Although each musical instrument has something that sets it apart, the flute is easily recognizable thanks to its energetic personality and versatility. Even if it seems easy to get all those colorful flute sounds, mastering this instrument requires commitment, hard work, and talent, which is why we raise our hat to all the famous flute players who revealed this instrument’s beauty.
The flute has a rich history behind it, and some of the reasons why it has played such an important part throughout the evolution of music include its versatility and the nuances it adds to any performance including it. It is one of the oldest woodwind instruments, and throughout time, it took different shapes.
The flute as we know it today differs in many aspects from its first versions, which were made out of wood. The first metal flute is said to have been invented by Theobald Boehm. Thus, it was in 1830 that the first modern flute was made.
The person who plays the flute is known as a flute player, flautist, and flutist, and, even though rarely, is also called a flutenist. According to various job platforms, a flute player’s average salary is $65,000 – $75,000 in the U.S. However, this may vary from one state to another.
Thankfully, the world has witnessed and been embellished with the performances of many pro flute players, and to show our gratitude to the way they have enchanted our senses and revealed the beauty of this instrument, here is a list of some of the famous flute performers in the world.
James Galway
Considered one of the most famous flute players in history, James Galway is also known as ‘The Man with the Golden Flute’ thanks to his outstanding skills and performances. Galway’s successful career is due to his notable intonation, technique, and sound clarity, which led to many awards, including a knighthood in 2001.
His professional activity includes many collaborations with important symphonic and opera orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. He also performed for world leaders, presidents, and royalty, and his achievements include performances on the soundtrack for the well-known Lord of the Rings.
Galway’s different performances show the flute’s versatility once again, and his skills, talent, and resourcefulness have turned him into one of today’s top flute players.
Jean-Pierre Rampal
The flute stage has also been beautifully shaped by the performances of Jean-Pierre Rampal, a French flutist who revived traditional tunes through novel approaches and thus took this instrument toward a modern path. His journey as a flutist began when he was very young, and it didn’t take long for him to engage in professional performances.
He was only 16 years old when he joined his father in the Marseille Symphony orchestra playing the second flute. His remarkable performances paved the way for a successful career, and he is often referred to as the flutist who resurged this instrument’s popularity.
He rediscovered and performed many flute works that are now standards in the flute repertoire. His skills and talent were highly appreciated, which led to many composers writing music for him. Two such works are The Poem of Charles Tomlinson Griffes and Density 21.5, which contoured new flute approaches.
Georges Barrère
Any list trying to gather famous flutists who contributed to the way this instrument evolved includes Georges Barrère as one of them. The French musician was a professional flute player and also a pioneer in this field, thanks to the way he revolutionized how this instrument was approached.
Barrère was only 14 when he was admitted to the Paris conservatoire. His talent and skills led to his performances as a professional flutist in the Concerts Colonnes, which was one of the most important orchestras at that time. He set a standard for how the flute was played, and the way he performed took the flute toward paths that had not been explored before.
Ian Anderson
Even though the flute is just one of the instruments Anderson plays, the musician is included in many lists that gather influential flute players thanks to his skill and the way he approached this instrument. Ian Anderson is best known for his activity as a lead vocalist and flute player of the British rock band, Jethro Tull.
The musician is also a singer and songwriter, and his solo discography includes multiple live and studio albums. His approaches and performances have placed him among the best flute players outside the classical tradition. Anderson, like other great flute players, has revealed the beauty and versatility of this instrument through his talent, skills, and performances.
Herbie Mann
When it comes to famous jazz flute players, Herbie Mann holds a top place thanks to the way he played this instrument and included it in new music genres. The musician explored and played other instruments as well, including the tenor saxophone and bass clarinet, and approached music in novel ways by combining Brazilian and African rhythms in his works.
He embraced what is called the groove approach in his professional activity, and his skills and talent led to many collaborations with important musicians of the seventies. His single, Hijack, was a great success and a Billboard no.1 hit three weeks in a row.
Jeanne Baxtresser
One of the most famous female flute players, Jeanne Baxtresser has taken the flute to new levels of beauty and success and revealed the instrument’s versatility and sonic capacities through her noteworthy performances.
The musician made her debut with the Minnesota Orchestra when she was 14 years old. Her professional activity includes collaborations with many important orchestras, such as the Montreal Symphony, the Toronto Symphony, and the Toronto Symphony. With the latter, she worked as the principal flute player for 15 years.
Baxtresser took her passion for this instrument one step further as she is also an educator. Her skills as an educator have helped many of her students become principal flutists in some of the world’s most important orchestras. Plus, many students use her works as standards in the flute repertoire as her discography includes many notable solo and chamber music recordings.
