Play It Forward – Dana Sparling
Meet Dana Sparling, a flutist and All Classical Radio’s 2025-2026 Young Artist in Residence. We asked Dana what pieces of music inspired her to become the musician she is today. Here are a few of her selections.
A piece that first made me fall in love with my instrument
Syrinx by Debussy was the first solo flute piece I encountered after picking up the instrument in middle school, and it made me fall in love with the flute! I would listen to it over and over again and play it, even though at that time it was too difficult for me. I was also very interested in Greek mythology, and this piece is based on the myth of Syrinx, a river nymph. The sound is meant to evoke the sound of panpipes and be very nature-spirit-esque. There is a lot of chromaticism, dynamic range, and expressive freedom that make it feel almost improvisatory.
Music that reminds me of why I love classical music
Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture showed me how powerfully music can capture emotion. This piece takes the listener through SO many emotions as Tchaikovsky uses his music to represent Friar Laurence, the Capulet-Montague feud, and Romeo and Juliet. I played this piece more recently with the Metropolitan Youth Symphony and have been obsessed ever since!
A non-classical piece I love
I’m a huge fan of modern wind band pieces. Kevin Day’s “Dancing Fire” is far from classical, but it’s definitely one of my favorite pieces. It captures so much energy and syncretizes funk and classical influences, especially in the brass lines. There’s a super cool soprano saxophone solo as well as some very technically difficult flute lines. I’ve played this piece with the All-Northwest Band, and my local LCRMEA honor band played it this year, too!
A piece I’d love to play
One piece I haven’t yet played, but absolutely love is Rimsky-Korsakov’s suite from his opera The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh. The wind parts in the prelude are absolutely beautiful, involving passing lines between flute, oboe, and clarinet, and the piccolo gets a big feature in the second movement! Later movements strongly evoke emotion and tension and retell Russian legends about Saint Fevroniya of Murom and the city of Kitezh.
The first piece I ever performed
I didn’t actually play a solo piece on the flute until my Freshman year state solo and ensemble contest, when I played the Hindemith Flute Sonata. I remember disliking this piece at first, but listening back, I really love the layered, unexpected harmonies and the hemiolas between the piano and the flute — those were definitely very difficult for freshman me, but now I think they’re super interesting to listen to!
A piece I like to listen to
One of my favorite pieces to listen to just for fun is Florence Price’s Dances in the Canebrakes, orchestrated by William Grant Still. The piece is inspired by African-American life on plantations and also incorporates rhythms and melodies from African and Caribbean folk music. I played it last year with MYS, and I love how prominently the piccolo is featured and how fun the piece is to listen to.
The first piece of classical music I ever listened to
The first piece of classical music I ever heard was Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, and for good reason: it brilliantly introduces kids to the instruments of the orchestra. My sister and I would pretend to be Peter and the Wolf, and once in a reenactment, I even broke my collarbone! The piece sparked my interest in classical music and also taught me how to listen to music: looking for characters, colors, and motifs hidden in melodies.
About Dana
Dana Sparling is a Junior at Camas High School. She was first drawn to the flute when she decided she wanted to be a snake charmer in first grade. Reminiscing on her childhood quirk, she chose to pick up the flute and clarinet for middle school band, and ultimately stuck with the flute. Dana is now a flutist, piccolo player, and saxophonist with a love for both classical and jazz traditions. She plays with MYS’s Symphony Orchestra, MYS’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and in Portland Youth Philharmonic. In school, Dana plays for as many ensembles as time allows, from the choir to the zero-period jazz band. She volunteers with 45th Parallel Universe and busks at farmers markets, and participates in honor bands such as the Western International Band Clinic (where she served as principal) and All-State/All-NW on an annual basis. Outside of music, she enjoys photography, writing, taking care of her ducks, and traveling.