Compiling a list of the best flute players in the world was straightforward. As with many of our Top 10s, however, the hard part lies in the order of those names.
While the flutist had to be among the most skilled, we also took into consideration their levels of creativity, their techniques, and their contributions to keeping this instrument live in the public mind, much like we did in our Best Harmonica Players of All Time list.
Being stuck with only 10 slots to fill was hard, which is why we added several runners-up, as well as a list of honorable mentions too, so if you don’t see your pick for best flautist, keep looking further down. Let’s go ahead and jump into the list of the best flute players in the world…
#10 – Matt Molloy
Associated Acts: The Chieftains, Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Bothy Band
Matt Molloy has had a long and illustrious career, which started when he was very young. Molloy was born Irish into a community that produces some of the best flutists in the world. At just 19 years old, he won the All-Ireland Flute Championship, which led him to be thought of as one of the most talented Irish flute players ever.
In the 1970s, he joined the Bothy Band and stayed on to be a part of their successor, the re-founded Planxty, the Irish folk band known for making Irish folk music popular. Throughout his career, Molloy has worked with quite a few top musicians, including the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
Trivia: Not only is Molloy a talented flutist, but he also dabbled in a bit of acting throughout his career. You can view him in a few Irish films such as “An Eviction Notice,” “Celtic Tides,” and “An Irish Evening: Live and the Grand Opera House.” He is also the owner of a Pub in Westport on Bridge Street that features live Irish music.
#9 – Emmanuel Pahud
Associated Acts: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra
Emmanuel Pahud is a Franco-Swiss flute player. He is known most for his classical and baroque style of playing. His family were not musical, and he found his love for flute music living in Italy. Pahud studied the flute from age four until 22 under prominent musicians such as Carlos Bruneel and Aurele Nicolet.
In 1992, he joined the Berlin Philharmonic as the youngest flute player ever; today, he shares the principal flute position with Mathieu Dufour. He is a self-proclaimed musical chameleon and boasts that he does not represent a particular style; rather, he chooses to adapt to any style he is given.
His creativity and flexibility, not to mention his talent and dedication, has made him one of the few and rare young modern players on this list of best flute players in the world.
Trivia: The first flute Pahud ever played was a silver-plated Yamaha. He spent a lot of his childhood traveling around the world, which helped him discover the many sounds of the flute and opened up a world of musical greatness.
#8 – Julius Baker
Associated Acts: Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra
Under the tutelage of his Russian immigrant father, Julius Baker has been playing the flute since he was nine years old. He also benefited from the teachings of August Caputo and Robert Morris before attending the Eastman School of Music under the wing of Leonardo De Lorenzo.
Upon completing his studies, Baker scored the position of second flute in the Cleveland Orchestra, one of the best orchestras in the world, then leveraged his experience there to earn a principal flute tenure in the New York Philharmonic.
Baker was a huge fan of chamber music and helped found the Bach Aria Group. He had a prominent career as a professor at Juilliard, Curtis Institute of Music, and Carnegie Mellon. When he wasn’t in the classroom, Baker produced a handful of flute albums. Many consider his music the most beautiful they have ever heard.
Trivia: Julius Baker took part in scoring major films such as “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Lovesick.” He also loved electronics and considered himself to be an amateur ham radio operator. He enjoyed building audio equipment and taping his solo recordings early in his career.
#7 – Robert Dick
Associated Acts: Creative Associates, New York Philharmonic Orchestra
A prominent flutist, teacher, author, and composer, Robert Dick is also known as the inventor of the “glissando headjoint.” As seen in the above shot, it is a custom-style flute head that acts in a similar way to a guitar’s whammy bar.
Robert began playing the flute in the fourth grade and studied under many prominent musicians, including Julius Baker, mentioned above. After finishing school, Dick moved to Buffalo, New York, to join the Creative Associates. During that time, he wrote a second book and developed himself as a top-tier composer. Dick’s genres include classical, jazz, contemporary jazz, and also “free improvisation,” which probably served as motivation to create the glissando headjoint.
Dick continues to work as a soloist, developer, and composer. He splits his time between New York and Kassel, Germany, performing his own music and spending time with his family.
Trivia: He won the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association in 2014. His work has been recognized by a Guggenheim Fellowship, NEA Composers Fellowships, and a Koussevitzky Foundation Commission. He has produced more than 20 albums and appeared in many other guest recordings.
#6 – Bobbi Humphrey
Associated Acts: Blue Note Records
Born Barbara Ann Humphrey, Bobbi Humphrey is a well-known American flutist who excels at jazz fusion, soul-jazz, and funk. After studying at Texas Southern University and Southern Methodist University, she moved to New York and jumped straight into her career. She signed under George Butler at Blue Note Records and would record with many prominent artists throughout her musical career. These associations would only help develop her own reputation and introduce her to more and more listeners. One of her most notable recordings was Blacks and Blues with the Mizell Brothers.
However, Bobbi’s efforts with Blue Note did not bring the sort of financial rewards she desired, and so, in 1977, she shifted her focus to the business side of the music industry. Through this, she created the Bobbi Humphrey Music Company and even signed an agreement with Warner Bros.
