John Thorne Guest Artist

John Thorne is an Associate Professor of Flute at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music. He joined the Bienen School faculty after having been the Associate Principal Flute of the Houston Symphony from 1992 until 2012. Previously, he has held the position of Principal Flute with the San Antonio Symphony and the Florida West Coast Symphony (now called the Sarasota Orchestra). He started his career as a member of the inaugural season of the New World Symphony, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.

Mr. Thorne received his Bachelor of Music from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he was a student of Julius Baker, former Principal Flute of the New York Philharmonic, and John Krell, former Piccolo player of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Mr. Thorne has also studied privately with Anne Diener Zentner, former Principal Flute of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He received his Master of Music from Michigan State University, where he was part of the Halyburton Wind Quintet in residence at the College of Music.

Since joining the faculty of the Bienen School of Music, Mr. Thorne has appeared as soloist with the Symphonic Wind Ensemble in Joel Puckett’s The Shadow of Sirius and Ralph Vaughan Williams’ The Lark Ascending. He has also performed Bach’s b minor Suite with the Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra.

Mr. Thorne has appeared as a soloist with the Houston Symphony on numerous occasions, performing concertos by C.P.E. Bach and Vivaldi. As part of a concert featuring the Associate Principal winds of the Houston Symphony, he performed Frank Martin’s Concerto for Seven Wind Instruments. He has also performed as soloist with the orchestra in Leonard Bernstein’s Halil.

As an orchestral musician in Chicago, Mr. Thorne is a substitute flutist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He also performs with the Chicago Philharmonic as principal flutist. As a chamber musician, Mr. Thorne has performed with the Bach Week Festival in Chicago, the Chicago Wind Quintet, the Civitas Ensemble, Da Camera of Houston, Dempster Street Pro Musica, the Florida Wind Quintet, the Greenbriar Consortium (organized by Houston Symphony members), MusicNOW (the contemporary music series of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra), the Texas Music Festival, and the Winter Chamber Music Festival at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall on the Northwestern campus. He performs recitals in the Bienen School’s Galvin Recital Hall each season and was a frequent recitalist in the Houston area, performing with Scott Holshouser, Principal Keyboardist of the Houston Symphony, at Rice University, the University of Houston, and as part of the chamber music series at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Houston.

Mr. Thorne has given masterclasses and recitals for the ARIA International Summer Academy, Austin Flute Club, Boston Flute Academy, Boston University, Cleveland Institute of Music, Dana Flute Festival, DePaul University, Eastman School of Music, Greater Indianapolis Flute Club, Houston Flute Club, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, Rice University, The Royal Conservatory’s Glenn Gould School of Music in Toronto, Texas A&M University in Commerce, Texas Flute Festival, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Northern Iowa, University of Utah, and the Wisconsin Flute Festival. He has also served on juries for The National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, The National Flute Association’s Orchestral Audition Masterclass Competition, the Myrna Brown Artist Competition, the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, the Donna Marie Haire Young Artist Competition, and the Houston Flute Club’s Byron Hester Competition.

Catherine Boyack Guest Artist
Catherine Boyack
  • Finalist, Kober International Flute Competition, 2022; Winner, NFA Young Artist Competition, 2018
  • Wm S. Haynes Young Artist
  • M.M., the Juilliard School of Music

Catherine Winters Boyack, whose playing has been described by renowned flutist Carol Wincenc as having “dazzling, brilliant flair” and “unparalleled artistry,” was the first prize winner of the National Flute Association's Young Artist Competition and the lone American semifinalist in the prestigious Kobe International Flute Competition in 2021. Other accolades include prizes in the MTNA National Woodwind Performance Competition, the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia Competition, and the NFA High School Soloist Competition. As a soloist, Boyack has appeared with the Lake Forest Symphony, Juilliard contemporary ensemble AXIOM, the Utah Symphony, and the BYU Philharmonic. An innate recitalist, she has given solo performances in Alice Tully Hall and multiple venues across New York City, as well as appearances in France, China, Germany, and across the United States, including the National Flute Association Convention and the Da Capo Alliance Flute Forum. Boyack has been generously supported and presented in concert by the National Flute Association, the Friends of Flutes Foundation, the Utah Flute Association, and Haynes Flutes. As an orchestral musician, Catherine has performed under the batons of Marin Alsop, Carl St. Clair, and Barbara Hannigan, and has played in the Juilliard Orchestra, the New Juilliard Ensemble, and contemporary music ensemble AXIOM. Passionate about new music, she has collaborated with acclaimed flutist Claire Chaise, composer Andrew Maxfield, and composer Dai Fujikura, giving one of the first performances of his virtuosic Flute Concerto. Deeply devoted to music education, Catherine has led master classes at the Flute Center of New York, Northern California Flute Camp, the Sacramento Flute Club, the Utah Flute Association, and the Fundación Sinfonica Cochabamba. She is a faculty member at Northern California Flute Camp. She maintains a private flute studio in addition to being a Morse Teaching Artist at Juilliard, working in classroom music settings across New York City.  

