Laurel Swinden

I have a DMA in Flute Performance from the University of Toronto, where I studied with Nora Shulman, Principal Flute emeritus of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. I also studied traverso with Alison Melville and at the Tafelmusik Summer Institute. My dissertation focused on eighteenth-century Scottish music for flute.

My teaching experience includes positions teaching flute, chamber music, flute ensemble, flute techniques, music history and music appreciation at the University of Nebraska Omaha, University of Windsor, University of Guelph, Western University and the University of Mississippi. I have taught and performed at festivals in Peru, China, the United States and across Canada.

My performing schedule includes concerts as the Principal Flute of the Stratford Symphony Orchestra, Assistant Principal Flute/Piccolo of the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra and freelance work with orchestras all over Ontario. I have performed with the Memphis Symphony, Kingston Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Musicians of Orchestra London, Oakville Symphony, Mississippi Symphony, Tupelo Symphony and others.

I have two CDs of flute music released: Celebrating Women! and Celebrating Canadian Women!, that I was honoured to record with pianist Stephanie Mara. These were generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts and the Waterloo Regional Arts Council. I also recorded premieres of new Canadian works on the Scarborough Philharmonic’s CD, Canadian Panorama, released in February 2017, funded by FACTOR.

I love all kinds of music; I particularly enjoy playing traditional Irish and Scottish for fun on my copy of an 8-keyed Rudall Rose made by Rod Cameron.