Ransom Wilson (born 25 October 1951 in

Tuscaloosa, Alabama Tuscaloosa ( ) is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west-central Alabama, United States, on the Black Warrior River where the Gulf Coastal and Piedmont plains meet. Alabama's fifth-largest city, it had an estimated population of 1 ...

) is an American flutist, conductor, and educator. He currently is an Artist of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Artistic Director and Conductor of the Le Train Bleu ensemble, Music Director of the Redlands Symphony, and he performs concerts and recitals in notable venues worldwide. Wilson is Professor of Flute at

Yale School of Music The Yale School of Music (often abbreviated to YSM) is one of the 12 professional schools at Yale University. It offers three graduate degrees: Master of Music (MM), Master of Musical Arts (MMA), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), as well as a joi ...

and is a frequent master class guest artist. His many honors include the New York Times Foundation Alabama Prize (1988); the Republic of Austria’s Award of Merit in Gold in recognition of his efforts on behalf of Mozart’s music in America (1992); induction into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame (1993); an honorary doctorate from the University of Alabama (2006); the Inspiring Yale Award for excellence in teaching from the School’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate (2015); and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Flute Association (2020).

Education and early career

Ransom_wilson_3583a_master_1977_by_Jack_Mitchell

Ransom Wilson attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, receiving this high school diploma in 1969, before entering the Bachelor of Music program at

The Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most elit ...

. After graduation from Juilliard in 1973, he spent a year in Paris as a private student of Jean-Pierre Rampal. In addition to Jean-Pierre Rampal, Wilson's other flute teachers have included

Alain Marion Alain Marion (25 December 1938 – 16 August 1998) was a French flutist, and considered one of the world's best flute players of the late twentieth century. Biography Marion was born in Marseille on Christmas Day 1938. He studied at the Marseill ...

Severino Gazzelloni Severino Gazzelloni, born Severino Gazzellone (5 January 1919 – 21 November 1992) was an Italian flutist. Biography He was born in Roccasecca and died in Cassino. Gazzelloni was the principal flautist with the RAI National Symphony Orchestr ...

Julius Baker Julius Baker (September 23, 1915 – August 6, 2003) was one of the foremost American orchestral flute players. During the course of five decades he concertized with several of America's premier orchestral ensembles including the Chicago Sympho ...

Christian Lardé Christian Lardé (3 February 1930 –16 November 2012) Biography Lardé was awarded the first prize of flute and chamber music at the Conservatoire de Paris. In 1951, he obtained the 2nd prize of the Geneva International Music Competition.

, Philip Dunigan, and Arthur Lora. In 1976 he gave his official debut concert in New York City, with Rampal as his guest artist.

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

review hailed him as “an exceptional virtuoso, as he has proved before, and his bravura talents served him well… he showed an interesting command of the long melodic line and use of rubato… beautifully phrased… this was great fun.” An exclusive recording contract with Angel/EMI followed soon thereafter, along with extensive performances all over the world. His private conducting studies began with

Roger Nierenberg Roger Nierenberg (born 1947) is an American conductor and author. Education Nierenberg was born in New York City and studied composition in high school with Elie Siegmeister. He graduated from Princeton University, where he received high honors ...

in 1979 and later included

James Dixon James Dixon (August 5, 1814 – March 27, 1873) was a United States representative and United States Senator, Senator from Connecticut. Biography Dixon, son of William & Mary (Field) Dixon, was born August 5, 1814 in Enfield, Connecticut, ...

Otto-Werner Mueller Otto-Werner Mueller (23 June 1926 – 25 February 2016) was a German-born conducting, conductor. He was a professor of conducting at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, as well as at the Juilliard School in New York City. Mueller was bo ...

, and

Leonard Bernstein Leonard Bernstein ( ; August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, pianist, music educator, author, and humanitarian. Considered to be one of the most important conductors of his time, he was the first America ...

Solo flutist

Since his official New York debut in 1976, Ransom Wilson has performed in the world’s premier concert venues and with such first-rate ensembles as

Chicago Symphony Orchestra The Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded by Theodore Thomas in 1891. The ensemble makes its home at Orchestra Hall in Chicago and plays a summer season at the Ravinia Festival. The music director is Riccardo Muti, who began his tenure ...

Philadelphia Orchestra The Philadelphia Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra, based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. One of the " Big Five" American orchestras, the orchestra is based at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, where it performs its subscription ...