As a performing ambassador of Haynes Flutes, Boyack is a Haynes Young Artist and plays on a Weissman Model 14K custom flute. She earned her MM in Flute Performance from the Juilliard School in 2022 under the tutelage of Carol Wincenc, and completed her BM in Flute Performance from Brigham Young University in 2019, studying with April Clayton. She is deeply grateful to her mentors Gretchen Pusch, Dr. Elizabeth Weissman, and Dr. Ronald Staheli. 

 

An avid choral musician, Catherine has toured with the world-renowned choir Brigham Young University Singers. She enjoys writing and is a published poet. When not playing her instrument, Catherine can be found baking and photographing pastries, running, playing a variety of word-centric board games, and adventuring in the outdoors with her husband. 

 

Aaron Goldman Visiting Faculty
  • Principal Flute, National Symphony Orchestra
  • Lecturer in Flute, Peabody Consevatory of Music
  • Graduate of the Eastman School of Music

Aaron Goldman was appointed principal flute of the National Symphony Orchestra by Christoph Eschenbach in January 2013. An active soloist, he has performed throughout the US and made his NSO concerto debut with Maestro Eschenbach in 2014.

Goldman joined the NSO as assistant principal flute in 2006. Prior to joining the NSO, he was principal flute of the Orlando Philharmonic and began his orchestral career as acting principal flute of the Greater Lansing Symphony for the 1999-2000 season.

Aside from his appearances with the NSO, Goldman has performed concertos with the Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, Virginia Chamber Orchestra, Arlington Philharmonic, Orlando Philharmonic, the Chamber Orchestra of Florida, and has performed at several National Flute Association annual conventions. He appears as part of the Kennedy Center Chamber Players, KC Jukebox, and has performed with the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, the National Chamber Players, the 21st Century Consort, the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra, and participated in many educational programs with the NSO, including performances in the Family and Terrace Theaters.

Goldman appears regularly as guest artist at universities and flute festivals and has taught at the New World Symphony, the National Orchestral Institute, the National Youth Orchestra, the Master Players Festival, and the NSO’s Summer Music Institute. He has given lectures at the Carnegie Institute and the Smithsonian Institution with programs such as “The Magical Flute” and “Math and Music: Closer Than You Think” alongside former NSO cellist Yvonne Caruthers.

Goldman received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music where he studied with Bonita Boyd.

Marley Eder Visiting Faculty
  • DMA, USC Thornton School of Music
  • Principal Flute, San Luis Obispo Symphony
  • Performs regularly with Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Nielsen International Flute Competition Semi-finalist, 2019

Praised as a musician of “elegance, with a warm tone and brilliant technique” (Classical Voice of North Carolina) Marley Eder is a highly sought-after flutist and clinician residing in Los Angeles. He has performed with a variety of orchestras throughout southern California including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestra Santa Monica, the Downey Symphony, and the San Luis Obispo Philharmonic. In the spring of 2022, he performed on 2nd flute with the London Symphony Orchestra during their North American tour under Sir Simon Rattle on a program featuring the music of Sibelius and Bartok. He has collaborated with ensembles led by conductors including Gustavo Dudamel, Sir Simon Rattle, David Robertson, Ludovic Morlot, Kent Nagano, Gerard Schwarz, Carl St. Clair, Thomas Ades, and John Adams.  

A participant of many of the most prestigious competitions in the United States and Europe, he was awarded 1st prize in both the Senior and Young Artist divisions of the MTNA competition, the San Diego Flute Guild Young Artist Competition, and the graduate division of the Louisiana Flute Society young artist competition, as well as 2nd prize in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition, and Myrna Brown Artist Competition. As a result of reaching the semi-finals in the Nielsen International Flute Competition in 2019, he performed C.P.E. Bach’s Flute Concerto in d minor with members of the Odense Symphony on Medici TV. He has been a featured soloist with ensembles including the Eastern Music Festival Symphony, Louisiana State University Philharmonia, Colburn’s Orchestra de Camera, and the San Luis Obispo Symphony. 

