Dr. Laurel Swinden joins Laurier as Flute Faculty

Aug. 26, 2021

The Faculty of Music is pleased to welcome Laurel Swinden to the position of Flute Contract Academic Faculty. Laurel brings her extensive experience as a performer and pedagogue to Laurier’s flute studio.

Dr. Swinden’s past positions include Visiting Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Nebraska Omaha, and adjunct Assistant Professor at Western University. Laurel earned her DMA as a Fellowship recipient at the University of Toronto, where she studied with Toronto Symphony Orchestra Principal Flute emeritus Nora Shulman, and traverso with Alison Melville. She also holds a BMus and MMus from University of Western Ontario in addition to a Graduate Diploma in Arts Leadership and Management from Queens University. With funding from an Ontario Arts Council Chalmers Fund grant, Laurel studied at the Harid Conservatory in their Professional Performance Studies program.

“We are delighted that Laurel is joining us and excited about what she brings to our community,” says Cynthia Johnston Turner, dean of the Faculty of Music.”

Laurel is a Winds Examiner for the Royal Conservatory of Music and Glenn Gould Professional School, and adjudicates at festivals across North and South America.

Dr. Swinden has performed and taught masterclasses in Peru, Belgium, Argentina, China and the United States. With the Flute New Music Consortium, Laurel co-commissions and premieres new works for flute. Dr. Swinden’s critically acclaimed recordings Celebrating Women! and Celebrating Canadian Women! with duo partner Stephanie Mara promote works for flute by women composers.

As a performance scholar, Laurel has presented and premiered at conferences of the College Music Society (International and Regional), Canadian Flute Convention, National (US) Flute Association, Festivales Internationales de Flautistas and the International Festival of Books and Arts. Laurel has performed with orchestras across Ontario and has appeared with the Memphis Symphony, Mississippi Symphony, Symphony of the Americas and New World Symphony. Dr. Swinden performs on a 14K rose gold Burkhart flute and handmade Burkhart piccolo.

“I’m thrilled to be joining the Laurier Music faculty,” says Dr. Swinden. “Laurier’s reputation for outstanding undergraduate education, makes it an exceptional destination for flute students aspiring to the highest artistic and musical standards. I’m tremendously excited to support the Laurier flute community in advancing their goals.”

For more information about how to apply to Laurier’s Bachelor of Music and Flute Studio or to book a trial lesson with Laurel Swinden email choosemusic@wlu.ca.