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The flute studio at Lamont is not just a place to increase your artistry—it's a dynamic and collaborative community where you can grow, connect, and be inspired. Our studio is vibrant and collaborative, where flutists challenge and support one another in pursuit of artistic excellence. Guided by Prof. Julie Thornton, students engage in intensive private lessons, chamber music, performance class, large ensembles, and masterclasses with renowned guest artists. In Lamont’s flute studio, students celebrate each other’s successes and push one another to reach new artistic heights.

Audition Requirements

Prof. Thornton's Studio

Lamont's flute studio offers a supportive, close-knit community where students are encouraged to grow into their unique musical voice. Led by Colorado Symphony flutist Julie Duncan Thornton, the studio emphasizes collaboration, individual growth, and musical excellence. With just 7–8 students, each flutist receives personal attention and tailored instruction to meet their goals—whether preparing for auditions, exploring new music, or refining technique.

Flute students gain extensive performance experience each quarter through large ensembles, chamber groups, and regular solo opportunities. Guest artists such as Chelsea Knox and Gareth McLearnon visit regularly, and current students are active in national events like the NFA Convention. At Lamont, you’ll be challenged, supported, and inspired to reach your full potential.

If you're passionate about the flute and looking for a place where you’ll be challenged, supported, and inspired to become your best self, the Lamont Flute Studio is ready to welcome you.

Faculty

Lamont flute students study with Prof. Julie Duncan Thornton, piccolo and utility flute with the Colorado Symphony. Prof. Thornton has previously performed with the New York Philharmonic, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Oregon Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Houston Symphony. She serves on the faculty of the Colorado College Sumer Music Festival, where she teaches some of the top college flutists and performs chamber music with world class faculty artists.

Julie Duncan Thronton holding a flute

Julie Thornton

Adjunct Faculty, Flute

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Flute section rehearses with the Lamont Wind Ensemble

Degree Programs

Piccolo student performs with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra

Auditions

Applicants may choose to either audition in person in Denver OR submit a recorded video audition.

Applications received after January 15 will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. You may indicate your preference for a live or virtual audition on the Lamont application.

Click here to view the current year’s audition dates and the full steps for how to apply.

  • In-Person Audition Requirements
    All auditions are approximately 15 minutes in length. The applicant will choose one of their prepared works to perform. The faculty will choose the second of the prepared works and possibly an additional work as well.
    Undergraduate (BM, BA and Minor)
    • One or two major scales and one or two minor scales (any form of minor is fine) along with a 3-octave chromatic scale up and down
    • Exposition of the 1st movement of a Mozart Flute Concerto (G Major or D Major)
    • A contrasting solo of your choice (for example: any French conservatory solo, i.e., Fauré's Fantaisie, Enescu's Cantabile et Presto, Chaminade's Concertino, etc. or a piece of your choosing)

     

    Graduate (MM and certificate in performance)
    • Exposition of the 1st movement and opening of the 2nd movement of either Mozart Flute Concerto (G Major or D Major)
    • A contrasting piece of your choosing
    • Three (3) standard orchestral excerpts

     

    Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
    Review Requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies

  • Video Audition Requirements
    Applicants unable to travel to Denver for a live audition may submit a video audition via the Lamont application. Repertoire may be recorded separately in multiple takes; editing within each take is prohibited.
    Undergraduate (BM, BA and Minor)
    • One or two major scales and one or two minor scales (any form of minor is fine) along with a 3-octave chromatic scale up and down
    • Exposition of the 1st movement of a Mozart Flute Concerto (G Major or D Major)
    • A contrasting solo of your choice (for example: any French conservatory solo, i.e., Fauré's Fantaisie, Enescu's Cantabile et Presto, Chaminade's Concertino, etc. or a piece of your choosing)

     

    Graduate (MM and certificate in performance)
    • Exposition of the 1st movement and opening of the 2nd movement of either Mozart Flute Concerto (G Major or D Major)
    • A contrasting piece of your choosing
    • Three (3) standard orchestral excerpts

     

    Review Requirements for Artist Diploma
    Review Requirements for Certificate in Orchestral Studies

Life After Lamont

Notable Flute Alumni

Lamont students have worked with some of the most prestigious music organizations in the world. Alumni have performed with the Metropolitan Opera, Philadelphia Orchestra, Wolf Trap, Vancouver Symphony, Broadway, the West End, and San Francisco Opera. Lamont composers have premiered works at Carnegie Hall and the Monterey Jazz Festival, and conductors have led orchestras from Brazil to Hungary. Graduates of our Musicology and music theory programs hold posts at prestigious institutions nation-wide. And our recording and production students have launched careers in Hollywood, editing soundtracks for films like Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

  • Katy Wherry - BM 2011

    Founder of Etude of the Week and 2017 Galway Rising Star award winner.

  • Victoria Mogollon - BA 2016

    Post Doctoral Fellow in Musicology, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.

  • Ana Trujillo - BM 2022 

    Principal flute Gulf Coast Symphony and founder/director of Blooming Behavior Therapy Clinic.

  • Julie Duncan Thornton

    Julie Duncan Thornton.

  • flutes

    Lamont flutists perform with the Lamont Symphony Orchestra.

  • Flute
university buildings at night

See Lamont for Yourself

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Alumna Profile

Jenna Bainbridge
Alumna Profile: Jenna Bainbridge

Jenna is a member of the ensemble as well as understudy for one of the principal roles, and our conversation quickly turned to how she manages the rigor of a Broadway schedule of eight shows per week. From a health standpoint, she thinks of it as a marathon versus a sprint.

Full story