tintner, Simon Streatfield, Mario Bernardi, Denise Djokic, Rene Fleming, Bernhard Gueller, Lynn Harrell and many others.
• As a recitalist, she enjoys exploring and performing flute and piano repertoire with pianist Peter Allen.
  

Patricia Creighton has lived and worked in the Maritimes for decades and has performed with many illustrious national and international artists.  Please see www.patriciacreighton.com for more information. 

Q&A WITH PATTY 

Why did you begin playing the flute?
I was always transfixed by the sound as a youngster and the flute looked like a wonderfully beautiful jewel to me, flashing and glittering….

​Why do you play the flute?
I play my instrument because it fulfills an inexplicable part of my soul, it takes me out of the mundane and ordinary, and also because it is a great practice which always reflects the inner state of my psyche. It keeps me honest about myself, and it is extremely challenging. To be the master of a musical instrument is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my entire life. That being said, it is my muse, and It allows me to express my deepest most complex emotions in a non-verbal way.

How did you get interested in classical music?
My father absolutely loved classical music so I grew up listening to many of his recordings. My mother was a very accomplished pianist and teacher, and as a young child, I would crawl under her grand piano and fall asleep to the sound of Chopin, Mendelssohn, Mozart, Bach, Beethoven…

​What are your outside interests?
Swimming, photography, long walks with friends, meditation, and making movies.

​What’s something someone would be surprised to hear about you?
I hate crowds.

​What’s your favourite indulgence?
Dark chocolate and cooking for friends. 

​What do you do to relax?
Breathe deeply, practice flute, swim, walk, play tennis, lie under a tree, read a book.

Awards and honours

• Abraxas, was nominated for an ECMA award and was used to create a ballet for ARC Dance, which premiered in May 2000 in Seattle, Washington. 
• Melodies of Love, with harpist Karen Rokos, was a 2008 ECMA and MIANS Best Classical Album nominee.
• Wind Song, with pianist Peter Allen, was nominated for a 2009 ECMA and MIANS Best Classical Album award.
• Kiwanis National winner
• Guelph Spring Festival Competition;  winner, wind division
• Concerto Competition (only one performer per year) University of Toronto
• CBC Radio Search for the Stars Competition, 2nd prize 1984
• Munich International Music Competition, 1985
• Semi-finalist, Prague Spring International Music Competition, 1986
• Abraxas:  this CD was nominated for an ECMA award and also used to create a ballet for ARC Dance, premiered in May 2000 in Seattle, Washington.
• Melodies of Love, with harpist Karen Rokos, was a 2008 ECMA and MIANS Best Classical Album nominee. Buy at iTunes or here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/creightonroko

CDs

Wind Song, with pianist Peter Allen, was nominated for a 2009 ECMA and MIANS Best Classical Album award.  buy on iTunes or here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/creightonallen

Repertoire:  Poulenc Sonata, JS Bach Solo Partita, Prokofiev Sonata, Debussy Syrinx, Colgrass Wild Riot of the Shaman’s Dream and Bartok, Arma Suite Paysanne Hongroise.

The Transcontinental, Ms. Creighton's second recording, represents musical snapshots of different countries and has a variety of repertoire.

The 12 Celtic Winds (2009), pairs her with didgeridoo master Paul Newton in a improvised mandala depicting characteristics of the twelve directional winds as observed by the ancient Gaelic people.  buy on iTunes or here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/creightonnewton

Abraxas, produced by CBC Radio, includes Muczynski Sonata, Dutilleux Sonatine, Allen Waltz, Lieberson Flute Variations, Moyse Petites Pieces, Taffanel Andante Pastoral and Scherzettino and Copland Duo.

Other

As a chamber and orchestral artist, Ms. Creighton has performed with such distinguished artists as Julius Baker, Victor Yampolsky, Isaac Stern, Maureen Forrester, William Tritt, Steven Dann, Fred Sherry, Malcolm Lowe, Erica Goodman, Anton Kuerti, Peter Allen, Jeanne Lamon, Georg Tintner, Simon Streatfield, Mario Bernardi, Grant Llewelyn, Boris Brott, Denise Djokic, Rene Fleming, Bernhard Gueller, Lynn Harrell and many others.

As a recitalist, she enjoys exploring and performing flute and piano repertoire with pianist Peter Allen.