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Week of 31 October 1997 Vol. I, No. 10 Arts Dutch flutist fills chairs at BU and BSO By Judith Sandler The newly appointed principal flutist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Jacques Zoon -- who joined SFA this semester as a teaching associate -- fills a void created when another SFA faculty member, Doriot Anthony Dwyer, retired from the orchestra in the spring of 1990. After years of extensive auditions resulting in at least one resignation and several bruised egos and rejected job offers, BSO personnel and local listeners say that it has been worth the wait. Anthony Fogg, BSO artistic administrator, says he is relieved and delighted with the appointment. "It's wonderful to hear a player of such incredible artistry," he says. "When you listen to him, you realize he's a true artist. There's a magnetism that draws you to him and to the music itself -- you just can't stop listening to him." Local critics concur. The Boston Globe's Richard Dyer recently wrote, "This man is an artist." The Herald's Ellen Pfeifer found that his ". . . playing, with its elegant phrasing and wide range of dynamics, was very beautiful indeed." Zoon (pronounced zone) left his native Holland three years ago to teach at Indiana University's well-known music department. "It felt like a wonderful adventure," he recalls. Indiana approached him and his wife -- cellist Iseut Chuat, who is also a teaching associate at SFA -- about coming to teach soon after Zoon had left the principal flute position with Amsterdam's Concertgebouw Orchestra after six years. Because Indiana offered them teaching and performing opportunities -- as well as the opportunity for adventure -- they decided to take the risk. Jacques Zoon has two new homes: the stage of Symphony Hall (above) and the BU School for the Arts. Photo by Kalman Zabarsky So when the BSO called earlier this year, Zoon and Chuat were happily settled in Indiana. "In Bloomington we had time for both teaching and performing," he says. "It's a great place to live. But in order to play, you had to travel a lot. Here, in addition to performing with the orchestra, I can play chamber music, teach, and be at home. I've been traveling so much over the last 10 years, I want to establish a home. But it was a difficult decision because both directions in life were very tempting. Finally, I think I prefer Boston. And of course, it was a big honor to be asked to play with such a fantastic orchestra." The orchestra is equally excited about playing with Zoon. "He's a very inventive musician and a very special player," says Edwin Barker, BSO principal bass and SFA teaching associate. Richard Ranti, BSO associate principal bassoon and SFA teaching associate, finds that his new colleague's approach and background enrich the orchestral palette while blending well with the ensemble. "The biggest difference from other flutists is that Jacques comes from the European school, so he brings a slightly different angle to his playing. The difference is very subtle. He has a fairly soloistic approach; his playing is quite free and flamboyant." Zoon also hears a difference in orchestral sound. "In the Concertgebouw the winds are very outspoken -- they behave as soloists. At the BSO I feel there is a very refined way of