Emi Ferguson

Flutist

Hailed by critics for her “tonal bloom” and “hauntingly beautiful performances,” English-American flutist and composer Emi Ferguson stretches the boundaries of what is expected of modern-day musicians. Ms. Ferguson can be heard live in concerts and festivals around the world as well as at home in New York City where she is a member of the New York New Music Ensemble, NYBI, Argento Ensemble, and New Vintage Baroque. This season, she is producing two albums: a flute and piano album highlighting Cesar Franck’s Sonata in A major; and a cross-genre “baroque-pop” album that takes 16th and 17th century French texts and motifs and spins them into 21st century indie-pop songs.

Ms. Ferguson was a featured performer alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and James Taylor at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of 9/11 at Ground Zero, where her performance of “Amazing Grace” was televised worldwide. Her performance that day is now part of the permanent collection at the 9/11 Museum. Ms. Ferguson is passionate about developing new music and has premiered works by Wayne Oquin, Kendall Briggs, Elliott Carter, and even C.P.E. Bach. She has been a featured performer at the Marlboro Music, Lake Champlain, and Lucerne Festivals, June in Buffalo, Twickenham Fest, and Chamberfest Dubuque, and has been featured as a soloist and ambassador for Elliott Carter’s music in China and Japan. Having passions for both “new” and “old” music, Ms. Ferguson is the only flutist to have worked simultaneously with conductors James Levine, Pierre Boulez, and William Christie on modern and baroque flutes in Lucerne, New York, and France.

Ms. Ferguson is the First Prize winner of the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition, of the New York Flute Club Young Artist competition, the Mid-Atlantic Flute Competition, the Juilliard Concerto Competition, and the J.C. Arriaga Chamber Music Competition and was a recipient of the 2014 Salon de Virtuosi grant. She is currently on the faculty of the Juilliard School teaching Ear Training in the Evening and Pre- College divisions and has taught on the faculty of the University of Buffalo. Born in Japan and raised in London and Boston, she now resides in New York City.