Who Are Some Famous Flute Players?

In the music world there are many talented and famous flute players. Most share in common a long period of study and great devotion to their craft. Many well known performers studied with or were trained by other renowned flutists. Often, in addition to being performers, they are highly regarded music teachers and write some of their own compositions for the flute. Along with being popular among classical music fans, they are respected by their peers for their contributions to music.

Yossi Arnheim, a principal flutist for the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, was the head of the wind department at the Tel Aviv Mehta School of Music. He often plays solos with the Israel Philharmonic as well as other Israeli orchestras. He has performed internationally in the US and throughout Europe, as well as in Singapore and Brazil. He is especially known for his performances in chamber music. Arnheim founded Sheshbesh in 1997, an ensemble made up of Jewish and Arab musicians that perform classical Middle Eastern music.

Of French and Swiss decent, Emmanuel Pahud began studying the flute at the age of six. He was the principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra for several years and has won many international music competitions. Pahud also taught flute at the Geneva Conservatoire. He gives frequent recitals in Europe, Japan, and the US. He has also performed with other famous flute players in internationally respected orchestras, including the Tokyo Symphony.

Jeanne Baxtresser is solo and principal flutist for the New York Philharmonic. She has also been a member of the Carnegie Melon University faculty and also taught at the New England Conservatory of Music. Her book “Orchestral Excerpts for the Flute” is very popular among other flutists and aspiring musicians. She has performed hundreds of concerts around the world as a soloist and as an orchestra member.

Iranian-born flutist Reza Najfar, who lives in Austria, began his musical studies in Tehran, Iran. In his early training, he studied with such famous flute players as Auréle Nicolet, Sir William Galloway, and Peter Lucas Graf. Najfar has performed in Europe, Japan, Mexico, and other venues. He is also professor for flute at the Tiroler Landeskonservatoriam in Innsbruck, Austria.

Welsh-born Emily Beynon is the principal flute for the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. She studied at the Royal College of Music under Margaret Ogonovsky, and in Paris with Alain Marion. She was elected a fellow of the Royal Academy of Music in London in 2002. Beynon has given performances with the Netherlands, Vienna, English, and Prague Chamber Orchestras. Considered as being among the famous flute players, she also is revered as a dedicated teacher and gives master classes to students around the world.