Trivia: She was the first female flutist to be signed by Blue Note. While at Southern Methodist, she was approached by Dizzy Gillespie, who advised her to move to New York to become a musician. Throughout her career, Humphrey has played with Duke Ellington and George Benson.
#5 – Marcel Moyse
Associated Acts: Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire
Marcel Moyse was a well-known French flutist in his time. In the early 1900s, he moved to Paris to live with his uncle, Joseph Moyse, where he learned what the life of a professional musician was like.
Joseph Moyse bought Marcel a flute and enrolled him in daily sessions of extensive practice sessions. Marcel Moyse met Adolphe Hennebains and became his pupil, who began his career.
After one year of training, Marcel was granted the achievement of performing a piece by Philippe Gaubert with the Paris Conservatoire. By 1936, Moyse had a very successful career. He traveled all over the world and performed in all major cities, including many appearances in London.
Trivia: He was one of the only flutists in history to qualify for a first prize after one year of training at the Conservatoire. He was also a founder of the Marlboro Music School and festival, where he taught students how to make music, not how to play the flute.
#4 – Jeanne Baxtresser
Associated Acts: New York Philharmonic
Jeanne Baxtresser is an American teacher and flutist. Her mother was a top concert pianist, so she grew up surrounded by music. At ten years old, she began to play the flute and immediately took a liking to it.
She studied under Emil Opava of the Minnesota Orchestra. She also studied under Gary Sigurdson at the Interlochen National Music Camp and Academy.
At 14, she made her first appearance in the Minnesota Orchestra. After that, she went to Julliard and studied under Julius Baker and many other prominent flutists. She went on to become the first female principal flute of the New York Philharmonic and was featured in more than fifty solos.
Trivia: Before the flute, Jeanne tried her hand at the piano but noted that it was a complete disaster and quickly moved on. She has won the Nation Flute Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the flute world. She also received the distinguished “University Professor” position at Carnegie Mellon.
#3 – Jean-Pierre Rampal
Associated Acts: Paris Opera, Ensemble Baroque de Paris
Jean-Pierre Rampal was a French flute player known for returning the flute to its popularity as a solo classical instrument for the first time since the 18th century. He was the son of a flute teacher, but his parents initially wanted him to become a doctor and sent him to medical school.
He began studying the flute at the Paris Conservatory and won its competition. He started his career after the war in the Vichy Opera and became the first flute in the Paris Opera. Not only did Rampal found the French Wind Quintet, but he also edited Baroque music and taught.
He is most admired for his authentic approach to 18th-century music through his mastery of tonal nuance and articulated tone. As far as raw skill goes, Rampal is definitely one of the best flute players, period.
Trivia: He published an autobiography titled Music, My Love, in 1989. Top musicians Andre Jolivet and Francis Poulenc also composed musical works for him. Sheryl Cohen created the Rampal School to study his methods and influences.
#2 – Georges Barrere
Associated Acts: Modern Society for Wind Instruments, New York Symphony Orchestra
Georges Barrere was born the son of a cabinetmaker and a farmer’s daughter. He did not come from a musical family. He began taking music lessons after following the band from local school Ecole Drouet around the streets of town playing his penny-whistle. The band encouraged him and pushed Georges to take music lessons in Paris.
He was originally rejected by the Paris Conservatory, but after studying under Joseph-Henri Altes for some time, he was accepted at 14 years old.
When he was seventeen, Georges began playing in the orchestra at Folies Bergere. Once he was done with his studies, Barrere created the Modern Society for Wind Instruments and began teaching young up-and-coming musicians.
Trivia: He founded the Barrere Ensemble in 1910 and expanded it into the Barrere Little Symphony in 1914. This made the flute more well known as an important solo instrument.
#1 – Sir James Galway
Associated Acts: London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
James Galway is an Irish flutist known for his ability to bridge and blend classical, folk, and other musical traditions together. He is also known for his showmanship, stage presence, and a golden flute.
He began playing the flute at a young age and obtained most of his training through his father and grandfather performing with local bands. He won all three solos in Ireland’s National Flute Championships at ten years old. He studied under Jean-Pierre Rampal and Gaston Crunelle at the Paris Conservatory, along with some private training from Marcel Moyse.
Galway is praised for his technique, remarkable range, and emotional depth as a solo artist. He also enjoyed playing traditional Irish music and collaborated with the Irish group the Chieftains and the Celtic Minstrel. James Galway is also the president of the charity Flutewise, which is a foundation that supports young flutists worldwide.
Trivia: Galway has gotten many awards for his contributions to music. He was given the title Officer of the Order of the British Empire and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2001. In 2014, he was granted the Gramophone Lifetime Achievement Award.
Runners-Up: Who’s Almost One of the Best Flute Players of All Time?
Ian Anderson
Associated Acts: Jethro Tull
Ian Anderson is known worldwide as a rock music flute player and vocalist behind Jethro Tull. Anderson was not born into music, but after finishing traditional schooling, he moved on to study fine arts before trying his hand at a career in music.
