Pursuing a college degree in flute performance is an essential first step for musicians who wish to have a career playing the woodwind instrument they love.

Enrollment at one of the best flute colleges or conservatories inevitably means exposure to one-on-one instruction, ensemble participation, and diverse musical genres.

One thing to look for in the right college for flute is the faculty. Students who enroll in college for flute performance typically study with the same teacher for all four years of their undergraduate experience in 1-on-1 lessons.

After graduating with a BM (Bachelor’s of Music) in flute performance, flutists often build careers as chamber performers, orchestral musicians, professors, and studio recording artists. 

Here are our picks for 10 of the best flute performance schools in the U.S. 

Remember that these ten schools are a starting point; the most important thing is to find the “right fit” college for you. Plenty of schools beyond these ten could find themselves on a list like this one.

Flute Student
photo via Shutterstock

University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance

The University of Michigan’s Winds & Percussion Department offers a collaborative environment for flute students. Ensembles students can participate in include numerous symphonies, bands, and more.

The school stands out from others on this list with its unique undergraduate degree offerings; in addition to the standard BM or BMA (a bachelor’s of music with more liberal arts classes), undergraduates may pursue a BM in performance for multiple wind instruments, a BM in winds and percussion, or a multidisciplinary BMA.

Students at UMich are quite productive; collectively, students in the music school participate in over 900 performances annually

Opportunities for high school flutists are available through initiatives like the MPulse Flute Institute, a one-week program immersing participants in the study of tone, technique, body awareness, and more.

Amy Porter – a highly accomplished musician, scholar, and UofM flute faculty member – is a dedicated mentor and one of the most sought-after flute teachers in the country.

She leads intensive residencies and offers the popular workshop Anatomy of Sound, which she created to help students cultivate the wellness and mindfulness practices essential to succeeding as a professional musician.

Students of Amy Porter have made their way into top orchestras around the world, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and others.


Manhattan School of Music

Exposing flute students to the realities of professional musicianship is a cornerstone of the MSM curriculum. 

The Windscape in-residence wind quartet, featuring flutist Tara O’Connor, enriches the Manhattan School of Music program through concerts and mentorship. 

Woodwind majors participate in ensembles like Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and Chamber Winds.

Many talented professional flute players got their start in the MSM program under the guidance of exceptional teachers like O’Connor; they have gone on to hold flute chairs in groups like the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic.

Stewarding MSM flute students since 1986, Woodwind Department Chair Linda Chesis was presented with a President’s Medal for Distinguished Teaching in 2012 and is committed to helping each scholar find their ideal career path. 

Constantly innovating, Chassis recently launched a “Beyond the Excerpts” course that empowers students to become more familiar with orchestral audition material and prepare for auditions in creative ways.


Eastman School of Music

At Eastman, flute students benefit from diverse performance opportunities, including studio classes, solo recitals, and participation in ensembles like orchestras, film music ensembles, and more. 

One interesting fact about Eastman’s woodwind program is that it is home to America’s first wind ensemble, aptly named the Eastman Wind Ensemble

Additionally, students can engage with innovative ensembles like Musica Nova, which exposes students to music arranged by the best modern composers like John Adams and Chaya Czernowin.

Eastman is home to one of the top flute teachers in the world: Bonita Boyd, the youngest person in the U.S. to hold both a major academic appointment and an orchestral chair. 

Her performance history is marked by top accolades, including a Fulbright Grant, consideration for a Grammy Award nomination, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association, an organization she once led as President.


Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University

The Peabody Institute offers numerous options for undergraduate flute students.

Those interested in becoming music teachers can pursue a BM in music education with a concentration in flute, while those setting their sights on a performance-focused career can earn their BM in performance.

Additionally, flute students can also take up a minor in music business, liberal arts, or musicology.

Another offering is the Yong Siew Toh & Peabody Conservatory joint degree, the first of its kind in music education, is one of the most special opportunities for flute students. 

For three semesters, they can study in Singapore and perform as part of the Singapore Symphony. The goal of this program is to help students from both institutions grow their talent in a professional orchestra.

Flute scholars at Johns Hopkins have the privilege of learning from Marina Piccinini – a 36th-generation Shaolin Fighting Monk and the first flutist to win the Avery Fisher Career Grant. 

Piccinini has graced the world’s biggest stages, from Tokyo to Toronto. Equally committed to teaching, she founded her own masterclass series alongside the New World Symphony to support aspiring performers.


Juilliard School

Exceptional faculty members like Jeffrey Khaner and Carol Wincenc guide Juilliard flute students. 