San Francisco Symphony Orchestra The San Francisco Symphony (SFS), founded in 1911, is an American orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980 the orchestra has been resident at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall in the city's Hayes Valley neighborhood. The San Fr ...

Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) is a full-time professional chamber orchestra based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. In collaboration with five Artistic Partners, the orchestra's musicians present more than 130 concerts and educational programs ea ...

, Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s,

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (founded 1972) is a classical music chamber orchestra based in New York City. They have won several Grammy Awards. The orchestra is known for its collaborative leadership style in which the musicians, not a conducto ...

, Mostly Mozart Festival (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts),

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

Israel Philharmonic The Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (abbreviation IPO; Hebrew: התזמורת הפילהרמונית הישראלית, ''ha-Tizmoret ha-Filharmonit ha-Yisra'elit'') is an Israeli symphony orchestra based in Tel Aviv. Its principal concert venue ...

, English Chamber Orchestra, and

I Solisti Veneti I Solisti Veneti is an Italian chamber orchestra founded in Padua in 1959 by Claudio Scimone. Wilson has released 27 albums as a flute soloist, with three

Grammy The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pre ...

nominations along the way. His latest recording, In the Age of Debussy, was released on the Nimbus label in 2021. Wilson has collaborated with keyboardists Peter Frankl, Robin Sutherland, John Gibbons, Jean-Philippe Collard,

François Dumont François Dumont may refer to: *François Dumont (sculptor) (1688–1729), French sculptor *François Dumont (painter) (1751–1831), French painter of portrait miniatures *François Dumont (pianist) François Dumont (; born 19 October 1985 in Lyo ...

, and Christopher O’Riley (with whom he was awarded a 1989 National Public Radio award for best performance by a small ensemble on a national broadcast). A champion of contemporary music, Wilson has had works composed specially for him by

Steve Reich Stephen Michael Reich ( ; born October 3, 1936) is an American composer known for his contribution to the development of minimal music in the mid to late 1960s. Reich's work is marked by its use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm, a ...

Peter Schickele "Professor" Peter Schickele (; born July 17, 1935) is an American composer, musical educator, and parody, parodist, best known for comedy albums featuring his music, but which he presents as being composed by the fictional P. D. Q. Bach. He also ...

, Joseph Schwantner, John Harbison, Jean Françaix,

Jean-Michel Damase Jean-Michel Damase (27 January 1928 – 21 April 2013) was a French pianist, conductor and composer of classical music. Career Damase was born in Bordeaux, the son of harpist Micheline Kahn. He was studying with Marcel Samuel-Rousseau at the a ...

George Tsontakis George Tsontakis (born Astoria, Queens, New York City, October 24, 1951) is an American composer and conductor. Early life and education He was born in New York City, and is of Greek descent. Tsontakis studied composition with Hugo Weisgall and ...

Tania Léon Tania is usually a given name. It may refer to: Given name * Tânia Alves, Brazilian actress and singer * Tania Brishty, Bangladesh actress and model * Tania de Bourbon Parme, Princess Tania de Bourbon Parme, French designer * Tania de Jong, Dutch ...

, and Deborah Drattel. According to Schwantner, his piece ''A Play of Shadows'' represents “an attempt to mirror ansom Wilson’sdramatic and compelling musical personality”. Wilson's recordings of works by

(Vermont Counterpoint) and

Philip Glass Philip Glass (born January 31, 1937) is an American composer and pianist. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century. Glass's work has been associated with minimal music, minimalism, being built up fr ...

(Façades) have sold thousands of units. Praise from the New York Times for his flute playing includes: “an exceptionally fine player”; “Wilson gave a mesmerizing performance”; “his technique was solid, his coloration amply varied, and his programming inventive"; “Wilson played the solos expertly”; and “Wilson brought a warm tone and considerable poise to the work”. On August 22, 2022, the National Flute Association presented Wilson with his 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award (postponed because of the pandemic). Ransom Wilson plays exclusively a flute hand made for him by the Wm. S. Haynes Company.

Chamber musician

Ransom Wilson has been a member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center since 1991, performing and recording with his colleagues hundreds of times. The list of notable artists with whom he has concertized includes mezzo

Frederica von Stade Frederica von Stade OAL (born June 1, 1945) is a semi-retired American opera singer. Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1970, she has performed in operas, musicals, concerts and recitals in venues throughout the world, including La Scala, th ...