Ian Anderson is most widely known as the man who brought the flute into the world of rock music. He pioneered rock genres of flute playing. Anderson also plays ethnic flutes and instrumental bits along with acoustic sounds.
In recent years, Anderson has separated from the band and focuses more on a solo career while appearing in orchestras, acoustic shows, and other string quartets.
Trivia: Anderson has never taken a driver’s test and does not own a car. He has a few motorcycles for off-road competition. He also has a keen interest in protecting wild cats that have been rescued from captivity.
Herbie Mann
Associated Acts: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Cissy Houston
Herbie Mann is known as the man who made the flute a popular jazz instrument and introduced many other culture’s music into American jazz. He began playing the clarinet at nine years old, and began his career on the tenor saxophone. He started focusing on the flute in the 1950s and became one of the first musicians to introduce the flute into the world of Jazz.
In the 1960s, Mann started incorporating Brazilian music into his Jazz works by recording music with Antonio Carlos Jobim and Sergio Mendes. Later, he started incorporating African, Middle Eastern, and Japanese elements into his jazz music as well.
Mann is also known for working with young musicians throughout his career who later became stars such as Chick Corea (one of the best keyboard players in the world) and Roy Ayers. One of his last albums was a collaboration with saxophone player Phil Woods.
Trivia: He had a big hit single titled “Hijack” that lived as a Billboard #1 dance song in 1975. In 1969, he founded Embryo Records. His music was not loved by everyone at first, and many refused to recognize him as an artist until he began rising in popularity through the course of his career.
Jasmine Choi
Associated Acts: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Vienna Symphony
Jasmine Choi is an original native of Korea and is a chamber musician, orchestral musician, and solo flutist. She is most known for her ability to combine rich tones, charisma, technicality, and perfect musicianship. She was given the title Associate Principal Flute of the Cincinnati Symphony at the age of 22 and is the first Korean player to hold a major orchestral post in the United States.
Choi was nominated as one of America’s Emerging Artists many times throughout her career. She began her music career playing the violin and piano but switched to the flute at nine years old. She began her solo career at fourteen in Korea and is a national sensation.
Choi came to America at sixteen and studied under Julius Baker and Jeffrey Khaner. She was the last student Baker taught before his passing. Later, Choi moved to Austria, though her most memorable time in the spotlight was arguably her post in the Cincinnati Symphony.
Trivia: As a musical student, Choi won the senior division of the Albert M. Greenfield Student Competition run by the Philadelphia Orchestra. She was listed in 2006 as one of the emerging flutists by Symphony Magazine.
Greg Pattillo
Associated Acts: Project Trio, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra
Greg Pattillo is an American musician from Seattle who is known for his beatboxing flute music. He is known as the best in the world for the music he creates. To be fair, the unique sound isn’t easy to replicate, which means Pattillo practically dominates his field.
Pattillo studied under Joshua Smith, the principal flutist of the Cleveland Orchestra at the Cleveland Institute of Music. Pattillo is also a composer who combines elements of hip hop and jazz into his flute music.
The bulk of his musical career is in performing as a freelance and solo flute player. He is the flutist of musical group PROJECT Trio, which is a chamber music group in New York. But Pattillo’s projects also include flute music for films like LEGO Ninjago, with a handful of his tunes serving as part of the official soundtrack.
Trivia: Pattillo appeared on an episode of iCarly on Nickelodeon as Sam Puckett’s cousin. He also has recordings on iCarly.com. Pattillo also made an appearance on Lily Allen and Friends on BBC Three.
Honorable Mentions for the Best Flute Players in the World
- Andrea Griminelli (English Chamber Orchestra)
- Gareth Davies (London Symphony Orchestra)
- Claire Chase (Professor of the Practice at Harvard)
- Katherine Bryan (Royal Scottish National Orchestra)
- Trevor Wye (Professor at the Royal Northern College of Music)
- Karl Heinz Schutz (Wiener Philharmoniker)
- Jean Ferrandis (Professor of Flute at l’École Normale)
- Ray Thomas (Moody Blues)
- Nestor Torres (Guest Artist at Florida International University)
- Kevin Crawford (Lunasa)
Since the flute is a very vocal instrument, we figure you might enjoy the adventure of finding out who the best singers of all time are, too. Thanks for sticking with us all the way through the list of the best flute players in the world!
Top 10 Flute Players in the World (2023 Update)
| Rank | Flute Player | Associated Act |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir James Galway | London Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 2 | Georges Barrere | Modern Society For Wind Instruments, New York Symphony Orchestra |
| 3 | Jean-Pierre Rampal | Paris Opera, Ensemble Baroque De Paris |
| 4 | Jeanne Baxtresser | New York Philharmonic |
| 5 | Marcel Moyse | Orchestre De La Societe Des Concerts Du Conservatoire |
| 6 | Bobbi Humphrey | Blue Note Records |
| 7 | Robert Dick | Creative Associates, New York Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 8 | Julius Baker | Chicago Symphony Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 9 | Emmanuel Pahud | Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra |
| 10 | Matt Molloy | The Chieftains, Irish Chamber Orchestra, The Bothy Band |