On tour with Paul Simon: Arts Academy flute instructor Nancy Stagnitta reflects on a celebratory journey across America
Stagnitta shares unforgettable moments from the trip, the joy of reinventing iconic songs, and the fresh perspectives she’ll give her students this year.
Paul Simon's band takes a bow after a show on A Quiet Celebration tour. Photo courtesy of Nancy Stagnitta.
Nancy Stagnitta (photo by Tyler Franz).
When Nancy Stagnitta returned to her Interlochen classroom this fall, it was with a full and grateful heart—and plenty of new insights to share with her students. The renowned classical and jazz flutist had spent spring and summer of 2025 on the road for the most extensive tour of her life. Alongside ten other musicians, she’d played in 56 performances across North America to support Paul Simon’s A Quiet Celebration tour, participating in the live debut of his Grammy-nominated album Seven Psalms alongside a celebration of Simon’s timeless classics. For Stagnitta, performing with an American icon was “an extraordinary experience in every way.” We caught up with her for a glimpse into tour life, favorite memories from the road, and reflections on the deep friendships she built along the way.
Reimagining the possibilities
Stagnitta is no stranger to the stage: she’s premiered pieces all across the U.S. and toured in Africa, Europe, and Asia. That being said, A Quiet Celebration challenged her to expand her capacities, both physically and artistically. To begin with, she had to fulfill diverse roles onstage.
“ I played flute, alto flute, piccolo, pan flute, and Peruvian quena flute. I also whistled and sang,” she says.
That wasn’t the only way Stagnitta was challenged musically. Simon’s band is full of creative and passionate people who are always ready to reinvent a song, and Stagnitta had be ready to pivot at a moment’s notice.
“A big priority in Paul’s work is finding just the right sound for any given lyric in his songs,” she said. “There was a lot of reimagining of the songs that we all know for this tour. Our rehearsals were full of discovery and evolution. It was exhilarating. It was a step into a world where I had to be ready for anything—new information, new things to try. I had to be willing to be vulnerable. It took courage, but that’s exactly what opens up the artistic mind.”
Our rehearsals were full of discovery and evolution. It was a step into a world where I had to be ready for anything—new information, new things to try. I had to be willing to be vulnerable. It took courage, but that’s exactly what opens up the artistic mind.
Stagnitta also learned to take care of herself physically. Long days of sound checks and performances demanded quieter mornings and plenty of relaxation. Initially, she thought she’d explore popular destinations in every city on the tour—but her body and her bandmates persuaded her to take time to rest, too.
“I learned so much from the people in the band who've been on the road with Paul or with other artists for decades. They showed me that my days off really needed to be days off. It taught me a lot about what it takes to produce art at that level for that amount of time. You absolutely have to have downtime and time to reflect.”
Stagnitta’s efforts were rewarded with countless memorable experiences. When she took her first step onstage in New Orleans and heard the excitement of the crowd, she knew all the love and effort the band had poured into their work was worth it. Favorite stops on tour included playing to an audience of 7,000 at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia; the beautiful acoustics of the Disney Center in Los Angeles; and the historic beauty of New York’s Beacon Theatre. Whether they were in Nashville or New York, Stagnitta soon began to treasure the show’s opening moments.
“I loved the thrill of coming out on stage, sitting down, and hearing people get preemptively excited,” she says. “And then Paul Simon would walk out. Every time, that eruption of love, respect, and excitement was so wonderful to see.”
Nancy Stagnitta (center) performs alongside Caleb Burhans and Eugene Friesen. Photo courtesy of Nancy Stagnitta.
Creating joy together
While on tour, Stagnitta formed deep connections with her fellow bandmates. The tour consisted of Stagnitta and 10 men (Simon’s wife Edie Brickell also lent her vocals to the lineup on several occasions).
“People have always asked me what it was like to be the only woman in the band,” she says. “I feel like I gained a whole group of new brothers. We all had such a nice time together. I felt really welcomed, because some of these people have played with Paul Simon for 10, 20, 30 years—and in the case of drummer Steve Gadd, 50 years. They were already a family, and I feel like I’m part of that family now.”
The group shared many unforgettable moments while on tour. Stagnitta, alongside Simon, Brickell, and the band, appeared on The Late Show with Steven Colbert. Stagnitta also had the opportunity to record at Nightbird Studios at the Sunset Marquis in Los Angeles with original Graceland bassist Bakhiti Kumalo. The hotel was hosting another famous guest at the time: Ringo Starr was there to celebrate his 85th birthday and had recorded at Nightbird the night before.
Nancy Stagnitta (center) poses with Paul Simon (left) and Edie Brickell (right). Photo courtesy of Nancy Stagnitta.
Drawing from the camaraderie they built and the memories they shared, Simon and the band took it upon themselves to offer their audiences as much positive energy as possible in every show.
“We all felt that the whole point of the tour was to create an experience of joy for Paul, for the audiences, and of course for all of us who were a part of that. It was amazing to be able to combine that gift with incredible musicianship,” says Stagnitta.
Judging by the reviews the tour received, that joy was communicated clearly to every audience who witnessed A Quiet Celebration.
“It had a heavenly feel throughout,” enthused Stage and Cinema, while Milwaukee Sentinel Journal spoke warmly of “Nancy Stagnitta's breathtaking work on flute—tender, lush, but never boastful.”
Looking ahead
As Stagnitta returns to teaching at Interlochen Arts Academy, she does so with rich memories of the tour and new insights to share with her students.
“In my own playing, I always think about the saying ‘no stone unturned,’” she shares. “At this point in my career, both as a performer and as a teacher, that statement has never been more meaningful to me. Paul and my fellow musicians showed me the amount of exploration, the amount of depth that is possible to make great art. It’s absolutely limitless, and it shouldn't be a daunting thing, although it can be to a young player. It should be a really exciting thing that always keeps us inspired.”
Asked if she’d do a similar tour again, Stagnitta responds simply: “Absolutely.”
“ I feel so grateful. It was an extraordinary experience in every way,” she says. “I feel very lucky that I had the great privilege to be part of a historical tour with an American icon, artist, and poet, as well as a great band in front of really exciting audiences.”
