In ROCO’s Unchambered Series, we invite you inside the creative minds of our musicians—where curated chamber concerts meet candid conversations and audience Q&A, all in a relaxed, up-close setting.
Kicking off the season series this Saturday, flutists Brook Ferguson and Rebecca Powell Garfield take the spotlight! We caught up with them to chat about how they first fell in love with music, their favorite things, and more—read on for their stories.
Where did you grow up, and what were your first musical experiences?
Brook: I grew up in Northern Virginia—my hometown is Manassas, Virginia. My earliest musical memories are singing in the car with my mom and sisters and sitting in on jam sessions with my dad, my uncle, and their friends. They primarily played bluegrass music. What was extraordinary about it—though I didn’t realize it at the time—was the world-class caliber of those musicians. I had no frame of reference then, but their playing left a deep and lasting influence on me.
Rebecca: I was born in Newport News, Virginia, and moved to North Little Rock, Arkansas when I was 5, then moved to Memphis, Tennessee when I was 11. My mom was (still is!) singing all the time, mostly tunes from musicals. And my dad played piano and played opera all the time, which he still does. Saturdays were always Metropolitan Opera radio days. I remember attending the Metropolitan Opera in Memphis when they used to tour. I remember loving Mozart’s Magic Flute. My dad would take me to recitals and concerts all the time. And I started playing piano when we moved to Arkansas.
How did you come to specialize in your instrument?
Brook: I first became captivated by the flute through recordings from the 1970s—mostly in the rock vein. I remember Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, and iconic flute solos in songs like “Color My World”. I also heard that sound in cartoons. My mind connected these different moments to the same instrument, and I found its sound irresistible—high-pitched, bright, lyrical, and free. Once I learned what it was, I was instantly drawn to it. I liked that it was different from anything anyone in my family was doing musically—it felt exciting and inspiring.
Rebecca: That would be my dad’s doing. In 1985, it was the 300th year of Bach’s birthday so there were tons of Bach concerts. I think I got dragged to some Bach organ concert which honestly is not my cup of tea (sorry to the organists reading this), but then he took me to see the famous French flutist Jean Pierre Rampal in recital, and I was hooked. I wanted to play the flute ever since. A couple of years later when we moved to Memphis, I finally got my wish and started flute in 7th grade band. I still have a copy of that Rampal recital program. As a flute player knowing what I know now, it was an intense program with at least 6 baroque sonatas, including several by Bach of course. He played with a harpsichord the entire concert. The encore was a Scott Joplin piece, which was funny with a harpsichord, and also there was a fly flying around him and he kept having to swat it. Things you remember when you’re a kid!
Favorite non-classical music?
Brook: I don’t think of music in hard genres—I see it as a historical continuum of sound. I’m drawn to anything where I hear something great or learn something interesting. That could be 90s hip-hop and gritty old-school tracks from that era, Motown, R&B, oldies, rock and roll, grunge, jazz, or even North Indian classical music. My tastes are all over the map, and I’m open to anything that sparks my curiosity.
Rebecca: That’s tricky, but in high school I was into The Cure, REM, Kate Bush, alternative rock. Currently it’s anywhere from Radiohead to Muse to Lady Gaga, to Adele, and Florence and the Machine, and whatever else pops up on my Pandora Radio.
Favorite movie(s)?
Brook: I don’t usually stay awake easily during movies—but when I do, I love old horror films that are so cheesy they’re funny, or heavy-handed organized crime dramas. Movies let me explore the darker edges of humanity, a contrast to the beauty and authenticity of my everyday life.
Rebecca: Anything British period drama! And all the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies, and rom-coms with Meg Ryan.
Favorite food(s)?
Brook: I love French food—not so much for the style of cooking itself, but for the French cultural relationship with food: the care, creativity, and respect for ingredients. It’s inspiring and delicious.
Rebecca: Chocolate and all bread products. And breakfast tacos.
Favorite place(s) to travel?
Brook: I love lazy beach vacations, but I’m not a fan of cruise ships—so I lean toward active trips. Living in Colorado means I can escape to the mountains for a quick day-long getaway, which is one of my favorite luxuries. I’ve also loved exploring France little by little.
Rebecca: Anywhere I can go that’s not 100 degrees with 100 percent humidity in the summer. Specifically, I love England and I love the California/Oregon Coast.
If you weren’t a professional musician, what other job might you be doing?
Brook: I think advocacy comes naturally to me. I’m passionate about having open dialogue on uncomfortable but necessary topics—elevating conversations by pursuing truth relentlessly. Those traits could translate well into negotiations, mediation, or even law. Whatever the field, I’d want to use those skills to make meaningful, honest progress.
Rebecca: I used to want to be an archaeologist (I watched Indiana Jones movies a lot), so maybe that? I have thought a lot about this question, but I have never been able to imagine anything else.
Favorite aspects of performing chamber music, versus performing in a full orchestra?
Brook: I often say I think of ROCO as my ‘mistress,’ and I mean that with the utmost affection. My full-time job is with the Colorado Symphony, where I play about 150 concerts a year. The difference is that ROCO’s mission is all about engaging curiosity and creating curated experiences, while in a full-time major orchestra, there’s often a need to balance finances with artistic goals. Chamber music, especially with ROCO, feels more intimate and connected. The musicians are genuinely excited and grateful to be there, and that energy makes the experience phenomenal.
Rebecca: In chamber music, you can hear yourself better and you can play with friends! I’m so excited to play with my lovely friend Brook, who is one of my most favorite flutists, and Audrey and my friends in the Flutes on the Bayou!
Thanks so much Brook and Rebecca!
Experience this dazzling duo in action this Saturday, October 11th, at 5 pm at St. Philip Presbyterian Church—and bring your own burning questions—tickets are Pay-What-You-Wish, online or at door!
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