Alison Melville, Recorder & Early Flutes

Toronto-born Alison Melville began playing the recorder in a school classroom in London (UK). Years later, she was the first recorder player to receive an M.Mus.Perf. from the University of Toronto, and studied at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis as the winner of numerous awards from the Canada Council. Long recognized as one of Canada’s leading bright lights on historical flutes, she has performed across Canada and the USA and in New Zealand, Iceland, Japan, and Europe.

Alison is a member of the Toronto Consort and the Arctic fusion band Ensemble Polaris, appears often as a soloist and orchestral player on both recorder and Baroque flute with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, and has played under the auspices of the Toronto Symphony, Canadian Opera Co., Boston Early Music Festival, Festival Vancouver, la Nouvele Sinfonie, New Music Concerts, Soundstreams, Opera Atelier and many, many others. Some memorable moments include playing for CBC-TV’s ‘The Friendly Giant,’ Atom Egoyan’s ‘The Sweet Hereafter,’ several solo shows in inner-city London schools, and, oh yes, a summer of concerts in Ontario’s prisons.

Her work in the realms of arranging/composing/improvising have been heard in 999 Years of Music, Post-Medieval Syndrome, Ensemble Polaris, Baroque Music beside the Grange, Amherst Early Music Festival, and the Oberlin Conservatory.

Alison has been heard on CBC/Radio-Canada, BBC, RNZ, NPR and Iceland State Broadcast Service. Her discography includes over 40 CDs, including four critically acclaimed solo recordings and several JUNO Award-winning CDs with Tafelmusik. Her most recent CD, ‘She’s Sweetest when she’s naked,’ features flute music from 18th-century Scotland.

Alison has been Assistant Professor of Recorder at the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music (USA) since 1999. More info at www.alisonmelville.com