“If you want work, create it!”

Ideas and experiences of Beverly Allison, founder of the HFC



Albert Tipton said to me “If you want work, create it!”  Being a lifelong classical musician is a process – I had some of the world's greatest teachers, took hold of great (and sometimes odd) opportunities, and I was lucky and blessed.  I've always just been on a flute journey, taking advantage of opportunities that fell my way and pushing open as many doors as I could.  I always tried to think out of the box and that nothing was impossible.  I knew I never wanted to work as a secretary or a Wal-Mart person – not too fond of 8-5 schedules – they would never work with my temperament.


You could say my professional journey started when I was 15.  At that age, I started teaching flute lessons, and also got the opportunity to perform the Mozart Concerto in G Major with the Houston Youth Symphony.  I later attended masterclasses with many great pedagogues, including Jean-Pierre Rampal, Julius Baker, Geoffrey Gilbert, Trevor Wye, and James Galway.  I attended masterclasses with William Kincaid in Grey, Maine, and with Louis Moyse in Brattleboro, Vermont.  My first summer in Brattleboro started a 15-year period of studying with, playing with and being the manager of Louis Moyse.  My proudest moment as a musician was playing a concert of Louis Moyse's pieces with him accompanying me on the piano.  A couple of summers ago, I went to Montpelier, VT to play the last piece he arranged for flute choir.  We all knew he was very ill, and he died the week we left.  It was a bonding experience for this group of his students that had come together from all over the world.


As one can assume, all of these inspiring people helped to develop and encourage my love of flute playing.  My professional journey from there went on to include playing concerts in Germany, France, and Israel.  I performed a solo tour in Europe, an ensemble tour in Ireland with an Irish group, and played as soloist and principal flute in Jerusalem (the ICEJ Feast Orchestra).  I started the Houston Flute Club with the formation of the Flute Troupe and the members that supported me in that group.  I was able to play with the best Houston had to offer.  Each of my Flute Troupe members in the various times they played with me added so much to the flute atmosphere here in Houston.  Each was an artist in their own right.  I was so fortunate to have so much exceptional talent to work with.  Each one will always be special to me and part of my history.  The Flute Troupe performed locally and at national conventions throughout the 80's.  I also helped put together the 1986 Flute Festival Texas Orchestra.


I currently play Principal Flute in the Galveston Symphony, teach, and for over 32 years have run Chamber Music Unlimited.  Another treasure I have from my life journey with the flute are my many great friends in the music world.


In closing, I think you can see it takes diligence and daring to create your own path as a professional musician.  For those of you out there who wonder whether you have what it takes – have a plan B, unless you are so dedicated that you will put all your heart, soul, money and energy in trying to find that special place in the music world for yourself.