With over
a decade of flute experience, Emily Higgins holds a Bachelor of Music
degree, summa cum laude, from the
Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut.
There she studied with
John Wion, longtime principal flutist of the
New York City Opera, chamber musician, and solo and recording artist.
Her other primary teacher has been Mark Thomas, an international soloist
and founder of the National Flute Association. She has also studied
flute with Kimberly Sopata, Elena Durán, and Patricia George.
At Hartt,
Emily performed with the symphony orchestra, wind ensemble, contemporary
music ensemble, flute choir, and as a member of a wind quintet. She
also studied Alexander Technique, a method of learning to release
unnecessary tension to use the body’s energy to perform effectively.
Her
enthusiasm for new music has led Emily to work with composers Joan
Tower and John Thow in masterclasses. She can also be heard on the
CD "Sapling," a collection of works by composer and fellow Hartt alum
Nicholas Sibicky.
Emily was a performer at the 2004 Manchester Music
Festival’s young artist concert series in Vermont, which featured
only 25 young professional chamber musicians from around the world.
Since returning her hometown of Charlotte, she
performs as a freelance
flutist. With eight years of private teaching experience, she has
also established an active
teaching studio in Charlotte.
