Flutist April Clayton and Composer/Pianist Miguel Del Aguila Release Their Debut Duo Album Torrential Raindance (Urtext)

PHYSICAL DIGITAL RELEASE
TBR August 1, 2025 Available at Urtextonline.com 
and all major streaming platforms

SEATTLE, WA (For Release 06.04.25) — Flutist April Clayton and three-time GRAMMY-nominated Uruguayan-American composer/pianist Miguel del Aguila celebrate the release of their debut album as a duo, Torrential Raindance (Urtext). Showcasing the remarkable synergy and confidence these two superb artists share, Torrential Raindance presents a cinematic musical journey of del Aguila’s works written over the past decade. A leading voice in contemporary classical music, del Aguila offers a fresh perspective on the flute-piano repertoire. This ebullient collection showcases his unique ability to blend lyrical themes with nostalgic, rhythmically complex elements of his South American heritage.

Acclaimed for technical proficiency and breathtaking performances, Clayton and her flute beguile audiences around the world with elegance and style. Ever since she commissioned Aguila to write a harp trio work in 2013, she has been a champion of his music. Both artists agree that their connection was immediate and undeniable.

“Our shared musical affinity was reaffirmed on tour where I quickly realized that our connection extended far beyond simply playing side by side. We weren’t just performing together – we were communicating, anticipating each other’s musical gestures with an exceptional intuitive understanding. April’s extraordinary artistry, technical brilliance, and expressive depth made the decision to record this album effortless.”  
— MIGUEL DEL AGUILA, composer/pianist

Torrential Raindance seamlessly flows from Latin rhythms to impressionistic colors, from meditative introspection to playful humor, all building toward the final, life-affirming optimism of Malambo inspired by the dance of the South American gauchos. The album’s opener Piano Rolls Flute symbolizes the laid-back Paraguayan Guarania and upbeat, joyful Latin dances and Tango idioms appearing spontaneous and whimsical. 
 
Two more introverted, lyrical works are: Silencio in honor of the composer’s brother, Nelson del Aguila (1964-2012); and the three-movement Sonata Flautisima loosely following classical sonata form featuring many unusual flute special techniques and exploring the transition of a dark, rainy night to a lively sunny day. The album’s namesake Torrential Raindance was composed during a drought in 2023 in the American Southwest depicting an imagined ritual chant/dance intended to summon much-needed rain. 

About APRIL CLAYTON            
April Clayton is in high demand as a soloist, recording artist, chamber musician, orchestral player and pedagogue. For 22 years, she was Professor of Flute at Brigham Young University. She is currently the Director of Flute Studies at both Utah Valley University and Snow College, on Flute Faculty at the Orpheus Academy in Vienna and the Varna International Music Academy, and serves as Artist in Residence at XIX Seminários Internacionais de Musica at the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil, Holder’s Season Festival in Barbados, Wells Cathedral Concert Series, the Aberystwyth Music Festival in Wales, and at Westminster University. She is also the Artistic Director and Woodwind Studies Chair at the Gifted Music School in Salt Lake City. 

Clayton is flutist with the Aspen Winds, a leading woodwind quintet in the Intermountain West, and the New York-based Hat Trick trio.  She was flutist with the Orpheus Wind Quintet for 22 years. She has performed and toured as guest flutist with the New York Woodwind Quintet. Clayton was formerly Principal Flute and concerto soloist with the New York Lyric Orchestra, and played as Principal Flute with Utah Chamber Artists, Utah Metropolitan Ballet, The Jupiter Symphony, the National Repertory Orchestra, at the Sarasota Music Festival, and many others.

Clayton was a National Merit Scholar at Oberlin College and Conservatory, studying flute performance and mathematics. She subsequently graduated with her B.M. (summa cum laude) and M.M. degrees from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. At The Juilliard School, she was a Starr Doctoral Fellow and the youngest student to have been admitted to the D.M.A. program. AprilClayton.com

About MIGUEL DEL AGUILA                 
Uruguayan-American composer Miguel del Aguila (b. Montevideo, 1957) is a vital force in 20th and 21st-century music. He has written over 140 works that bring new diversity to the contemporary chamber and orchestral repertoire. Over 100 orchestras across the Americas and Europe perform his music, including the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Brandenburgisches Staatsorchester, Royal Concertgebouw, and Los Angeles Chamber Orch, and by the Kiev, Odessa, Heidelberg, Royal Liverpool, Mexico City, Buffalo, Chicago, and Louisiana Philharmonics; the BBC Symphony, Toronto, Nashville, Seattle, Albany, San Antonio, Long Beach, Fort Worth, Santa Barbara, Reykjavik, Caracas, Puerto Rico, and São Paulo Symphonies, among many others. 

A sought-after collaborator and curator, del Aguila is the 2025 Composer in Residence at Lynn University & Philharmonia Orchestra and at Du Vert A L’Infini Festival/PluComp in France. After Composer in Residence positions with Indianapolis Chamber Orch, ISU Contemporary Music Festival, Ensemble Storstrøm Denmark, Orchestra of the Americas, New Mexico Symphony, Fresh Ink, CTSummerfest, Talis, and Chautauqua Festivals; and short residences at Dartmouth College, The Juilliard School, University of Michigan, University of Illinois, Vanderbilt and Lynn Universities. MiguelDelAguila.com
 

 
Track Listings:
1. Piano Rolls Flute (2024) – 10:06 min
2. Torrential Raindance (2023) – 10:10 min
3. Silencio (2014-16) – 9:30 min
4-6. Sonata Flautisima (2018) – 9:30 min
7. Malambo (2018) – 11:30 min
TRT: 50:10
 
CD Release Shows:
Oct 16 University of North Texas, Denton, TX
Oct 19 St. John’s United Methodist Church, Austin, TX