Susan Milan
Pioneer of the flute.
Pioneer for women in the music world.
Performer
Internationally renowned soloist. Orchestral principal. Chamber musician. Recording artist.
Internationally renowned soloist. Orchestral principal. Chamber musician. Recording artist.
Susan Milan is an internationally renowned flautist, regularly performing and conducting masterclasses around the world.
With a distinctive voice in the flute community, Milan is a leading exponent of the modern flute, not only for her historic achievement as the first female principal flautist in a major orchestra but also for her exceptional artistry and influence.
A frequent presence on BBC Radio, she has recorded extensively for prestigious labels including Chandos, Hyperion, Upbeat, Da Capo, Omega, Denon, Cala, Metier, and Divine Art.
Ensembles
Debussy Ensemble – flute, viola and harp
Susan Milan, Matthew Jones & Gabriella Dall’Olio
A trio of celebrated musicians at the pinnacle of professional life.
Susan Milan, flute.
Gabriella Dall’Olio, harp. Professor of Harp Trinitylaban Conservatory of Music, London and international soloist.
Matthew Jones, viola. Professor of Chamber Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, member of Ensemble MidtVest, Denmark and the Bridge Duo
THE TIMES, London
“…Susan Milan’s Live contours, vivid contrasts of register and vibrato focused with scarcely any breathiness provided the most beautiful playing of the evening in Debussy’s Sonate en Trio.”
Instrumental Quintet of London – flute, string trio and harp
Nicholas Ward – Music director of the Northern Chamber Orchestra and former leader of the City of London Sinfonia.
Sebastian Comberti – Principal cello of the London Mozart Players and chamber musician. Recordings: CRD, EMI, Harmonia Mundi, Hyperion, Meridian, Phoenix and RCA and CPO.
This takes its name from the Quintette Instrumental de Paris, formed by the famous French flautist René Le Roy at the beginning of the 20thcentury. Le Roy commissioned many works for this unusual combination from numerous French Impressionist composers including Pierne, Roussel, Ropartz, Jolivet, Malipiero, Florent Schmidt and the Belgian composer, Joseph Jongen. IQL has commissioned quintets from the Czech composer Jindrich Feld and the British composer Robert Walker.
Milan Trio – flute, cello and piano
Susan Milan, Flute
Christopher Jepson, Cello
Daniel King Smith, Piano
The trio presents Romantic, Classical and Contemporary Duos and Trios to include works by Haydn, Schumann, Beethoven, Brahms, Prokofiev, Martinu, Feld, Weber, Liebermann, Blake, Boehm and many others
Duo – flute and piano
Susan Milan with pianist Daniel King Smith: One of Britain’s most celebrated young chamber pianists.
“Milan’s flute playing is a joy, her musicianship scintillating, matched by Ball’s sensitivity, and the sequence is engaging”
Paul Driver (The Sunday Times)
Teacher
Professor of Flute at Royal College of Music & Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London.
Director of the British Isles Music Festival.
Professor of Flute at Royal College of Music & Trinity Laban Conservatoire, London. Director of the British Isles Music Festival.
Susan Milan has had a remarkable career as a teacher, profoundly influencing the next generation of flautists. A passionate educator, she is currently a professor at Royal College of Music and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music, London, as well being a former professor at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.
Through her teaching, Susan has inspired and mentored young musicians, helping them develop not only their technical skills but also their musicality and artistry.
In 2008 she founded the British Isles Music Festival, a prestigious residential masterclass and chamber music course, designed to bring together talented conservatoire students and young professionals from across the globe.
Recordings of Susan Milan
-
Began Flute aged 9
Firstly with the clarinettist George McDonald, then later with John Francis aged 11.
-
Aged 11: began studying at Royal College of Music, Junior Department
with Graham Mayger, pupil of John Francis
-
12 years old: Susan Joins London Schools Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by Dr. Lesley Russell, becoming first flute in the first orchestra by the time she was about 15.
-
Quantz Flute Concerto
Performing in Bonn, Frankfurt and the Royal Albert Hall, London.
-
1965: Marcel Moyse Masterclass, Boswil
-
1968: Bournemouth Sinfonietta
Susan's first job, straight after graduating at Guildhall Scholl of Music and Drama
-
1974: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
in 1974, Susan Milan won the position of principle flute in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, being the first woman principle of any orchestra in England.
-
1975: Jindrich Feld concert, RPO
with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Charles Dutoit.
-
1982 Left RPO
making the decision to concentrate on her solo and chamber music career, continuing to teach at Royal college of Music.
-
1980: first son born, James
-
1982: second son born, Christopher
-
1984: Professor at Royal College of Music
-
1995: Jury Kuhlau competition
In 1995, Susan became the first woman member to be invited to the jury of the international Kuhlau competition.
-
2007: Founded BIMF
Originally the Charterhouse Music festival, later changing to the British Isles Music Festival in 2012. BIMF offers opportunities for musicians from around the world the world to meet and play chamber music.
-
2019: Lifetime achievement award NFA
The highest award from the National Flute Association of America