Biography

Hi! My name is Libby and I grew up in Kirkland, Washington and started playing the flute in fifth-grade band. I played in multiple groups through high school, including the Seattle Youth Symphony and I also played the saxophone in jazz band. My first flute teacher was Janeen Bramwell and in high school I took lessons from Zart Dombourian-Eby. My first two years of college were at the University of Idaho studying with Richard Hahn, and I completed my Bachelor’s of Music in Flute Performance at the University of Washington studying with Felix Skowronek. After two years of playing and teaching, I attended Northwestern University to study with the great Walfrid Kujala and received my Master’s of Music in Orchestral Performance. Immediately after graduate school I took a one-year position as Principal Flute with the South Dakota Symphony and Dakota Wind Quintet. A move to Houston, TX led me to a full-time private teaching schedule and freelance work, lessons with Aralee Dorough, and performing in masterclasses. After a short break, I joined the Fort Collins Symphony in Fort Collins, Colorado, and enjoyed my five-year tenure playing inspiring orchestral repertoire and performing the Mozart Flute Concerto in G. My flute became dusty as a need to pay the bills and a career in business took over, and after twenty years my career had evolved into business analytics and software configuration specializing in Salesforce.com, culminating in a position at Amazon. Life took a turn at the start of the pandemic of 2020 and I was delighted to retire from the business world and teach the flute at KAMP Music in Kirkland. KAMP closed in 2024, and I moved my studio to Metropolitan Music. In addition to teaching, I currently spend my time performing with Philharmonia Northwest, working as Orchestra Manager of Philharmonia Northwest, and volunteering.

In addition to music, I love to hike the mountains and beaches of the Pacific Northwest, read books, travel, watch birds, and hang out with my honey Matt McGee.

Resume

Orchestral Positions

Philharmonia Northwest, Seattle, WA. Co-Principal Flute. 2018-present
Seattle Wind Symphony, Seattle, WA. Section Flute. 2018-present
Fort Collins Symphony Orchestra, Fort Collins, CO. Principal Flute. 2001-2006
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, Sioux Falls, SD. Principal Flute. 1997-1998
Northwestern Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Flute & Piccolo. 1996-1997
Bellevue Philharmonic, Bellevue, WA. Piccolo, Third Flute. 1993-1996
Orchestra Seattle, Seattle, WA. Piccolo, Third Flute. 1993-1996
Civic Light Opera, Seattle, WA. Flute. 1995
Washington-Idaho Symphony Orchestra, Pullman, WA. Piccolo, Third Flute. 1991-1992
Seattle Youth Symphony, Seattle, WA. Flute. 1989-1990 (Section), 1992-1993 (Principal)

Substitute/ad-hoc engagements

Colorado Symphony, Denver, CO. Section Flute. 2005-2006
Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra, Cheyenne, CO. Substitute Principal. 2000-2006
Denver Municipal Band, Denver, CO. Principal Flute. 2006
Boulder Philharmonic, Boulder, CO. Section Flute. 2005
The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, The Woodlands, TX. Section Flute. 1998-2000

Other experience

Private Flute Studio, Metropolitan Music Kirkland, 2024 – present
Flute Instructor, Kirkland Academy of Music and Performance, 2021-2024
Board President, Philharmonia Northwest, 2022-present
Soloist and chamber musician, Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church, 2016-present
Soloist, Mozart Concerto in G K. 313, Fort Collins Symphony, 2006
Private Flute Instruction 1994 – 2000
Masterclass Performer, Keith Underwood (1999); Julius Baker (1998)
First Place, Frank & Lu Horsfall/Seattle Flute Society Competition, 1990