Frances Blaisdell

Frances Blaisdell (January 5, 1912 – March 11, 2009) was an American flautist, widely recognized as one of the first female professional flautists. She held positions with the National Orchestral Association, the New Opera Company and the New Friends of Music. In addition, she was the first woman to appear as a soloist and wind player in concert with the New York Philharmonic. In addition to playing, she also held teaching positions at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University, Dalcroze School, Mannes School of Music, and Stanford University where she taught for over 35 years. Blaisdell's teachers included Georges Barrère, Marcel Moyse and William Kincaid.

Biography Blaisdell was born in Tennessee on January 5, 1912, and was raised on a farm in Red Bank, New Jersey. She attended Red Bank Regional High School. She began studying the piccolo and flute at age 5 with her father, who was in the lumber business but loved playing the flute. Later, her father wrote to Ernest Wagner, then with the New York Philharmonic, asking him to teach "my Jim" flute lessons. He initially refused upon finding out she was actually a female, but was later persuaded to give her lessons. During the summer of 1932, she spent the summer studying with Marcel Moyse in France. In the 1930s she was first flute of the National Orchestral Association, New Opera Company, New York City Ballet and the New Friends of Music. Additionally, she performed under the baton of Leopold Stokowski at the opening of the Juilliard School in New York City.

In 1973, she and her husband moved to California where she accepted an interim position at Stanford University, which ultimately lasted for 35 years.

She also served on the executive board of the National Flute Association, who named her an honorary member in 1992 and awarded her their Lifetime Achievement Award in 1994. In 2006, she received the Lloyd W. Dinkelspiel Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education from Stanford University.