SOLOIST · FLUTE
Demarre McGill
Seattle Symphony
Principal Flute Avery Fisher
Career Grant winner Sphinx
Medal of Excellence Curtis & Juilliard
Degrees ABOUT
Demarre McGill has gained international recognition as one of the premier flutists of his generation, celebrated for his lyrical expressiveness and technical prowess. Winner of the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and the Sphinx Medal of Excellence, McGill has appeared as a soloist with renowned orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the San Francisco, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Dallas, Grant Park, San Diego, Chicago, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. His captivating performances have earned him critical acclaim and a distinguished place in the world of classical music.
Currently serving as the principal flute of the Seattle Symphony, McGill has previously held principal flute positions with the Dallas Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra. He has also served as acting principal flute with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
In the 2025-26 season, Demarre McGill appears in collaboration with Chamber Music San Francisco, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Music of the Baroque, and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. As a soloist, McGill appears with the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra, the Peninsula Symphony, Symphony Tacoma, the Olympia Symphony, and the Fresno Philharmonic.
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As an educator, Demarre McGill is committed to inspiring and nurturing the next generation of musicians. He has coached and presented master classes in South Africa, South Korea, Japan, Quebec, and throughout the United States. He has served on the faculties of the National Youth Orchestra of the United States, the National Orchestral Institute at the University of Maryland, the Orford Music Festival, Summerfest at the Curtis Institute of Music, Sarasota Music Festival, and the Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa. Additionally, McGill spent seven years as the Associate Professor of Flute at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and has been an artist-faculty member of the Aspen Music Festival and School since 2017.
Demarre McGill is also a founding member of the Myriad Trio and a former member of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's Bowers Program. He is the co-founder of Art of Élan and is a regular participant in prestigious chamber music festivals such as Santa Fe, Marlboro, Seattle, and Stellenbosch. In 2014, McGill co-founded the McGill/McHale Trio with his brother clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Michael McHale. Their debut CD, "Portraits," released in August 2017, has received rave reviews, as has "Winged Creatures," his recording with Anthony McGill and the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra.
A champion for accessibility and relevance in classical music, Demarre McGill actively promotes the works of underrepresented composers and engages in projects that highlight diverse cultural perspectives. His media credits include appearances on PBS's Live from Lincoln Center, A&E Network's The Gifted Ones, NBC's Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, along with his brother Anthony, on Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
Born in Chicago, Demarre McGill began studying the flute at age 7 and attended the Merit School of Music. In the years that followed, he studied with Susan Levitin. Demarre received his Bachelor's degree from The Curtis Institute of Music and a Master's degree from The Juilliard School. Demarre McGill is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
For additional background, please visit https://www.demarremcgill.com/.
PRESS & REVIEWS
What the critics say
“From his first notes, the effect was astonishing. It was the tone he drew from his instrument which caught the ear first…”
— The Sunbreak
“McGill plays the same note at least a dozen different ways, allowing us to appreciate the subtle beauty and variability of his sound.”
— EarRelevant
“A beautiful fluidity to their tones and incredibly precise technique — masterfully in synch in terms of timbre, intonation, and timing.”
— Black Grooves
Discography
Recordings
VIDEOS
Videos
Concerto Repertoire
Programs & Repertoire
Concerto Repertoire
- Mozart Flute Concerto in G major, K. 313
- Ibert Flute Concerto
- Nielsen Flute Concerto
- C.P.E. Bach Flute Concerto in D minor, H. 425
- Kevin Puts Flute Concerto
- Marc-André Dalbavie Flute Concerto
- Reinecke Flute Concerto, Op. 283
- Rodrigo Concierto pastoral
- Chen Yi The Golden Flute
- Borne Carmen Fantasy
- Fauré Fantaisie, Op. 79
- Michael Tilson Thomas Notturno
- Griffes Poem
Program One
- Poulenc Sonata for Flute and Piano
- Valerie Coleman Fanmi Imèn
- Lowell Liebermann Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 23
- Intermission
- William Grant Still Songs for Flute and Piano
- Yuko Uebayashi Sonata for Flute and Piano
Program Two
- Giulio Briccialdi Fantasy on Themes from Verdi's Il Trovatore
- Valerie Coleman Fanmi Imèn
- Guillaume Connesson Le Rire de Saraï
- Intermission
- Jake Heggie Soliloquy
- Prokofiev Sonata for Flute and Piano, Op. 94
On Stage
Featured Projects
Demarre McGill & Balourdet Quartet
Flute and String Quartet
World-renowned flutist Demarre McGill and the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Prize-winning Balourdet Quartet unite for a program centered on Amy Beach's Theme and Variations for Flute and String Quartet, Op. 80. At the heart of their upcoming album, the work showcases the profound lyricism and intricate interplay of these exceptional musicians — a chance to present Beach's masterpiece as part of the America 250 celebration.
Kinsfolknem
Wind Soloists and Chamber Orchestra
Kinsfolknem is a new Concertante by composer Jasmine Barnes — a 15–20 minute concerto for four trailblazing principals of major U.S. orchestras and chamber orchestra: clarinetist Anthony McGill, flutist Demarre McGill, oboist Titus Underwood, and bassoonist Andrew Brady. Premiered in summer 2024 at Carnegie Hall with NYO2, the project pairs a beautiful, lyrical new work with a mini-residency of masterclasses, coaching, and mentorship for young artists.
McGill/McHale Trio
Flute, Clarinet, and Piano
The McGill/McHale Trio came together in 2014, when brothers Anthony McGill (clarinet) and Demarre McGill (flute), then in residency at Bowling Green State University, were joined in concert by pianist Michael McHale for the first time. The trio's debut album Portraits showcases the colorful and unusual combination of flute, clarinet, and piano.