Famous flute player biography of michaels

As a chamber musician he has performed with many well known British quartets, quintets and ensembles (and worked alongside musicians of the ilk of James Galway and Murray Perahia) as well as being a member, at various times, of the Haffner and Albion wind ensembles, London Symphony Chamber Players and London Sinfonietta.

An interest in a wider repertoire led to a concurrent orchestral career, first as co-principal with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and then as principal flute of the London Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players and Britten Sinfonia. He now holds what he considers an ideal portfolio of tenures combining the principal flute chairs of a symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra and a contemporary music ensemble - namely the BBC Symphony Orchestra, the Academy of St Martin’s in the Fields and the London Sinfonietta. Through this work he has worked with a great raft of the world’s greatest conductors and soloists. Also, his particular interest in contemporary music has meant that he has also worked, often closely, with composers such as Messiaen, Takemitsu, Dutilleux, Berio, Boulez, Tippett, Birtwistle, Stockhausen, Henze, Adams, Carter, Penderecki, Lutoslawski.

A passionate and highly dedicated teacher Michael Cox is professor of flute at the Royal Academy of Music in London and is sought after as a visiting consultant and by students worldwide. In addition he has also given his unique curricular flute course internationally, most recently at the Oxford Flute Course, UK, and in Adelaide, Australia. Michael Cox plays on Altus flutes and has recently become an Altus Artist.

Supported by Michael and Patricia McLaren-Turner

Irish musician (1891–1945)

Musical artist

Michael Coleman (31 January 1891 – 4 January 1945) was a virtuosoIrish fiddler from County Sligo, and a major exponent of the Sligo fiddle style.

Early years

Michael Coleman was born in Knockgrania, in the rural Killavil district, near Ballymote, County Sligo, Ireland. His father, James Coleman, was from Banada in County Roscommon, and a respected flute player. Michael was the seventh child of James and Beatrice, and the surviving half of a pair of twins.

As a child he learned step dancing and fiddle playing, and performed at local houses. His elder brother Jim had a high reputation but was never recorded. In his formative years Michael was influenced by Uilleann pipers (a type of bagpipe), including Johnny Gorman.

He left school in 1908, at the age of 17. He competed at the Sligo Feis Ceoil in 1909 and again in 1910, and was placed joint third on both occasions. In 1914 he moved to Manchester, England to live with his older brother Pat, but returned home after several months.

Immigration to the United States

In October 1914, at the age of twenty-three, Coleman sailed to America with his friend John Hunt. Initially he stayed with his aunt in Lowell, Massachusetts and briefly joined the Keith Theatres vaudeville circuit. In 1917, he settled in New York City, and married Marie Fanning, originally from County Monaghan, Ireland. They had one child, Mary.

Recording years

Between 1921 and 1936, Coleman recorded eighty commercial 78-rpmrecords for many record labels, including Shannon, Vocalion Records, Columbia Records, Okeh Records, New Republic, Pathe, O'Beirne de Witt, Victor Records, Brunswick Records, and Decca Records. Some of these were re-issued under the Intrepid, International Recording Company, Coral Records, Ace of Hearts Records, and Shanachie Records labels.

Coleman was usually accompanied by one of the following pianists: Kathleen Brennan, Arthur P. Kenn

Michael Cox plays an ALTUS 1807AL

Michael Cox is one of Britain’s foremost flute-players. Although born in England he spent his childhood in Africa. He studied music at the Zimbabwe College of Music and then the Royal College of Music in London. Early competitive successes led directly to a solo career that has included concerts and recordings in all continents and performances with major orchestras and conductors. As a chamber musician he has performed with many well known British quartets, quintets and ensembles (and worked alongside musicians of the ilk of James Galway and Murray Perahia) as well as being a member, at various times, of the Haffner and Albion wind ensembles, London Symphony Chamber Players and London Sinfonietta.

A passionate and highly dedicated teacher, Michael Cox is professor of flute at the Royal Academy of Music in London and is sought after as a visiting consultant and by students worldwide. In addition he has also given his unique curricular flute course internationally, most recently at the Oxford Flute Course, UK, and in Adelaide, Australia.

"The stand out quality about my Altus flute which I find very hard to replicate in any other flute is, that it marries a wonderful warm depth of sound and a ringing clarity with a truly extraordinary tonal flexibility. It has a veritable encyclopedia of available tone colours which are fascinating to explore but at the same time the flute plays incredibly easily, well and reliably."