B i o g r a p h y
Described by the Canadian journal, Flute Focus as, “...having shattered any notions that the piccolo might be lacking in deep, expressive powers," flutist Christine Erlander Beard enjoys an active international career as a soloist, chamber artist and teacher. A passionate performer noted for her "great expressive tone and range" (Christopher Caliendo, composer) and her “...capacity to reveal the deep soul of a composition” (Martin Rokeach, composer), she has performed extensively across North America, South America and Europe, including 18 conventions of the National Flute Association and 3 British Flute Society International Conventions, and regularly serves as a guest artist on the international flute festival circuit, most recent of which includes the International Piccolo Festival (Italy), the Zodiac Festival (France), and the Puerto Rico Flute Festival. Upcoming engagements in 2025 include festivals and concerts in Costa Rica, Canada, Japan, and across the USA in AR, KS, MI, NE, TX.
Highlights of recent seasons include solo performances with the Orquestra Filarmonica de Mendoza (Argentina), the Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre (Brazil), the Orchestra Harmonia Mundi (Italy), and the Nebraska Wind Symphony. Recently awarded Second Prize in the prestigious American Prize Competition's Professional Soloist division, Christine can be heard alongside the French piccolo legend Jean-Louis Beaumadier on his CD, Postcards: World Piccolo, Vol. 2; with Brazilian guitarist Daniel Wolff on his newest CD, Iberoamericano; and with Newberry's Victorian Cornet Band on two CDs: Victorian Era Music for Brass Band by Thomas Coates, and Wind Band Music of the Gilded Age, the latter of which features Beard performing August Damm's "Through the Air" for solo piccolo and brass band. As a core member of the International SuperFlutes Collective, she has concertized in Japan, Brazil, Costa Rica, the UK, and at numerous NFA conventions in the USA.
Passionate about collaborating with composers, Christine has commissioned and/or premiered dozens of new works from composers across the globe. Well known for her decade-long collaborations with British composer Matthew Smith, her most recent commissioning projects include joining consortiums for new music for flute by Amanda Harberg, Valerie Coleman, Samuel Zyman, and Reena Ismail; and new piccolo compositions by Leanna Keith, Amanda Harberg, Jim Stephenson, and Daniel Wolff. Christie’s newest endeavor is to encourage music with social justice themes that inspire dialogue and social activism: #theflutistactivist initiative has brought forth three new pieces: the first for flute and mixed media by Leanna Keith based on gun violence in the USA; a work piccolo and piano inspired by the global warming crisis by Herman Beeftink; and the 3rd piece in the series, "C10H15N" for piccolo and piano by Linthicum-Blackhorse, a theatric work paraphrasing the drug epidemic in America, which Beard premiered at the 2024 NFA Conventoion.
In 2007, Beard founded the International Piccolo Symposium, an intense 4-day workshop held at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. The goal of IPS is to bring piccolo players and enthusiasts together from all over the world to learn about and discuss solo, chamber and orchestral music featuring the piccolo, and pedagogical issues specific to the piccolo, led by some of the world's leading piccolo players. Christie has served the National Flute Association as a member of both its Piccolo Committee and Scholarship Committee, as a regular adjudicator for the NFA Piccolo Artist competition, and as a contributing editor for the NFA's journal, The Flutist Quarterly. She has appeared on an episode of the Flute 360o podcast; contributed to "Practice With the Experts: Piccolo Edition" compiled by Erica Peel; is featured in Theodore Presser's book, "It's Performance Day!" authored by Cathy Herrera; and her pedagogical articles and columns have been published in Pan (British Flute Society's journal), The Flutist Quarterly, Flutewise, The Flute Examiner, Flute Talk, and The Instrumentalist.
