3. TIE: Juilliard School + Curtis Institute of Music – New York, NY
Notable Faculty (Juilliard): Carol Wincenc, Jeffrey Khaner, Sandra Miller, Robert Langevin
Notable Faculty (Curtis): Jeffrey Khaner
Teaching traditional flute repertoire while embracing contemporary music is not always a simple task, however Jeffrey Khaner of the Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, and the Philadelphia Orchestra does exactly that. Having recorded works by some of the most pre-eminent composers of the 20th and 21st centuries, Jeffrey Khaner’s technical capabilities draw upon the complete spectrum of flute technique, making him an ideal choice for an aspiring flutist of either conservative or modern tastes.
Flutist Carol Wincenc repeatedly has proven herself as a foremost pedagogue of flute performance, having had myriads of students winning an exceptionally wide range of prizes at the top woodwind and chamber music competitions in the world. Other flutists on the faculty include Sandra Miller, who is a noted interpreter of Baroque and historical styles, as well as Robert Langevin, a Canadian classical virtuoso who is currently the principal flutist of the New York Philharmonic.
Listen to the Faculty: Check Out Carol Wincenc Performing Christopher Rouse’s Beautiful Flute Concerto
2. Rice University Shepherd School of Music – Houston, TX
Notable Faculty: Leone Buyse
Along with Jeanne Baxtresser, Leone Buyse is widely regarded as one of the most heralded, successful, and sought-after teachers, having previously been a faculty member at a number of top institutions, including the University of Michigan, the New England Conservatory, and the Tanglewood Music Center. Her track record for sending students to top orchestral flute positions is undeniably incredible, as her flute students have achieved success in the symphonic orchestras of Boston, Cleveland, San Francisco, Houston, and St. Louis, among dozens of others. Considered one of the most selective flute studios in the nation, Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music has only one flute teacher on the faculty, meaning the entire studio of flutists at this school is kept to a very selective minimum.
1. Carnegie Mellon University- Pittsburgh, PA
Notable Faculty: Jeanne Baxtresser, Alberto Almarza, Stephen Schultz
Possibly the most sought-after flute teacher at the university level, Jeanne Baxtresser has published one of the most significant contributions to flute education, Orchestral Excerpts for Flute with Piano Accompaniment (Theodore Presser). Her pupils have secured positions at the most significant orchestras in America, Europe, and Asia, and Professor Baxtresser herself has served as the principal flutist of three orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic.
Additionally, the faculty also boasts the talents of one of the top flutists in the nation, Alberto Almarza, who is a noted commissioner and champion of new classical music styles. Stephen Schultz is a baroque flute specialist and considered one of the finest in this practice throughout the world.
Check Out the Faculty: As mentioned above, here’s a copy of Baxtresser’s seminal and widely used flute text Orchestral Excerpts for Flute
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