Jill Felber

Jill Felber is an internationally acclaimed recording artist, dynamic flute recitalist, innovative chamber musician, legendary contemporary music specialist, and a distinguished flute teacher who inspires and motivates students worldwide.

Jill Felber has been hailed for her “beautifully finished performances” by The Detroit News and has been praised by Musical America for her “handsome performance.”  The British journal PAN writes, “Felber was stunning…not only refined but also full of fun.”  “The incredible flutist…the dazzling flutist…the radiant flutist Jill Felber” (The Independent, Santa Barbara), is known to excite audiences everywhere in concerts and recitals “played with flair” (The Los Angeles Times). “The outstanding American flutist Jill Felber” (Gazeta Rybnicka, Poland) is acclaimed worldwide for her “consummate musicianship” (Fanfare).

Ms. Felber has performed solo recitals, chamber music, and concertos in thirteen countries on five continents and has held residencies in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia, Mexico, France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Italy, Canada, Brazil, Ecuador, Costa Rica and the United States. Also a tireless promoter of new music, Ms. Felber has inspired many composers to write solo and chamber works for her and for her flute duo ZAWA!, and is currently engaged in several commissioning projects. She has premiered over six hundred works for the flute and has released world premiere recordings for Centaur Records, CRI, Neuma Records, BCM+D Records, Albany Records and ZAWA!MUSIC.

A founding member of ZAWA!, the longest-standing professional flute duo of our time, musical soulmates Jill Felber and Claudia Anderson merged artistic forces in 1997, and from their first commission onwards, expanded the literature, power, and expressive range of two flutes together for over 25 years.  running the edgE by Jennifer Higdon (commissioned in 1996) burst open the expressive possibilities of two flutes together and laid the foundation for ZAWA!’s commitment to expand this repertoire and to reflect a wealth of contemporary styles.  Their arrangements of Claudio Monteverdi and Jules Mouquet exhibit sheer beauty of sound and breathtaking lyricism at the other end of the expressive spectrum.  Collectively, ZAWA!’s diverse repertoire displays the drama, versatility and humor they are known for, all delivered with high-spirited energy and impact. 

In demand as a guest clinician because of her extraordinary motivational teaching style, Ms. Felber taught for 44 years at the collegiate level and was Professor of Flute at the University of California, Santa Barbara from 1989-2024, where she earned the Distinguished Teaching Award. Ms. Felber was inducted into the Port Clinton High (OH) School Hall of Fame in 2025. Highly regarded by her peers around the world, Ms. Felber currently presents her popular EXTREME MAKEOVER: FLUTE EDITION and WHOLE FLUTES® seminars throughout the country and frequently tours with pianist Dianne Frazer, showcasing their arranged “Fusions” at conventions, flute societies and universities. Holding degrees from University of Michigan and Bowling Green State University, Ms. Felber has taught on the faculties of Ohio University, Capital University, and Wright State University. Her teachers include Keith Bryan, Judith Bentley, Samuel Baron, and James Galway.

In addition to Ms. Felber’s remarkable career performing and teaching with creativity and passion, she is also an effective leader in the field of arts administration.  Having served as Chair of the Department of Music at UC Santa Barbara, she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Santa Barbara’s Community Arts Music Association and on the Board of Directors for Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation.  Professor Felber has been active in the National Flute Association, as a member of its Board of Directors for two terms, as Program Chair for the 1993 National Flute Association’s conference in Boston, Massachusetts, and on several committees.  As a founding member of the Flute and Clarinet Duo Consortium, she was a member of its initial Board of Directors with a mission to commission new works for flute and clarinet.  Prior to moving to California, she served on the Board of Directors of the Detroit Contemporary Chamber Ensemble.