Praised for her "brilliance and beauty of tone" by the Baltimore Sun, Powell Artist Nancy Stagnitta is a leading crossover artist as both classical flutist and jazz artist. Her passion, versatility, and elegant artistry have led to concert engagements in Africa, Europe, Asia, and across the U.S. She recently gave the Asian premier of David Amram's "Giants of the Night" Flute Concerto with the China National Symphony in Beijing, presented a masterclass at the Mannes School of Music, and joined jazz violinist Regina Carter for the virtual Women in Jazz Festival at Oakland University in Detroit. In 2022, she will appear as guest artist at the Chicago Flute Symposium and the Clazz International Music Festival in Italy.
Her album with Grammy Award winning jazz pianist and composer Bob James, “In the Chapel in the Moonlight,” has garnered acclaim across musical genres and was described in JAZZIZ magazine as "captivating, brilliant, striking: Stagnitta effortlessly picks up on James' attitude, sounding not unlike Hubert Laws." "Nancy Stagnitta is among a very few flutists on the planet who can truly play both classical and jazz flute," says legendary flutist Jim Walker. "The recent recording with Bob James speaks volumes to her fluency and talent in great flute playing." It was declared "an album to be treasured" by Paula Robison. Stagnitta has also recorded contemporary American classical repertoire for Capstone Records, and was featured on American Public Media's Performance Today.
Appointed as U.S.I.A. Artistic Ambassador to Africa, she presented concerts and masterclasses in Angola, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia. She has performed at the Shanghai Conservatory and on the Voice of America Broadcast Network. A two-time recipient of the Maryland State Arts Council Solo Artist Award, she is the former piccoloist with the Baltimore and Sarasota Opera Orchestras and attended the Spoleto and Sarasota Music Festivals. She has performed at the National Flute Convention on multiple occasions, and presents masterclasses and workshops at festivals and universities throughout the US and abroad.
Stagnitta currently serves as Instructor of Flute and Chamber Music at Interlochen Arts Academy and principal flutist with the Traverse Symphony and Great Lakes Chamber Orchestras. She earned her degrees from the Peabody Institute, where she received the Ashworth Prize. Her teachers include Robert Willoughby and Tim Day.