Christine earned her MM and DMA in flute performance from The University of Texas at Austin where she was a student of Karl "Fritz" Kraber. She teaches flute/piccolo, chamber music, and contemporary music literature at the University of Nebraska at Omaha where she was named UNO’s Outstanding Graduate Mentor and was also selected as UNO's recipient for its campus-wide Award for Distinguished Research of Creative Activity. A regular substitute player with the Omaha and Sioux City Symphonies, she is a Sankyo Flutes artist and a piccolo artist for Hernandez Flutes. In addition to performing, Beard's research interests include music by exiled/banned/censored/persecuted composers, as well as the role of music during the Holocaust and music composed for flute by victims of the Holocaust. Christie plays on a 5K-DT Sankyo flute, and on a Burkhart Elite Deluxe multi-trill piccolo with gold tenons paired with a quebracho wood headjoint made by Julio Hernandez. www.christiebeard.net
Recent News
SuperFlutes Invited Back to Japan for 3rd Appearance
December 2024
The International SuperFlutes Collective has been invited to perform at the Japan Flute Festival in August 2025.
Beard awarded Honorable Mention in American Prize Competition 2023-2024
December 2024
Christie was awarded Honorable Mention in the AP's Professional Soloist category division competition for her performance of "Hall of Ghosts" (2020) for solo piccolo by Amanda Harberg. For the same performance, she was also named a Finalist for the AP's Ernst Bacon American Music award.
Piccolo FOR SALE
Nov. 21, 2019
Time to sell my trusty old friend! Here are the details: Roy Seaman signature LTD piccolo; Solid silver keys; Split E (can be turned off/on); Wave-style headjoint; Used professionally by one owner (me); New ones are selling for $3,500.00; I am asking $2,250.00. Option for ADDITIONAL piccolo headjoint by Julio Hernandez (add $785+ depending on style). Contact me for details! 🎶
Announcing #theflutistactivist Initiative
September 1, 2019
Check back for details SOON about Christie's newest project, #theflutistactivitst initative!
SECOND PLACE: The American Prize
April 30, 2019
Flutist Christine Beard has been awarded Second Prize in the 2018-2019 Instrumental Soloist Professional Division of The American Prize! Visit http://theamericanprize.blogspot.com/2019/04/winners-american-prize-in-instrumental.html for complete information.
Christine Beard joins the Whole Musician Team!
March 9, 2019
The Whole Musician team is excited to announce that Christine Beard has accepted an invitation to join their faculty roster! Visit the WM website to find out more about this groundbreaking nonprofit group and their upcoming retreat schedule.
Beard recipient of UNO's ADROCA 2018-2019
February 1, 2019
Christine Beard has been selected as the 2018-2019 recipient of University of Nebraska at Omaha's campus-wide Award for Distinguished Creative Activity or Research (ADROCA), becoming only the 2nd faculty member in UNO's history from Music, and only the 3rd from ANY arts-related field to receive the honor.
Hernandez Flutes in the USA!
August 15, 2017
Following his well-received presence exhibiting at the 45th National Flute Association Convention, Christine Beard will be assisting Julio Hernandez in making a select number of his headjoints available to flutists in the USA. If you are in North America and would like to set up a trial, contact Christie for details!
Christine Beard Joins Sankyo Flutes International Artist Roster!
July 1, 2016
Christine Beard has been named to the Sankyo Flutes International Artist Roster. "I have played my Sankyo 5K-DT flute since 2007 and in that time it has totally transformed my flute playing. I am excited to be a part of the Sankyo team and look forward to what the future holds!"
