Biography
Flutist Cynthia Bueker Ellis is a member of the Pacific Symphony, playing solo piccolo since 1979. The symphony recently returned from a triumphant debut at Carnegie Hall and an international tour to China in the 2017-2018 season. Her performance credits also include Los Angeles Music Center Opera, Pasadena Chamber Orchestra and the Cabrillo Music Festival in Santa Cruz, California. She has also served as the principal flutist for touring ballet companies on their Orange County stops including the Royal Ballet of London, American Ballet Theater, Stuttgart Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet. In January of 1995, she was appointed Principal Flutist with the Opera Pacific Orchestra, a position she held until the company’s closing in 2009. She has recorded with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Pacific Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra as well as on several major motion picture and cartoon soundtracks.
Ms. Ellis received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with Honors from California State University, Fullerton. She was named as one of O.C. Metro Magazine’s “Ten Women Making a Difference” in March 2002 for her work in the field of music education. She has been published in Flute Talk magazine, a international educational journal, and was appointed editor of the “Let’s Talk Picc” column in May 2003.
Music education is an important facet of Cindy’s career. She served as instructor of flute at California State University at Fullerton, where she held a lectureship position and coached chamber music from 1985 to 2011. During her tenure, Ms. Ellis performed the world premiere of Stephen Maphar’s Sonata for Flute, Wind Ensemble and Women’s Choir, “The Celestial”, at CSUF. Cindy is also an instructor for Pacific Symphony’s nationally recognized “Class Act” education and outreach program. She has served on the National Flute Association Pedagogy Committee and is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon. She was the Program Chair for the NFA’s annual convention held in Anaheim, CA, in 2010. Since 2011, she was named Music Director of the Laguna Flutes, a 25 member flute ensemble which concertizes throughout Orange County. Cindy is currently on faculty at Vanguard University and Saddleback College. She was part of the teaching artist faculty at the International Piccolo Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2013 and has also lead masterclasses in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Chamber music credits include performances in the Pacific Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Concerts and American Composers Festival Chamber Music Concerts, the Corona del Mar Baroque Festival, the Sonora Bach Festival, Fullerton Friends of Music Series and live broadcasts on KUSC’s Sundays Live! Concert Series. Her chamber trio, Les Amis Muscalles, won first place in the National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition. The group has performed at NFA annual conventions in Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, and San Diego, California. The trio commissioned several composers for new works, among them, Arni Egilsson, Bruce Broughten, and James Hopkins. Their first CD, “Beyond Beethoven” was released on the Centaur Label. She currently performs as a member of the flute and harp duo Arioso, with Michelle Temple and recently released their debut CD “Petite Delights: Romantic Music for Flute and Harp” (Centaur label.)
Ms. Ellis is a Powell artist.
Ms. Ellis received both her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees with Honors from California State University, Fullerton. She was named as one of O.C. Metro Magazine’s “Ten Women Making a Difference” in March 2002 for her work in the field of music education. She has been published in Flute Talk magazine, a international educational journal, and was appointed editor of the “Let’s Talk Picc” column in May 2003.
Music education is an important facet of Cindy’s career. She served as instructor of flute at California State University at Fullerton, where she held a lectureship position and coached chamber music from 1985 to 2011. During her tenure, Ms. Ellis performed the world premiere of Stephen Maphar’s Sonata for Flute, Wind Ensemble and Women’s Choir, “The Celestial”, at CSUF. Cindy is also an instructor for Pacific Symphony’s nationally recognized “Class Act” education and outreach program. She has served on the National Flute Association Pedagogy Committee and is a member of Mu Phi Epsilon. She was the Program Chair for the NFA’s annual convention held in Anaheim, CA, in 2010. Since 2011, she was named Music Director of the Laguna Flutes, a 25 member flute ensemble which concertizes throughout Orange County. Cindy is currently on faculty at Vanguard University and Saddleback College. She was part of the teaching artist faculty at the International Piccolo Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2013 and has also lead masterclasses in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
Chamber music credits include performances in the Pacific Symphony Orchestra Chamber Music Concerts and American Composers Festival Chamber Music Concerts, the Corona del Mar Baroque Festival, the Sonora Bach Festival, Fullerton Friends of Music Series and live broadcasts on KUSC’s Sundays Live! Concert Series. Her chamber trio, Les Amis Muscalles, won first place in the National Flute Association Chamber Music Competition. The group has performed at NFA annual conventions in Columbus, Ohio, Dallas, Texas, and San Diego, California. The trio commissioned several composers for new works, among them, Arni Egilsson, Bruce Broughten, and James Hopkins. Their first CD, “Beyond Beethoven” was released on the Centaur Label. She currently performs as a member of the flute and harp duo Arioso, with Michelle Temple and recently released their debut CD “Petite Delights: Romantic Music for Flute and Harp” (Centaur label.)
Ms. Ellis is a Powell artist.
“Flutist Cynthia Ellis...brought moments of silken ensemble and gathering excitement to Debussy’s 1916 Sonata...”
The Los Angeles Times
(In review of Pacific Symphony Chamber Concert Series)
“Cynthia Ellis played a beguiling flute solo in the Entr’acte to Act 3.”
Orange County Register
(In review of Opera Pacific’s Carmen at the Orange County Performing Arts Center)
The Los Angeles Times
(In review of Pacific Symphony Chamber Concert Series)
“Cynthia Ellis played a beguiling flute solo in the Entr’acte to Act 3.”
Orange County Register
(In review of Opera Pacific’s Carmen at the Orange County Performing Arts Center)