Dr. Eder completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance at the Thornton School of Music at University of Southern California where he held a position as a student instructor.  He earned his previous degrees from the Butler School of Music at the University of Texas (BM) and Louisiana State University (MM) where he was a graduate teaching assistant.  He is immensely grateful for the guidance and support of his teachers:  Jim Walker, Anne Zentner, Catherine Karoly, Marianne Gedigian, Dr. Katherine Kemler, and Rosy Sackstein. 

 

Adrian Sanborn Visiting Faculty
Adrian Sanborn
  • Fellow, Tanglewood Music Center, 2013
  • Winner, 34th Annual Pappoutsakis Competition
  • Graduate of New England Conservatory

Flutist Adrian Sanborn is acclaimed for his versatility as a soloist, orchestral player, and chamber musician. He was the first prize winner of the 34th Annual Pappoutsakis Competition, a finalist in the 2014 National Society of Arts and Letters Woodwind Competition, and a 2014-15 New World Symphony finalist. As a 2013 Fellow of the Tanglewood Music Center and member of the New England Conservatory Philharmonia Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra, Adrian has played under numerous world-class conductors, including Christoph von Dohnányi, Kurt Masur, Rafael Frühbeck, Charles Dutoit, Stéphane Denève, Hugh Wolff, and Stefan Asbury. Adrian has performed chamber music regularly in Jordan Hall as the flutist of the Philharmonic Five wind quintet, two-time winners of the NEC Honors Ensemble Competition, and with the Borromeo String Quartet as a recipient of their Guest Artist Award.

In 2014, Adrian completed his Masters degree at New England Conservatory where he studied with Paula Robison and Elizabeth Rowe. He previously graduated summa cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in mathematics and computer science. Adrian recently received a PhD from Stanford University in Computer Science, and is a founder of a biotech start-up in the Bay Area.

Gary Woodward Faculty
  • Principal Flute, the L.A. Opera Orchestra
  • Faculty, USC, Occidental College and Biola University
  • Recording artist at major motion picture and television studios
  • Assistant Director of NCFC

Gary Woodward brings to NCFC a wealth of experience, knowledge, and wisdom gleaned from a multifaceted career at the highest level of performance in orchestral, chamber music, commercial recording, and musical theater. Highlights of his over forty year career include twenty-five seasons as the Principal Flutist of the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and performances as principal with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Orange County Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Pasadena Symphony, American Ballet Theater, Joffrey Ballet, and the Bolshoi and Kirov ballet companies. Mr. Woodward is actively recording for motion pictures and television, having played countless scores written by the top composers at all of the major recording studios. He has also played in orchestras for over a dozen first-class musical theater productions. Mr. Woodward began teaching the flute at age 16 and landed his first University position at age 26 at UC Santa Barbara. He recently left his 31-year tenure at the University of Southern California to devote his time and energy to his students at Azusa Pacific University, Biola University, The Master’s, College and Occidental College. Mr. Woodward holds degrees in music from the University of Southern California and Chapman University, where his principal teachers were Roger Stevens and Arthur Hoberman. Edna Comerchero was his beloved teacher through high school in his native Sacramento. He studied extensively in the master classes of world-renowned flutists Julius Baker, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Marcel Moyse and Maxence Larrieu.

Karen Van Dyke Faculty
  • Director, Stanford University Flute Ensemble 
  • Director of NCFC
  • Performs with the Symphony Silicon Valley and Ballet San Jose Orchestras

