Tadeu Coelho

“Tadeu Coelho has the most solid technique of a very consistent school. The art of interpretation of this wonderful Latin American musician is compared by critics to soloists in the rank of Jean-Pierre Rampal or Severino Gazzeloni.”  — Siempre!, Mexico
 
“Bravo! Tadeu! Rampal used to say that the flute has the sound of humanity. Listening to Tadeu Coelho, we can only agree with Rampal. Tadeu is impressive. He is the revelation of this generation.”  — Cruzeiro do Sul, Brazil 

“Tadeu Coelho gave an exceptional interpretation. There is no doubt about his virtuoso abilities topped with a degree of musicianship that was magnific and complete.”  — Diario Popular, Brazil 

Brazilian-born flutist Tadeu Coelho is Professor of Flute at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2013–14 he received both the UNCSA Excellence in Teaching Award and the North Carolina Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. He performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and master clinician throughout the Americas, and has held principal positions with the Santa Fe Symphony, the Hofer Symphoniker in Germany, and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Italy, among others. He has also appeared as guest flutist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.

A passionate advocate for new music, Dr. Coelho has commissioned, premiered, and recorded works by a multitude of composers including Steven Block, João Dias Carrasqueira, Lawrence Dillon, Mark Engebretson, Lawrence Fritts, Eduardo Gamboa, David McHugh, Ronald Roseman, Manuel Gutiérrez-Heras, and Ruth Schonthal among others. 

Dr. Coelho’s extensive discography includes Live from New Orleans (Quarteto Vivace Brasil); Azules: Enchanting Music for the Soul (with harpist Karen Thielen); Nocturnes (with pianist Simon Tedeschi); Modernly Classic and 18th Century Flute Sonatas (with pianist Eric Larsen); Flute Music from Brazil; ¡Rompe!: Mexican Chamber Music for Flute; and Life-Drawing: Works for Solo Flute. He is also featured on 3D Classics with music by Thomas Delio, and on Albany Records performing Villa-Lobos with his brother, bassoonist Benjamin Coelho.

In addition to his recordings, Dr. Coelho has published the complete works of Pattápio Silva, as well as several pedagogical collections of daily flute exercises with accompanying tracks. His recent publications include a transcription of Paganini’s Caprice No. 24 for solo flute, with the goal of preserving the integrity of the violin original, and a forthcoming transcription of Bach’s Chaconne.

Tadeu Coelho’s research interests are diverse, with particular focus on Flow theory, Free Improvisation, and electronic music. His work on Flow has yielded significant pedagogical applications, while his explorations in improvisation and technology have broadened performance practices. Dr. Coelho’s passion for performance—whether acoustic, improvised, or technologically mediated—has helped expand contemporary expectations of the artist-virtuoso, redefining the skills and versatility required of 21st-century musicians.

Dr. Coelho is a Miyazawa Artist. His publications are available through Flute World and at www.tadeucoelho.com.