, soprano Jessye Norman, baritone

Thomas Hampson Thomas Walter Hampson (born June 28, 1955) is an American lyric baritone, a classical singer who has appeared world-wide in major opera houses and concert halls and made over 170 musical recordings. Hampson's operatic repertoire spans a range ...

, mezzo

Susan Graham Susan Graham (born July 23, 1960) is an American mezzo-soprano. Life and career Susan Graham was born in Roswell, New Mexico on July 23, 1960. Raised in Midland, Texas, Graham is a graduate of Texas Tech University and the Manhattan School o ...

, tenor Robert White, mezzo

Dolora Zajick Dolora Zajick (born 24 March 1952) is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer who specializes in the Verdian repertoire. Zajick has been described as having "one of the greatest voices in the history of opera". Early life Born in Salem, Oregon, ...

, violinist

Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (born January 10, 1961) is an Italian and American classical violinist and teacher. Early life and education Salerno-Sonnenberg was born in Rome, Italy. Her father left when she was three months old. She emigrated with ...

, violinist Hilary Hahn, flutist Jean-Pierre Rampal, flutist

Sir James Galway Sir James Galway (born 8 December 1939) is an Irish virtuoso flute player from Belfast, nicknamed "The Man with the Golden Flute". He established an international career as a solo flute player. In 2005, he received the Brit Award for Outstand ...

, guitarist Manuel Barrueco, harpist Nancy Allen, folk musicians Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor, and many others. Critics have hailed his performances with other artists and “his fine and gentle playing… with quiet strength, affecting and appealing”; “the evening’s great success”; “a stylish performance”; and “lively flute playing”.

Conductor

Maestro Wilson was appointed Music Director and Conductor of the Redlands Symphony (CA) in 2016 as well as the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company (NYC) in 2000. He has founded two ensembles: Le Train Bleu in 2010 and Solisti New York in 1981, with which he appeared as conductor in hundreds of concerts and recordings. He also founded the Mozart Festival at Sea. Wilson has also held positions at the Tuscaloosa Symphony, Flint Symphony Orchestra, Idyllwild Arts Academy, and the OK Mozart International Festival, where he was Artistic Director from 1983–2006. Wilson's opera credits include the

Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera (commonly known as the Met) is an American opera company based in New York City, resident at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, currently situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The company is operat ...

, New York City Opera,

Opera Omaha Opera Omaha is a major regional opera company in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded in 1958, the professional company is widely known for the International Fall Festival events it held in the 1980s and 1990s, which garnered international attention and served ...

, Portland (OR) Opera, International Opera Center in Amsterdam, and Glimmerglass Opera. In 2004 he conducted the U.S. Premiere of the comic opera “Le médecin malgré lui” by Charles Gounod (with recitatives by Erik Satie) at Yale University. Additional conducting engagements include the

, Houston Symphony,

Denver Symphony The Denver Symphony Orchestra, established in 1934 and dissolved in 1989, was a professional American orchestra in Denver, Colorado. Until 1978, when the Boettcher Concert Hall was built to house the symphony orchestra, it performed in a successio ...

, Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra,

New Jersey Symphony The New Jersey Symphony, formerly the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, is an American symphony orchestra based in the state of New Jersey. The New Jersey Symphony is the state orchestra of New Jersey, performing classical subscription concert seri ...

Omaha Symphony The Omaha Symphony is a professional orchestra performing more than 200 concerts and presentations annually in Omaha, Nebraska and throughout the orchestra's home region. The orchestra was established in 1921. It is considered a major American orc ...

, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Round Top Festival,

San Francisco Chamber Orchestra The San Francisco Chamber Orchestra (SFCO) is a professional chamber orchestra in San Francisco, California, that presents small orchestra and chamber ensemble performances in the Bay Area. The SFCO was founded by Emanuel Leplin in 1952.Progra ...

Tulsa Philharmonic The Tulsa Philharmonic was an American symphony orchestra located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The orchestra was founded in 1948 by H. Arthur Brown who was principal conductor from 1948 till 1958. The original Tulsa Philharmonic grew out of a small group ...

, Festival La Quincena (Spain), Hallé Orchestra (UK),

Kraków Philharmonic The Kraków Philharmonic ( pl, Filharmonia Krakowska) is the primary concert hall in Kraków, Poland. It is one of the largest auditoriums in the city. It consists of the main hall for orchestral performances with 693 seats, and two smaller venu ...

