Hello and welcome! My name is Abigail Walsh and I’m fortunate to live a life in music as a flute soloist, chamber musician, orchestral player, festival director, author, and dedicated teacher.
Currently, I serve as Vice President of the West Michigan Flute Association and Co-Founder and Program Director for the Great Lakes Flute Festival. Recently, I’ve had the opportunity to perform with the West Michigan Symphony, Holland Symphony, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, and the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. I am passionate about music education and innovation, which led me to write “Plugged In: Practice and Performance Method for Flutists,” an award-winning method book that integrates free electronic tools to enhance musicianship on the flute. You can find it available through Conway Publications. My latest album features recordings from the delay studies in the method.
After completing my graduate studies, I spent twelve years as a full-time academic. I served as the Visiting Professor of Flute/Music at Grand Valley State University from 2020 to 2024 and as the Applied Music Specialist at the University of Illinois Springfield from 2012 to 2020. During this time, I taught flute lessons, and classes in flute performance, pedagogy, chamber music, and a range of academic subjects including western classical art music history, jazz history, flute literature, world music, and rock ‘n’ roll history. I have always been committed to serving the community and fostering a culture of western classical art music wherever I live. Some of my notable contributions include spearheading the UIS Camerata Music Scholarship Chamber Music Program, helping to establish the UIS Community Music School, directing the UIS Flute Festival, and co-founding the Community Engagement Music Project at GVSU, funded by a Pew FTLC Teaching Innovation Grant. I have also had the privilege of teaching as an adjunct flute instructor at Illinois College, the Hartt School, the Hartt School Community Division, and the Ethel Walker School, as well as serving as a flute teaching assistant at the University of Iowa.
I currently teach a small private studio and in the coming year I will launch a flute academy with offerings in-person, online (both synchronous and asynchronous), and in hybrid formats. Sign-up to learn more about lessons, course offerings, and benefits when they become available.
More about me:
University degrees from…
- The Hartt School, Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance
- The Hartt School, Master of Music in flute performance
- University of Iowa, Bachelor of Music in flute performance
Studied with…
- Janet Arms (Hartt, New York City Opera)
- John Wion (Hartt, Former New York City Opera)
- Tamara Thweatt (U of Iowa, Former LA Philharmonic)
- Robert Dick (U of Iowa, Contemporary Specialist)
- Tadeu Coelho (U of Iowa, NC School of the Arts)
- Betty Mang Mather (Former U of Iowa, Baroque Specialist)
- Trevor Wye (Flute Pedagogue, Intensive Summer Masterclasses – 2 years)
- Margaret Linnan Kegel (Private Instructor, Former Director Miyazawa Flutes)
Performed with…
- Illinois Symphony Orchestra
- Peoria Symphony Orchestra
- West Michigan Symphony
- Holland Symphony Orchestra
- Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra
- Hartford Opera Theater
- Grand Rapids Civic Theatre
- Whiting Park Festival Orchestra
- Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra
- Dubuque Symphony Orchestra
- Oskaloosa Symphony Orchestra
- Ottumwa Symphony Orchestra
- Cedar Rapids Municipal Band
As a competitor…
- National Flute Association, Newly Published Music Award, Winner
- CanAmerican Flute Symposium Solo Artist Competition, First Prize
- The American Prize, Professional Instrumental Soloist Division, Finalist
- The American Prize, Ernst Bacon Memorial Award for the performance of American music, Finalist
- National Flute Association Piccolo Artist Competition, Semi-Finalist
- Flute Society of Washington Young Artist Competition, Second Prize
- Emeritus Recording Competition, Second Prize
- National Flute Association Masterclass Performers Competition, Winner
- University of Iowa Concerto Competition, Finalist
As a faculty artist at…
- Engelbach-Hart Music Festival
- UIS Flute Festival
- Composers Alliance of San Antonio
- Flute by the Sea Masterclass
- Five Seasons Chamber Music Festival
- Hartt Summer Flute Intensive
- Western Illinois University Summer Music Institute
As a presenter and performer at…
- National Flute Association Conventions
- Great Lakes Flute Festival
- Florida Flute Festival
- Flute New Music Consortium New Music Festival
- Wisconsin Flute Festival
- Mid-Atlantic Flute Fair
- Iowa Flute Festival
On teaching the flute:
“My passion for performance is matched only by my love of teaching. Every individual is unique, and I adapt my teaching style to each student so they can succeed in playing the flute and being a fine musician. My pedagogical approach to teaching flute emphasizes physical awareness to eliminate tension and fatigue, and create a polished performance. I aim to inspire students to master great control of their instrument. By mastering breathing and finger technique, perfecting air-stream control, paying attention to details in a phrase, and developing sound production the student learns to sing through their flute, learn pieces quickly, and perform with ease and artistry.”