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Maria Harding, flute

Maria Harding, principal flute of the Omaha Symphony since 1997, began her orchestral career at age 16 in the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. She has played with the Saint Louis, San Diego, and Kansas City symphonies, the Schlossfestspiele Orchestra in Heidelberg, Germany, and has held the position of principal flute with the Charleston (SC) Symphony Orchestra. As a soloist, at age 18, she was awarded first prize in a competition sponsored by the National Flute Association. She also won top awards at the McCarty Young Artists’ Competition and the Myrna Brown Competition. The Yamaha Corporation took note of her talent and named her a Young Performing Artist and, later, a Yamaha Artist/Clinician. Through this program she currently serves as a visiting musical coach in university programs and summer festivals across the country. In addition to her full-time orchestral schedule, Maria gives more than 30 solo performances a year. Locally, she dedicates considerable time bringing music to Omaha senior centers, children’s hospitals, and hospice facilities. Maria enjoys a large private teaching studio, with students ranging from beginners through emerging professionals. She hopes to perpetuate the caring guidance she received from her own fine teachers: Margaret Redcay (early studies), Bonita Boyd (Eastman School of Music), and Bradley Garner and Jack Wellbaum (Cincinnati Conservatory of Music).