Hailed as “possessing rich, mellow flute playing, lovely lyrical style, and excellent breath control” by ClassicsToday.com, flutist Michelle Matsumune is a fourth generation Californian residing in the Los Angeles area and currently performs as a soloist as well as freelance flutist with other groups throughout Southern California.

 

In the recent past, Michelle has concertized with the woodwind trio Ceora Winds, which released its CD, Postcards, in 2014. Michelle has also released two CDs with Resonance Flute Consort, the award-winning Lights, Camera, Flutes as well as the Christmas CD Flute Tootin' Yule, on which she recorded on flute, alto flute and piccolo. With the flute and harp group Duo Arioso, Michelle released a CD of medieval music, entitled Cantico, to critical acclaim.  

 

She performs as singer and flutist for both the choral group Wagner Ensemble and the Independent Opera Company. As a soloist, Michelle has performed flute concerts in Europe, Mexico, and throughout the United States, and at music festivals in Mexico City and Geneva, Switzerland. She toured as the featured soloist with the Southern California Balinese Gamalan Group, and has worked closely with many contemporary composers including James Tenney, Eugene Kurtz, Adrienne Albert and Nancy Bloomer-Deussen. She is married to composer Mat Matsumune, and has premiered all of his flute works.

​

In 2020, Michelle created FluteWave, a YouTube channel for relaxing and meditative music. FluteWave music is currently featured on the popular meditation app Insight Timer.

 

Michelle studied flute with Peter Lloyd at Indiana University as an undergraduate and received her MFA at California Institute of the Arts with Rachel Rudich. She was Woodwind Coach for the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra for 15 years, and is currently the Flute Coach for the Prelude Symphonic Ensemble, Junior Chamber Music (JCM), Upland High School and Eleanor Roosevelt High School,  flute instructor at the Claremont Community School of Music, and maintains a private teaching studio.