(Tuesday, January 30, 2025, Los Angeles) – The Colburn School announced today that internationally acclaimed flutist Demarre McGill has been appointed Professor of Flute for the Conservatory and Music Academy. He will succeed esteemed performer and educator Jim Walker, who will retire at the conclusion of the semester following 18 years on the Colburn faculty. Mr. Walker was the founding flute faculty member at the Colburn Conservatory in 2007 when the wind program was introduced and has dedicated his career to mentoring and inspiring hundreds of talented flutists.
Principal Flute of the Seattle Symphony, Mr. McGill is a celebrated soloist, chamber musician, and dedicated educator, and has held numerous other principal positions and teaching posts. He will serve on Colburn’s Conservatory and Music Academy faculty for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 school year.
“We are fortunate to have an artist of Demarre’s caliber join us,” said Nate Zeisler, Colburn School Provost. “Performance is a key piece of a Colburn education, and Demarre’s experience will be invaluable to our students as they develop as artists and prepare for professional careers. We look forward to welcoming him to the Colburn community, where he will continue the tradition of excellence established by Mr. Walker, who has dedicated his career to shaping the next generation of musicians with his artistry, wisdom, and passion for teaching.”
Demarre McGill has gained international recognition as one of today’s most compelling flutists, celebrated for his lyrical expressiveness and technical prowess. A recipient of both the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, McGill has appeared as a soloist with many of the nation’s leading orchestras, including the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Grant Park, San Diego, Chicago, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. His captivating performances have earned him critical acclaim and a distinguished place in the world of classical music.
“I am honored and excited to join the faculty at the Colburn School, an institution known for its commitment to artistic excellence and the cultivation of outstanding musicians,” said Mr. McGill. “Working with its talented students, collaborating with its esteemed faculty, and building on an already extraordinary legacy is a true privilege. I look forward to being part of such an inspiring and dynamic environment, helping students refine their artistry and find their version of success.”
McGill has previously held principal flute positions with the Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He has also served as acting principal flute with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
As an educator, Demarre McGill is committed to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of musicians. He has coached and presented master classes in South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Quebec, and throughout the United States. He has served on the faculties of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland, the Orford Music Festival, Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music, Sarasota Music Festival, and the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa. Previously, McGill spent seven years as the Associate Professor of Flute at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and has been a longtime artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival and School since 2017.
About The Colburn School
A performing arts institution located in the heart of Los Angeles, the Colburn School trains students from beginners to those about to embark on professional careers. The academic units of the School provide a complete spectrum of music and dance education united by a single philosophy: that all who desire to study music or dance should have access to top-level instruction.
Each year, more than 2,000 students from around the world come to Colburn to benefit from the renowned faculty, exceptional facilities, and focus on excellence that unites the community.
The Colburn Center, designed by Frank Gehry, is a multi-faceted campus expansion of the Colburn School. Located across the street from the School’s existing campus at the intersection of Olive and Second Streets, the Colburn Center will enable the School to expand its mission of presenting programs for the public. Gehry’s design includes a 1,000-seat in-the-round concert hall named Terri and Jerry Kohl Hall, five professional-sized dance studios including a 100-seat studio theater, and gardens that bring fresh air and green spaces to the downtown landscape. The Colburn School broke ground on the Colburn Center on April 5, 2024. The completed project will join Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall and The Grand complex to create the largest concentration of buildings designed by the architect in the world.
About Demarre McGill
Born in Chicago, Demarre McGill began playing the flute at age seven and later studied with Susan Levitin. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree from The Curtis Institute of Music and a master’s degree from The Juilliard School. A Yamaha Performing Artist, McGill is widely recognized for his expressive virtuosity, magnetic stage presence, and ability to connect deeply with audiences.
As a champion of accessibility, inclusion, and artistic innovation in in classical music, Demarre McGill actively promotes the works of underrepresented composers and engages in projects that highlight diverse cultural perspectives. His extensive media appearances include PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center, A&E Network’s The Gifted Ones, NBC’s Today Show and Nightly News, and a memorable feature on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood alongside his brother, clarinetist Anthony McGill.
Demarre McGill is a founding member of the Myriad Trio and a former member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Bowers Program. He is also the co-founder of Art of Élan, an organization dedicated to innovative and engaging programming. A sought-after chamber musician, he has been a participant in prestigious chamber music festivals such as Santa Fe, Marlboro, Music@Menlo, and Stellenbosch. In 2014, he co-founded the McGill/McHale Trio with Anthony McGill and pianist Michael McHale. Their debut album Portraits received widespread acclaim, as did Winged Creatures, his recording with Anthony McGill and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
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