Bio
Ariel Kahn is a professional flutist, educator, and arts administrator who specializes in applied pedagogy, community engagement, and wellness-based practice strategies. In artistic programming, Ariel strives to combine contemporary and traditional styles and emphasizes the pedagogical importance to studying contrasting genres. With these eclectic programs, Ariel brings flute music to local venues, such as hospitals and retirement communities, to connect with new audiences.
She is a first year Doctoral Candidate studying with Dr. Jennifer Parker-Harley at the University of South Carolina. She was awarded the Flute Studio Teaching Assistantship and the Music Entrepreneurship Graduate Assistantship. In addition to her USC studio teaching, she is a private flute instructor with the USC Community Music School. Previously, she graduated with a M.M. in Flute Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts studying with Dr. Tadeu Coelho and a B.M. in Flute Performance and Music Industry at James Madison University studying with Dr. Beth Chandler Cahill.
Ariel was a finalist and prizewinner in three national flute competitions including the Atlanta Flute Club, Flute Society of Washington, and San Diego Flute Guild Young Artist Competitions. She was also selected as a semi-finalist for the Raleigh Area Flute Young Artist competition and the Myrna Brown Texas Flute Society competition. She has won masterclass competitions for the National Flute Association, UVA Flute Forum, Flute Society of Washington, Atlanta Flute Club, and the Mid-South Flute Society. Additionally, she has performed in masterclasses for Bonita Boyd, Alexa Still, Molly Barth, Brandon Patrick George, and Christinia Jennings. In the summer of 2022, she was selected to attend the Aria International Music Academy.
Ariel was a Frances Blaisdell Scholarship winner hosted by the National Flute Association in 2022 for the Chicago, IL convention. She is an avid chamber musician where she was selected to perform in the NFA Collegiate Flute Choir. Along with playing in many different instrumental chamber groups throughout her collegiate studies, Ariel performs in a flute and saxophone duo with her husband Haven Kahn. As an ensemble musician, Ariel has performed principal flute with the JMU, UNCSA, and USC symphony orchestras and wind ensembles. As an advocate for contemporary music, Ariel has performed with her chamber group on the JMU Contemporary Music Festival concert series and with the UNCSA Nu Ensemble.
As an active member of the flute community, she also served as the president of the JMU Flute Club and is currently on the board of the South Carolina Flute Society, striving to foster a community among collegiate flute players. When she is not playing the flute, Ariel enjoys spending time with her husband and baking homemade desserts. Ariel is furthering her education at USC to become a collegiate flute professor and pursue a performing career after graduation