musician
Musical Triple Threat
Allison Loggins-�ull composes , produces , and performs at venues including the Cleveland Orchestra
WRI��EN �� ���IA �A�TIN
If the odds of being employed as a flutist are long , then the chances of becoming a “ powerhouse ” flutist who performs , composes and produces music are probably infinitesimal . Toss inthe additional hurdles ofbeing awoman and Black , and the idea sounds like pure fantasy .
But Allison Loggins-�ull , who checks all those boxes , has become that unlikely powerhouse , per The ���h����o� �o�� , and , at age �0 , seems to just be hitting her stride . Co-founder of the band Flutronix , which The ���� ��ree� �o�r��� said has “ redefined the flute ,” she ’ s had seven world premieres of original compositions and is starting an unprecedented three-year stint as composer-in-residence with the Cleveland Orchestra . She helped pop sensation Lizzo produce her opening show at the 2020 �rammy Awards ; was co-principal flutist on the soundtrack to Disney ’ s2019 remake of The ��o� ���� , and co-produced the album ���� d������ , nominated for a2020 �rammy for Best World Music Album . She composed her first movie score for �r��� The� ��c� , a2019 award-winning documentary about dancer Maurice �ines .
EPIP�ANY IN ��E S��OOL �AND
Despite her prodigious accomplishments , Loggins-�ull got alate start in music . �rowing up in Chicago , her musical education consisted of hearing the jazz and classical albums played by
T�E �E��O��E� Allison Loggins-�ull plays with Flutroni� , the band she co-founded , at �he Arts Club of Chicago in ���� .
her father , who had no musical training and supported his wife and daughter by doing odd jobs . One album inparticular made an impression on her : The R��e o� ��r��� by flutist �ubert Laws , inwhich the musician performs jazz interpretations of classical compositions .“ My dad would play italot ; Istill remember really , really loving the sound of the flute ,” she says .
But it wasn ’ t until she moved to Poughkeepsie infifth grade and joined the school band that she finally got her hands on an instrument . She quickly took to the flute .“ Iplayed by ear and was super , super curious about learning to read music ,” she says .“ My parents never had to push me to practice . Itwas all self-directed .”
Private lessons didn ’ t start until high school —“ late in my world ,” she says — when she began going to The New School ’ s Mannes College of Music on weekends .“ It was very exciting ; I ’ d never been surrounded by so many peers as interested in music as Iwas ,” she says .“ But it was also scary . Irealized Ihad alot of catching up to do , and some bad habits to unlearn .”
Saturdays during 11th and 12th grades were spent studying musical theory and being drilled in scales and technique by ateacher named Mary Barto who “ really lit afire under my ass ,” says Loggins-�ull . “ I practiced all the time and worked really hard . Iknew atthat point Iwanted to be amusician .”
COUR�ES� OF SARA� ELI�A�E��
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SPRING 2023 MONTCLAIR MAGAZINE