Rebecca Gilbert
Principal Flutist, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Adjunct Professor of Flute, Nazareth College
All-14K Custom, B foot, offset G, C# trill, D# roller, G disc, P Cut Headjoint
Purchased from Flutistry
With the start of the 1996-1997 season, REBECCA GILBERT joined the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra as Principal Flute, in the Charlotte Whitney Allen Chair. As a regularly featured soloist, her expressive and versatile playing has illuminated the RPO’s Philharmonics and Pops Series performances. Rebecca has also performed as Acting Principal Flutist of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Guest Assistant Principal Flutist with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood. Previous appointments include Principal Flutist of the Charleston (SC) Symphony and 2nd Flutist of the Dayton Philharmonic.
As an collaborative chamber artist, Rebecca is a founding member of the Mancini Trio and has performed solo and chamber music concerts with the Society for Chamber Music in Rochester, First Muse (Rochester), Live from Hochstein, Skaneateles Festival, Charleston’s Piccolo Spoleto Festival, and the Charles Ives Center for the Arts Contemporary Music Festival, and the Chautauqua Chamber Players. She has performed concerti with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Philharmonia Orchestra, and the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
At the Jeanne Baxtresser International Flute Masterclass at the Juilliard School in June 2000 and 2001, Rebecca served as Visiting Artist in Residence and has given masterclasses in Orchestral Flute Playing across the United States. Her interest in the similarities between orchestral playing and chamber music playing was the subject of a program entitled “The Chamber Music of Orchestral Teamwork” that she presented with the RPO flute section for the National Flute Association.
She is recently appointed as Adjunct Faculty Flutist at Nazareth College, and has served as Professsor of Flute (Sabbatical Replacement) at Ithaca College, Instructor of Flute at Houghton College, and Adjunct Faculty Flutist at the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati and the College of Charleston. Rebecca has served as Vice President and Program Coordinator of the Rochester Flute Association and maintains an active teaching schedule with her private flute studio and as coach/mentor with the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Her masterclass "The Illuminating Flutist" debuts Summer of 2019 at the Chapin Mill Retreat Center, a Zen Buddhist Zen Community.
A Wisconsin native, Rebecca began playing the flute at age 9. She earned a MM from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and attended the Centre International De Formation Musicale in Nice, France. Her principal flute teachers include Jeanne Baxtresser, Randolph Bowman, Kyril Magg, and Gwen Powell.
Rebecca plays a beautiful all-14K Custom Flute with B Footjoint, C# Trill, D# Roller, offset G with G Disc and a P Cut Headjoint.
Quotes from the press:
“Much of The Firebird flies on the principal flute's lung power. RPO
Principal Rebecca Gilbert earned her wings with solos that soared into her instrument's outer ozone.”
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY – March 2007
Mozart Flute Concerto No. 1 in G Major:
“Throughout the performance, Gilbert showcased her sweet tone,
thoughtful musicianship and remarkable pair of lungs. Does this woman ever need to breathe? I was especially taken with her lyrical approach to the adagio performing as if she was a vocalist singing a love song and with the grace and polish she brought to the finale.”
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY – March 2006
“Gilbert is a serious, sensitive, and stylish musician, and she possesses a technique that is seemingly capable of overcoming all difficulties.”
Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY -- January 2002
“Her sensitivity, tone quality and versatility on her instrument were outstanding as she executed the three movements with élan.”
Post and Courier, Charleston, SC -- October 1995
“...crystalline playing...”
Post and Courier, Charleston, SC -- March 1996
“Gilbert played with purity of tone, while rippling peals of complex sound.”
Post and Courier, Charleston, SC -- June 1996