As a Juilliard professor since 2004, Khaner also teaches at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music and the Curtis Institute of Music, two schools that could certainly make this list. 

Khaner is the Principal Flutist of the Philadelphia Orchestra & has helped many students go onto prominent careers in their instrument, including musicians who have secured appointments in major orchestras.

Flutist Carol Wincenc has been a key member of the Juilliard faculty since 1988 and boasts a long record of accolades. 

It is not every day that flute students have the opportunity to work under a mentor like Wincenc, who has performed at Lincoln Center, won a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association, received Fulbright and N.E.A. soloist grants, and been nominated for a Grammy Award!


New England Conservatory of Music

Enrolling in the New England Conservatory of Music promises an “integrative curriculum,” where students take unique classes in performance, composition, and entrepreneurship.

In a course like “Creativity and Manuscripts,” for example, NEC faculty challenge students to analyze Beethoven’s handwriting and notation style to gain deeper insight into his creative process.

Another course, Climate Change and Performance Practicum, students learn about climate science and how to bring awareness of it to audiences around the world.

Other opportunities, like the NEC Intercultural Institute Competition, recognize talented players of all instruments and composers who present their new works.

Students benefit from the teaching of flute faculty members Cynthia Meyers and Paula Robison. Meyers – a former student of Jeffrey Khaner – has performed around the nation, including cities like Omaha, Houston, and Chicago. 

Paula Robison is the first American flute player to win first prize at the Geneva International Competition and has been co-director of the Spoleto Festivals in Italy and Charleston, SC, for over three decades.


University of North Texas College of Music

Performance opportunities abound for flute students at the University of North Texas. 

More than 600 music majors across the brass & woodwind program participate in a range of groups, including the school’s Wind Symphony, Wind Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. 

Many flute scholars opt to play in the always-popular Green Brigade Marching Band, comprised of 400 student musicians who perform for more than 150,000 audience members in a year! 

Flutists with a passion for sports can audition for one of 30 spots on the Basketball Band, while the Volleyball Band accepts 10-15 wind students for annual performances at fall women’s volleyball games.

Accomplished flute talent Terri Sundberg is a distinguished member of the UNT faculty; her resume is punctuated with first-place prizes in competitions worldwide, and she has held principal chair positions in various military bands and orchestras. 

Her recently conceived initiative – the UNT Summer Flute Class Series – has grown to a community of 500 flute players from all walks of life.


Colburn School

Here’s a game-changer that makes a top-tier music degree program accessible to all talented flute players. 

Each enrolled student at the Colburn Conservatory receives a full tuition scholarship, a grant for their room and board, and a meal plan. 

By removing the pressure many undergraduates feel to fund their education, the school empowers students to focus full-heartedly on developing their talent.

All Colburn Conservatory students are designated as performance majors, and all degree offerings highlight applied lessons and participation in orchestra and chamber ensembles. 

As part of the Colburn Chamber Music Society, for example, students engage with guest artists in the week leading up to a concert, where they receive invaluable guidance. 

Flute professor Jim Walker has been on the faculty at Colburn for many years. 

Jim Walker’s students have found work in many of the world’s greatest orchestras, including the National Symphony, Beijing Philharmonic, Phoenix Symphony, and many other appointments.


Northwestern University Bienen School of Music

Northwestern has a long legacy and tradition of helping woodwind students launch careers that land them into major orchestras and ensembles.

The sole flute faculty member at Northwestern is John Thorne, who was previously the Associate Principal of the Houston Symphony for 20 years. 

Since teaching at the school in 2012, Thorne has already numerous students find success in the field, including Bridget Pei, who recently won a position with the Seattle Symphony. Pei joins the flute section alongside another Northwestern alum, Zartouhi Dombourian-Eby.

Northwestern is a tremendous option for both students pursuing music solely, as well as those desiring to major in both music and an academic subject. Students at Bienen can pursue a dual degree with Northwestern’s Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, for example, during their time at Northwestern.


Rice University 

At Rice, mui students can specialize in their flute concentration while obtaining a research university academic experience. The undergraduate and graduate curricula prioritize weekly studio classes, one-on-one lessons, and participation in orchestra, symphony, and chamber roles. 

Many flute students participate in outreach efforts like the Just for U Music Program (JUMP!), which was created to expose older adults and students in underserved schools to the joy and wonder of classical music.

On the flute faculty at Rice, talented performer Marianne Geidigian has recently replaced iconic flute professor Leone Buyse, who retired in 2023. 

A former student of Buyse, Geidigian has performed as Principal Flute with the Boston Pops and the Boston Ballet Orchestra. Her performing can be heard in top-grossing movie scores, like Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan.

Similar Posts