Mathieu Dufour, Flute

Biography

Mathieu Dufour has served as principal flute of the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra since 1999. Before coming to Chicago, he was principal flute
solo of the Paris National Opera Orchestra from 1996 to 1999.

Dufour began his flute studies at the age of eight with Madeleine
Chassang at the National Regional Conservatory in his hometown of
Paris, France. At age fourteen, he was awarded the school's gold medal
by unanimous vote. He subsequently studied with Maxence Larrieu at the
National Conservatory of Music in Lyon, where he was unanimously
awarded first prize in 1993. Additional awards include second prize at
the Jean-Pierre Rampal International Flute Competition (1990); third
prize at the International Flute Competition in Budapest (1991); and
second prize at the International Flute Competition in Kobe, Japan
(1997).

Dufour frequently appears as soloist in recitals and concerts around
the world. He made his Carnegie Hall and Lucerne Festival debuts as
soloist with the Chicago Symphony under Daniel Barenboim in 2002. He
has also soloed with the CSO under conductors Pierre Boulez and
Christoph Eschenbach, among others. He is in demand as a coach and
teacher, and has led masterclasses in Canada, Japan, Europe, and the
United States. Dufour is a member of The Chicago Chamber Musicians and
serves on the faculty of the Chicago College of Performing Arts at
Roosevelt University.

This is Mathieu Dufour's first recording as a featured soloist for
Cedille Records. (He has been heard as a member of The Chicago Chamber
Musicians and Chicago Symphony Orchestra on previous Cedille CDs.) He
has also recorded on the BMG, Saphir, and Harmonia Mundi labels,
including, most recently, a recital disc of sonatas by Prokofiev,
Hindemith, and Martinu for the latter.