Proudly serving as NCFC's Director for 28 years,  Karen Van Dyke made her professional debut at the age of 17 when she performed as a soloist with the Baltimore Symphony. She currently maintains an active and versatile career. As an orchestral musician she has performed with the Berkeley Symphony, Symphony Silicon Valley,  the Ballet San Jose Orchestra, and served as the principal flutist of the Anchorage Festival of Music. As a Lecturer in the Music Department at Stanford University, she founded the highly acclaimed Stanford Flute Ensemble at the request of the late, eminent flutist Frances Blaisdell in 1996 and has directed the SFE in showcase performances at NFA and in a TEDx Stanford performance. Included in her active chamber music life have been performances of Jake Heggie’s Statuesque with the composer at the piano, and a duo performance with flutist Jeanne Baxtresser. A highly sought after teacher and clinician, students of Ms. Van Dyke have been admitted to top music schools and conservatories, and to prestigious summer music programs. She currently serves as a Winds Coach for the California Youth Symphony. Ms. Van Dyke has produced one solo CD, Movements Perpetuels, with guitarist Paul Binkley. She is immeasurably appreciative of her primary teachers: Eleanor Lawrence, William Montgomery, Frances Blaisdell, and Norman Katz.. Ms. Van Dyke has been named in Who’s Who in America. 

Tomiko Tsai Faculty
  • Active Bay Area performer and private teacher
  • Founding member of the Divisa Ensemble
  • M.M. in Flute, USC

Tomiko Tsai is a flute teacher and performer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tomiko received her Master’s degree in Flute Performance at USC, where she studied with Gary Woodward, former principal flutist of the Los Angeles Opera. Tomiko received her Bachelor’s degrees in Music and Chemistry from the University of Puget Sound where she studied with Karla Flygare, principal flutist of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestra and Auburn Symphony. Tomiko is currently a member of the Divisa Ensemble, a classical chamber music quintet comprised of flute, oboe, violin, viola, and cello, which coaches chamber music as the Artist-in-Residence of the El Camino Youth Symphony. Tomiko maintains a large private studio of young students. She previously worked in public and private schools, teaching flute, band, history and music theory. A native of Palo Alto, CA, she began playing the flute at the age of 13, under the tutelage first of Joy Apple and then Karen Van Dyke. Although Tomiko’s introduction to flute playing was a relatively late start, flute quickly became her biggest passion and she hopes to pass on her enthusiasm to the next generation of flutists.

Miles Graber Collaborative Pianist
  • Faculty, The Crowden School and San Domenico Conservatory
  • Has accompanied for S.F. Chamber Soloists and Midsummer Mozart Orchestra
  • Graduate of the Juilliard School

Miles Graber received his musical education at the Juilliard School, where he studied with Anne Hull, Phyllis Kreuter, Hugh Aitken and Louse Behrend. He has lived and worked in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1971, where he has developed a wide reputation as an accompanist and collaborative pianist for instrumentalists and singers. He has performed with numerous solo artists, including Sarah Chang, Cho-Liang Lin, Camilla Wicks, Mimi Stillman, Judith LeClair, Frederica von Stade, and Martha Aarons. He is a member of the chamber groups MusicAEterna, GGRE Trio, Alcyone Ensemble, the Sor Ensemble, Mira Trio and the new music group Sounds New. Mr. Graber has been associated with such ensembles as the New Century Chamber Orchestra, Midsummer Mozart, the Oakland Symphony, the Berkeley Symphony, the California Symphony, and Opera San José. He has accompanied the master classes of Midori, Joseph Silverstein, James Galway, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Yo-Yo Ma, Leon Fleisher, Jeanne Baxtresser and Paula Robison. Mr. Graber has been a frequent performer with members of the San Francisco Symphony, San Jose Symphony, Berkeley Symphony, California Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, and many other orchestras. He is a staff accompanist at the San Domenico Conservatory in San Anselmo, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and NCFC.

Lori Lack Collaborative Pianist
  • Performs with the San Francisco Symphony, Berkeley and Oakland Symphonies
  • Staff Accompanist, Stanford University
  • Soloist and Chamber Music throughout the U.S. and Europe

Lori Lack, Piano, has performed as a soloist and chamber musician throughout Europe and the United States. Most recently, she had a piano trio with Christina Mok and Joanne Lin, was a member of the Laurel Ensemble, and performed with the San Francisco Chamber Orchestra and Gold Coast Chamber Players.  As a collaborative pianist, she has performed in recital with many artists including the Alexander String Quartet, the Stamic Quartet, Robin Sharp, Zuill Bailey, Jassen Todorov, Stephen Paulson, and Matt Haimovitz. She has also performed as a member of the SF Symphony, Berkeley Symphony Orchestra, Oakland Symphony, accompanied SF Symphony auditions and served on the faculty of California Summer Music. She is currently a staff accompanist at Stanford University, and works as a freelance collaborative pianist in the Bay Area.