Welcome to the website for the flute studio of Northwestern University.
The flute studio at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music is a welcoming, supportive and diverse group of flutists from across the nation and abroad. There is an average of twenty-one flutists in the studio, with roughly a third of the members working at the graduate level. 
Each member of the flute studio has the opportunity to work with Jennifer Gunn, piccolo player of the Chicago Symphony, and Alyce Johnson, piccolo player of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. As Lecturers in Piccolo Studies, both Professors Gunn and Johnson are on campus several times per quarter to work with all members of the flute studio throughout the year. During the weekly Studio Class, each student has the opportunity to perform in a group setting, as well as work with guest artists and lecturers. In addition, students can elect to take the Flute Orchestral Excerpt Class that is offered throughout the year, providing members of the studio interested in an orchestral career the opportunity to study in detail the orchestral repertoire.
The size of the Bienen School flute studio allows for rotation between the school’s various ensembles each quarter, with each offering different performance opportunities. The major ensembles include (click on each to see more):
- Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra
- Symphonic Wind Ensemble
- Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra
- Symphonic Band
- Contemporary Music Ensemble
- Baroque Music Ensemble
To hear recordings of some performances by these ensembles, visit the Davee Media Library.
The Bienen School of Music offers various music degrees ranging from Bachelor’s to Doctorate. Members of the flute studio at the undergraduate level can also choose a dual or double degree in performance as well as another subject, ranging from music education, chemistry, psychology, computer science, and more.
Life in Evanston and Chicago offers many educational, cultural and professional opportunities. The campus of Northwestern University, situated on the shores of Lake Michigan, is within thirty minutes of downtown Chicago, but is also in easy walking distance to area parks, beaches, and downtown Evanston. The city of Evanston is home to 75,000 people, and offers many cafes, ethnic restaurants, Big Ten Sports, eclectic shopping, as well as a large farmer’s market in the spring, summer, and fall. Many students, both undergraduate and graduate, choose to live off campus throughout Evanston.
Located just outside of Chicago, Northwestern is in the perfect location to access the rich cultural and entertainment opportunities of the city, while still enjoying life on a suburban campus. Students can easily take the train into Chicago to attend performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and the many chamber music groups performing across the city, often for fantastic student discount prices. There is much that living close to Chicago has to offer, including museums, the Magnificent Mile, and more. Please see the Links section of our website to access additional websites for visiting and living in Chicago and Evanston, as well as resources for anyone interested in following the music community at the Bienen School of Music.