(Poland), and the

(UK). With the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and guest soloist James Galway, Wilson led a successful tour of Southern California and has accompanied numerous internationally renowned artists from the podium, including Itzhak Perlman, André Watts, Barry Douglas Frederica von Stade, Joshua Bell, Todd Levy, and Hilary Hahn. Among the many works that he has conducted by living contemporary composers, is Aaron Jay Kernis’ ''Musica Celestis'', premiered by Wilson and Sinfonia San Francisco in 1992, and John Luther Adams’ ''songbirdsongs'', programmed by Le Train Bleu in 2011, which the

New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...

called “a gorgeous performance… it was a strange, thrilling immersive experience”. Other critical acclaim for his conducting includes: “a tender performance” of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto; conducting that was “adept and sensitive and accomplished without recourse to exhibitionistic physical gestures… Wilson shaped each movement lovingly without slopping over into excess”; and “incisive and joyous”.

Discography

Ransom Wilson has released over 35 commercial recordings as a soloist, chamber musician, and conductor, earning three Grammy Awards nominations. Selective works recorded by Ransom Wilson * John Adams: ''Grand Pianola Music''; Steve Reich: ''Eight Lines''; ''Vermont Counterpoint'', Ransom Wilson conducting Solisti New York Chamber Orchestra, EMI/Angel. * Bach: Brandenburg Concertos; Suite in B Minor, EMI/Angel. * Bach: Partita in A Minor; Marais: Variations on “Les Folles d’Espagne”; Telemann: Fantasias; Blavet: Minuet, Orion Records. * C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in E Major; Corrette: Sonata in D Major; Clementi: Sonata in G Major; Mozart: Sonata K. 12, 14, Orion Records. * Bach and Telemann Suites, EMI/Angel. * Baroque Concertos for Flute (Blavet, Devienne, Tartini), EMI/Angel. * Impressions for Flute with Nancy Allen (harp), works by Ravel, Faure, Satie, and others, EMI/Angel. * Mozart: Horn Concerti, with David Jolley (horn), Ransom Wilson conducting the Solisti New York Chamber Orchestra, Sine Qua Non Records. * Mozart/Haydn: Concerto No. 23; Haydn: Piano Concerto in D Major, Steven Lubin (piano), Ransom Wilson conducting the Mozartean Players, Arabesque Records. * Steve Reich: ''Vermont Counterpoint''; Philip Glass: ''Facades''; Frank Becker: ''Stonehenge''; Debussy: ''Syrinx''; Jolivet: ''Asceses'' (I), EMI/Angel. * Vivaldi Concertos, EMI/Angel. Complete discography * 1972: The Rococo Flute; as flutist (Orion) * 1972: Music for Solo Flute; as flutist (Orion) * 1973: Music of Jean Françaix; as flutist (Musical Heritage Society) * 1974: Music for 1, 2, 3, and 4 Flutes; as flutist (Musical Heritage Society) * 1975: Blavet: 6 Sonatas; as flutist (Musical Heritage Society) * 1976: Concertos for 2 Flutes (Viotti/Dieter/Devienne); as flutist with Jean-Pierre Rampal (Erato/RCA) * 1978: Impressions for Flute; as flutist (Angel/EMI) * 1978: Ravel: Introduction and Allegro; as flutist (Angel/EMI)* * 1979: Koto Flute; as flutist (Angel/EMI)* * 1980: Bach/Telemann: Suites for Flute; as flutist (Angel/EMI) * 1981: Pleasure Songs for Flute; as flutist (Angel/EMI) * 1982: Baroque Concertos for Flute; as flutist (soloist and conductor (Angel/EMI) * 1982: Music of Glass, Reich, and Becker; as flutist (Angel/EMI) * 1982: Mozart/Haydn Piano Concertos; with Steven Lubin; as conductor (Arabesque) * 1984: Music of Adams and Reich; as conductor (Angel/EMI) * 1986: The Gallant Troubadour; as flutist with Robert White (Angel/EMI) * 1987: Stravinsky: ''Histoire du Soldat''; as conductor (Chesky) * 1989: Mozart Concertos: as flutist with London Symphony (Angel/EMI) * 1990: Mozart: Music for Flute and Guitar; as flutist with Manuel Barrueco (Angel/EMI) * 1991: Flutes; as flutist (New World) * 1992: Fire at Dusk; as flutist with Edgar Meyer and Mark O’Connor (Angel/EMI) * 1992: Japanese Music for Marimba; as flutist with Robert van Sice (Etcetera) * 1992: Kernis: ''Love Scenes''; with Orchestra of St. Luke’s; as conductor (CRI) * 1994: Mozart: Three Sonatas; as flutist with Robin Sutherland (Etcetera) * 1995: L’Oiseau Bleu; as conductor (New Albion) * 1995: Amy Beach: ''Cabildo''; as conductor (Delos) * 2000: Debussy: Sonata for Flute, Viola, and Harp; as flutist (Delos)* * 2004: Flute Music by Les Six; as flutist with Christopher O’Riley (Etcetera) * 2005: Music of Martin Bresnick; as conductor (New World) * 2008: Music of Ezra Laderman; as conductor (Albany) * 2010: Music of Lawrence Dillon; as flutist (Albany) * 2012: Music of Michael Colina; with London Symphony; as conductor (Fleur de Son Classics) * 2015: Beethoven/Schubert/Schumann; as flutist with Peter Frankl (Nimbus) * 2016: Modern Primitive; as conductor (Amazon) * 2016: Françaix/Damase; as flutist with Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (Nimbus) * 2017: In the Age of Ravel; as flutist with François Dumont (Nimbus) * 2019: Four French Flute Concertos; as flutist with BBC Concert Orchestra (Nimbus) * 2021: In the Age of Debussy; as flutist with François Dumont (Nimbus) (*) Grammy nominated recording

