Biography
Lauren Zwonik
Artist and educator, flutist Lauren Zwonik has had the esteemed pleasure of being a distinguished clinician, soloist, and mentor in Jamaica, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Puerto Rico, Peru, Argentina, Austria, and South Africa. In all countries she hosted several masterclasses, conducted community and academic ensembles and performed in seven solo recitals. In Switzerland, Zwonik observed and later performed in the Fasnacht celebrated in the heart of the city of Basel. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Zwonik was unable to travel to Italy in summers 2020 and 2021 to Italy for her fellowship with the Cortona New Music Sessions. During 2024, Zwonik is scheduled to be guest panelist at the League of American Orchestra's Conference in Houston, TX, perform at the National Flute Association Convention in San Antonio, TX, Flute New Music Consortium's New Music Festival in Omaha, NE, and give a lecture recital in the World Flute Fair in Mendoza, Argentina.
As a soloist, Zwonik has won the 2020 West Virginia University Concerto Competition with the Martin Ballade for Flute and Orchestra that gave her the distinguished honor of performing with the WVU Symphony Orchestra as a prize soloist. She has also won first prize in the Great Composers Competition for the Concerto and European Composer competitions in 2018 and 2019, First Prize in the National Division II Opera Performance from the Crane School of Music’s 2017 performance of Aaron Copland’s Tenderland, and Second Prize in the Glory International Music Competition for both Professional Jury and Teacher Jury Choice Awards in 2018. In 2013, Zwonik won the senior soloist competition and performed
the Mozart Concerto in D Major with the Vermont Youth Orchestra for a 2,000 person audience. As a founding member of The Informed Feminists Percussion Quartet, KEYS Flute Quartet, Acronite Flute Quartet, and Equinox Flute Quartet, The Informed Feminists Quartet won first prize in the 2020 West Virginia University ChaMP Chamber Music Competition while the Equinox Flute Quartet won second prize that same year. In 2019, the Acronite Flute Quartet has won first prize in the Great Composers Competition and third prize in the West Virginia University ChaMP Chamber Music Competition.
Zwonik is currently performing in: Las Vegas Sinfoneitta, UNLV Symphony Orchestra, UNLV Opera Orchestra, UNLV Wind Orchestra, Nextet Contemporary Ensemble, The Desert Winds Wind Ensemble, among private chamber music ensembles. She is also the personnel manager for the UNLV Opera Ensemble for seasons 2021—2024. Outside Las Vegas, Zwonik is the newest member of the Los Angeles Fife and Drum Corps. At West Virginia University, Zwonik has performed in: Chamber Winds, The WVU Flute Studio Flute Choir, The WVU Fife and Drum Corps., The WVU Symphony Orchestra, The WVU Opera Orchestra in addition several chamber music ensembles. At the Crane School of Music, Zwonik was a regular performer in the Crane Symphonic Band, Crane Concert Band, Crane Wind Ensemble, Crane Orchestra, Crane Opera Orchestra, and the KEYS Flute Quartet. Zwonik has performed in masterclasses with Lorna McGee, Mark Sparks, Demarre McGill, Nicole Esposito, Angela Reus-Jones, Zachariah Galatis, Carol Wincenc, Ali Reyerson, Eva Amsler, Michele Bellevance, Matej Grahek and Angela Lowry.
As an educator Lauren has worked with both individuals and ensembles ranging from Pre-K through retired citizens.She has taught grades 4-12 band, jazz band and general music in Harrisville, New York during a maternity leave position. She was the previous music director and primary flute instructor at the Holy Name of Jesus Academy in Massena, New York and celebrated her third and final season as the conductor of the Clarkson University Orchestra in 2017. Lauren enjoyed her position as the adjunct professor of flute at St. Lawrence University for two years. Her passions in teaching and research include middle and high school band, diversity within the classroom, mental musicianship and special education.
A native of Colchester, Vermont, Zwonik is a doctoral candidate for the Doctorate of Musical Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas with world-renowned artist, Dr. John McMurtery. She was the first student awarded with the Graduate Assistantship in Arts Administration with the Las Vegas Philharmonic. She completed her MM in Flute Performance at West Virginia University in addition to completing a Certificate in University Teaching. Alongside her studies, Zwonik was a Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Biology Department, teaching four sections of Biology Labs per semester. She earned her BM in Music Education and Flute Performance, with a Minor in Music Business at the Crane School of Music in Potsdam, New York.
Past teachers have included Alberto Almarza, Nina Assimakopoulos, Kenneth Andrews, and Berta Frank.
