Longtime symphony flute star from Tempe reconnects with his roots

Tempe resident Joe Corral has played flute in the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra for 42 years and is used to guiding high school students who take private lessons, but he recently connected with some of his own teachers who helped him along the way.

"Joe Corral is my claim to fame," said Rose Duarte, who taught freshman English at Ray High School in Kearny, Ariz. where Corral graduated in 1963.

Duarte, a native of Superior, was at the school for three years. She later taught in the Kyrene Elementary School district and at McClintock High School, and now lives in Tempe.

Corral and Duarte reconnected after running into each other at LA Fitness in Tempe several years ago.

"She was a really good teacher and also strict. I was afraid of her," Corral said. "When I visited Canada, I had a friend proofread the postcard I sent to her."

Duarte's husband, Joe, a science teacher, played music with Corral's father.

"Rose Duarte said she was impressed with the future symphony player's dependability, leadership and determination as a youth.

"Fortunately, he made some really good decisions," she said. "It also helped that he came from a good family."

Corral's parents, Amanda, 86, and Pepe, who died in 1999, encouraged singing and playing instruments.

Corral got experience playing in grade school as well as high school because some of the younger players were recruited to help out in the small high school marching band.

"I marched for three years in grade school, then high school and then the ASU marching band and played in the high school concert band," he said. "By the time I was finishing college, I knew I wanted to be a musician."

His ticket to college was attendance at Arizona State University's summer music camp where he met Ed Putnik, the former principal flutist for the symphony. Putnik arranged a band scholarship.

And then there was what can only be called Corral's big break.

"My flute teacher told me there was an opening in the symphony and encouraged me to audition," he said. "About two months later, the conductor himself, Guy Taylor, called and in an authoritative voice asked me if I was still interested in the flute position and if I would like to go play for him."

Corral's CD Groovin' Higher is available for $12.95 plus $2 for shipping at www.joecorral.com. He also may be contacted through the Web site to arrange private lessons.