Barbara Ann “Bobbi” Humphrey
Regarded as one of the most important female jazz flute players, Bobbi Humphrey has shaped the way flute jazz has evolved through her innovative playing approaches. The way she used this instrument’s sonic beauty to play jazz has earned her a top place among the best flute players in the world and contoured her successful career.
Her impressive discography includes 12 solo albums, and she had collaborations with other important musicians, such as Lee Morgan and Stevie Wonder. Her performances gathered large audiences worldwide and contributed to the flute’s popularity as a part of this music genre.
Matt Molloy
Another male flute player who used his skills, resourcefulness, and talent to show a new side of this versatile instrument is Matt Molloy, a Scottish musician who engaged in performances that have garnered great appreciation and turned him into one of the most influential flutists.
He won the All Ireland Flute Championship when he was only 19, which paved the way for a successful career as a flutist. He had many important collaborations, such as the one with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and he released several albums.
One of the things that make him stand out is his unique playing style. Molloy applies energetic piping techniques to this instrument, which shows not only his creativity and dexterity but also the resourceful personality of this instrument when played by a skilled and inspired musician.
Robert Dick
A flute player, composer, and teacher, Robert Dick is also regarded as one of the most influential performers in this field. The eclectic performances he has engaged in have shown his talent and skills as well as the flute’s versatility and richness.
He has played a mix of electronic, jazz, classical, and world music and has done so by embracing new methods of playing this instrument. The glissando headjoint is also a part of Robert Dick’s contribution to the way this instrument is played. The design of this headjoint makes it possible to play the flute in new ways so that players can explore even more.
Sharon Bezaly
Making her debut as a soloist with the Israel Philharmonic and Zubin Mehta when she was only 13, Sharon Bezaly is regarded as one of the most influential figures in the flute world thanks to the way she has explored this instrument and is a favorite among flute music composers as we will see below.
Not long after her debut, BBC Radio 3 said that Bezaly was one of the most important artists of the new generation. Various composers wrote concertos, as well as solo and chamber music for her. Some of them are Kalevi Aho, Sofia Gubaidulina, Anders Hillborg, and José Serebrier.
Her breathing technique has garnered appreciation and added to her success as a skillful flutist. Her discography includes 24 CDs that show the many ways in which this instrument can be played and her mastery of the flute.
William Bennett
William Bennett is also included as a famous flutist in many lists thanks to his vast repertoire and the way he masterfully plays different music genres. His performances include baroque, classical, romantic, as well as contemporary music pieces, which shows his resourcefulness and talent as well as the flute’s versatility.
The wide range of tone colors, the different music genres he has played, and the way he has mastered this instrument have led to several awards and honors. In 2002, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association, and one year later, he was appointed the Flautist Laureate of the British Flute Society.
Emmanuel Pahud
This list would be incomplete without Emmanuel Pahud, a flutist who came to be regarded as one of the best out there due to his flute mastery and talent. He discovered and began studying this instrument when he was only 6, and his career took the path of success as a result of his flute approaches and technical ability.
His talent was acknowledged, and thus his achievements include various awards, as well as important collaborations with international orchestras, such as his activity as the principal flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Pahud is also the first who signed a solo recording contract with EMI Classics.
Jasmine Choi
Today’s remarkable flutists include Jasmine Choi, a Korean-born flute player who studied in the U.S., currently living in Austria, and whose talent and skills have impressed audiences across the globe. She has played both as a soloist and chamber musician and performed in different styles so that we can hear her playing experimental music but also jazz, pop, and classical music.
She played with Vienna Symphony Orchestra, performing as the principal flute, and her discography includes various recordings. The richness of her tone, the way she plays the instrument, and her charismatic presence have earned her a top place among the new generation of flute artists.
Gareth Davies
The flute has been studied and played by many people over the years, but not many have come to master it, which shows that even if it may seem easy to play, it does require talent, hard work, and commitment. Gareth Davies is one of those who succeeded in unlocking the instrument’s beauty through memorable performances.
He was only 23 when he was appointed the principal flutist of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, but that was only the beginning of his success as a flutist. He is currently the principal flute player of the London Symphony Orchestra. He is also a teacher, writer, and presenter.
Aurèle Nicolet
Considered one of the best flute players of the 20th century, Aurèle Nicolet explored this instrument as a performer as well as a teacher. Some of his pupils are Emmanuel Pahud, Irena Grafenauer, Carlos Bruneel, and Jadwiga Kotnowska, to name a few.
Nicolet performed with important orchestras, such as the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, and was awarded the First Prize for flute from the Paris Conservatory when he was 21 and the First Prize at Geneva International Music Competition at 22.
The list could go on as there are many other flutists who have enchanted us with their performances, and it is just a starting point for those of you interested in learning more about the world’s greatest flutists.