Educator

Wilson teaches a studio of graduate-level flutists at the prestigious Yale School of Music, where he has been a member of the woodwind and chamber music faculties since 1992. He has conducted a productions of the school’s opera department, teaches at the Yale Summer School of Music/ Norfolk Chamber Music, and has been featured many times in solo and chamber music performances on Yale’s Faculty Artist Series and Yale in New York concert series. In 2019, Wilson was appointed Director of Orchestral Programs at the Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. In addition to his ongoing professorship at Yale University, he has taught master classes at the

Paris Conservatory The Conservatoire de Paris (), also known as the Paris Conservatory, is a college of music and dance founded in 1795. Officially known as the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris (CNSMDP), it is situated in the avenue ...

Oberlin Conservatory The Oberlin Conservatory of Music is a private music conservatory in Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. It was founded in 1865 and is the second oldest conservatory and oldest continually operating conservatory in the United States. It is one of t ...

, Jerusalem Music Academy,

, Moscow Conservatory,

Cambridge University , mottoeng = Literal: From here, light and sacred draughts. Non literal: From this place, we gain enlightenment and precious knowledge. , established = , other_name = The Chancellor, Masters and Schola ...

Beijing Conservatory The Central Conservatory of Music () is a prestigious leading public music school of China and a member of Double First Class University Plan and former Project 211. Its campus is in the Xicheng District of Beijing, China, near Fuxingmen Stati ...

, and at several music schools in Taiwan. His former students hold positions in such orchestra as the New York Philharmonic, Fort Worth Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, and Seoul Philharmonic; in addition, some teach at University of Wisconsin Madison, University of Miami, Sarah Lawrence College, George Washington University, University of Minnesota, South Korea National University of Arts, HanYang University, and the Beijing Conservatory. He is the former Director of Orchestras at his ''alma mater'', the

University of North Carolina School of the Arts The University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) is an arts school in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It grants high school, undergraduate, and graduate degrees. Founded in 1963 as the North Carolina School of the Arts by then-Governo ...

. Wilson has been quoted as saying: “ yteaching philosophy is to improve and refine students’ innate abilities — to make them the very best version of themselves as musicians. With an emphasis on classic French ''la belle flûte'' traditions, students have the opportunity to clean up and improve their sound, technique and interpretation”.

Personal life

Wilson is gay; he is married to Walter Foery.

References

External links

Ransom Wilson'Ep. 105: Ransom Wilson, conductor and virtuoso flutist'
Interview by Tigran Arakelyan {{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Ransom 1951 births Living people American classical flautists American LGBT musicians American male conductors (music) LGBT people from Alabama Yale School of Music faculty EMI Classics and Virgin Classics artists 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century American male musicians People from Tuscaloosa, Alabama 21st-century flautists