Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Vincenzo Volpe. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Vincenzo, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I feel incredibly fortunate to earn a full-time living from my creative work as a professional flutist. I recently graduated with my doctorate degree in April 2023 and won an audition with the Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps that same month. I credit the majority of my success to the fantastic education that I received through my three alma maters – Case Western Reserve University, the University of Toronto, and the University of Cincinnati. At each university, I studied with world-class flutists who helped me to hone my craft and grow as an artist. As my ten years of collegiate training progressed, my ability to book freelance gigs as a classically-trained flutist increased as well. I worked with several ensembles while in Toronto and performed regularly with Orchestra Kentucky Bowling Green while in Cincinnati. These professional experiences, alongside school, allowed me to gain the confidence and audition skills that I needed to eventually win a full-time job as a musician. I think that attending music conservatories for my undergraduate and master’s degrees might have given me the skills that I needed to win a full-time job sooner, but I really valued my time in higher education and am proud to hold a doctorate degree in my field. Everyone has a different path to success as a professional, and I would not wish my path to be any different!

Vincenzo, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My path to becoming a professional musician has its roots in my childhood education. In fifth-grade band class, I decided to give the flute a shot after falling in love with the sound that it made. After about a month with the instrument, my band teacher told me that I needed to take private lessons in order to keep learning. After three college degrees in flute performance, music is still the epicenter of my life.

I now work as a musician for the Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps in Washington, D.C. Many readers may be unaware that the military is one of the largest employers of musicians in the country. While my college education was mostly orchestral training, I did have opportunities to perform in wind ensembles and marching band. When I began to audition for full-time jobs during my master’s and doctorate degrees, military jobs were only vaguely of interest to me. However, the financial crisis onset by the global COVID-19 pandemic caused many music organizations in the non-profit sector to postpone auditions for several years. The military bands remained financially untouched and continued to hold auditions, so I actively began researching military jobs and realized that the lifestyle and expectations were a fit for me.

I auditioned for several jobs, both military and civilian, in Washington, D.C. but was particularly interested in the Fife and Drum Corps when their audition was posted. I auditioned twice for the organization, which made it all the sweeter when I won my job in April. We are the only unit of our kind in the Armed Forces, preserving musical traditions from the 1700s in distinctive colonial uniforms. The Corps acts as the Official Ceremonial Unit of the United States Army and the Escort to the President. I take great pride in serving my country as a military musician.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

As an openly gay man, my sexuality has always been a driving force behind choices that I’ve made as a student and an artist. Throughout my three degrees in higher education, my research has been rooted in queer musicology. I authored an undergraduate capstone project about the relationship between sexual orientation and music composition, a master’s research paper about the influence of Aaron Copland as the “Dean of Gay American Composers” in the 20th Century, and a doctoral lecture-recital document about flute music composed for the “AIDS Memorial Concert” series in the 1990s. In 2021, I founded the LGBTQ+ Flute Choir of the National Flute Association and commission queer composers to write new works for the ensemble every year. I also piloted Cincinnati’s first-ever Pride Arts Showcase in March 2023 as a way for LGBTQIA+ artists of all art forms and all identities to share their work in an inclusive and celebratory space. I also serve in our country’s military as an out gay man and hope that my presence inspires other LGBTQ+ people to do the same. Overall, it is my hope that other queer creatives will use their identity to bolster meaning and activism in their work. I feel more fulfilled as an artist because I use my gayness to influence my work.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Go and see a show! As a musician, I consistently encourage people to attend my concerts and be physically present to support my art. I am sure that artists of all other disciplines do the same. The age of live-streaming has fortunately allowed us to share our music with people in different parts of the world who do not have the ability to attend in person. However, the energy and reward that we feel from performing for a live audience is irreplaceable. I encourage everyone to experience live music or art at least once a month, and it does not always have to be the same kind of art. For instance, I personally enjoy a combination of classical concerts, musical theatre, plays, and singer-songwriter performances. Find art that speaks to you, but open yourself to other experiences. The most important part is that you show up and experience the art for yourself. Thank you in advance for your attendance and support of our work!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vincenzogvolpe.com
• Instagram: @vmanvolpe
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vincenzovolpeflute/
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/vincenzogvolpe
• Twitter: @vmanvolpe
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@vmanvolpe