Merrie Siegel

Merrie Siegel

Merrie Siegel has been hailed by the U.S. and Mexican press as “magnificent, jovial and radiant, with purity of tone and great technical command of the instrument.” The American Record Guide said of her CD, Flute Music of the Americas, ‘This is wonderful--a joy to hear….Her playing here is superb.  She has a rich, well-controlled tone, and her technical facility is stunning.  Everything about it, from the cover design to the well-written program notes, deserves the highest praise.  I am grateful to Siegel for restoring my faith in the academic music world…It belongs in libraries and in the collection of every serious flutist. Simply put, buy this and explore all this great music.  Flutists and non-flutists alike will enjoy this recital.”

In great demand as a recitalist and teacher, she has been a member of the faculties of the University of Idaho, Houston Community College, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza, both in Monterrey, México, and at the Conservatorio de las Rosas, Morelia, Michoacán, México. An active orchestral musician, Merrie has performed with the Houston Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Spokane Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic and Mozart Society of Philadelphia, among others. She has held the position of Principal Flute of the Boise Philharmonic, Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, México, the Filarmónica del Bajío, Guanajuato, México, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes, México.

Merrie received her Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, as a student of Leone Buyse, Walfrid Kujala and Anne Diener Zenter. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Bonita Boyd. At the age of 19, she made her New York Debut in CAMI Hall as winner of the New York Flute Club's Young Artist Competition. A Philadelphia native, she was inspired to serious flute study under the guidance of her first teacher, Adeline Tomasone. Her diverse summer festival performances include the Piccolo Spoleto, Tanglewood, Grand Teton, Cactus Pear and Eastern Music Festivals.

Merrie’s solo CD, Flute Music of the Americas, is available on Albany Records. She has also recorded under the Sony and Capstone labels. She is currently collaborating with pianist Milton Laufer on her next CD, Flute Music of the Americas, Vol. II, also to be released by Albany.