Commissions & Premieres
* denotes works that were commissioned by &/or written for Christine Beard
^ denotes works that were commissioned by a consortium in which Christine contributed
# Christine was involved in the premiere performance of the work
Composer/Title/Details
MUSIC FOR OR WITH PICCOLO
Beeftink, Herman. “Rising Oceans” for 2 piccolos and piano#
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World premiere of new duo arrangement at the 2025 Chicago Flute Festival with flutist Marie Bennett
Hailstork, Adolphus. “Caprice” for solo piccolo^
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Consortium commission participant, headed by Regina Helcher Yost (Charleston Symphony) 2025
Linthicum-Blackhorse, William. C10H15N for piccolo and piano*#
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#flutistactivist commission by Christine Beard; world premiere 2024 at the National Flute Association Convention
Martyniuk, Michal. Title TBA for solo piccolo^
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Consortium commission participant 2023; world premiere TBA
Loeb, David. “Winterscape” for solo piccolo#
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World premiere at St. Cecilia’s Flower Festival; Omaha, NE; January 2023
Loeb, David. “The Princess of Weaving” for solo piccolo#
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World premiere at St. Cecilia’s Flower Festival; Omaha, NE; January 2023
Gareth McLearnon. “Single, Yellow, Nein!” for piccolo ensemble#
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World premiere at the National Flute Association Flute Convention; Chicago, IL; August 2022
Giorgio Tortora. “La situazione è bloccata” for piccolo ensemble# 2022
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World premiere at the National Flute Association Flute Convention; Chicago, IL; August 2022
Loeb, David. “Seicho” for solo piccolo# 2020
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World premiere at the Puerto Rico Flute Symposium “At Home” edition; June 2020
Raul Costa d’Avila. “Singelezas” for solo piccolo# 2020
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North American premiere at the Puerto Rico Flute Symposium “At Home” edition; June 2020
Smith, Matt. Sonata No. 5 for piccolo and piano# 2019
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World premiere at the Flutist New Music Consortium New Music Festival; New York; January 2020
Herman Beeftink. “Rising Oceans” for piccolo and piano*# 2019
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NFA premiere at the National Flute Association Flute Convention; Chicago, IL; August 2022
Harberg, Amanda. Sonata for piccolo and piano^ 2018
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Consortium commission participant, headed by Regina Helcher Yost (Charleston Symphony)
Loeb, David. “Imagined Landscapes, Book III” for solo piccolo# 2018
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World Premiere at the Chicago Flute Festival; November 2019
Stephenson, Jim. Sonata for piccolo and piano^ 2018
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Consortium commission participant, headed by Jennifer Gunn (Chicago Symphony)
Wolff, Daniel. “A Near Deaf Experience” for two piccolos* 2018
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Written for Leonardo Winter and Christine Beard; premiere forthcoming (delayed by COVID-19)
Tortora, Giorgio. “La situazione è bloccata” for piccolo ensemble# 2018
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World premiere at the International Piccolo Festival; Italy; July 2018
Vosk, Jay. “Ramas de Plata” (Silver Branches) for piccolo and piano# 2016
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World premiere at the National Flute Association Convention; Minneapolis, MN; August 2017
Baldwin, Daniel. “Haven” for piccolo and piano*# 2016
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World premiere at National Flute Association Convention; San Diego, CA; August 2016
Beeftink, Herman. “Birds” for piccolo, flute and cello# 2016
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World premiere at the VII UFRGS Flute Festival; Porto Alegre, Brazil; September 2016
Dunleavy, Houston. Concerto for piccolo & wind ensemble* 2015
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World premiere forthcoming
Loeb, David. “Distant Echoes” for two piccolos^# 2014
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World premiere at the National Flute Association Convention (2015); with Mary Ann Archer (MET Orchestra piccolo); Washington, D.C.
Groslot, Robert. “Intermezzo and First Chorus” for piccolo septet# 2014
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World premieres: National Flute Association Convention (Chicago, IL); and the British Flute Society Convention (Warwick, UK); both in August 2014
Smith, Matt. Sonata No. 4 for piccolo and piano# 2014
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North American premiere: San Francisco Flute Convention; November 2014
Smith, Matt. Sonata No. 3 “To the Nth Degree” for piccolo and piano*# 2013
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World premieres at the International Piccolo Symposium, July 2013; and the National Flute Association Convention (New Orleans), August 2013
Charke, Derek. “Raga Nau:” for mixed flute quartet (with piccolo) # 2013
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World premiere: National Flute Association Convention; New Orleans, LA; August 2013
McIntosh, Diana. “Sleep's Borderland” for piccolo and low flutes ensemble# 2013
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World premiere at the 1st Canadian Flute Convention; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; July 2013
Waddle, P. Kellach. “What is Reflected from Inside the Vampire's Cape” for solo piccolo* 2013
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World premiere forthcoming
Waddle, P. Kellach. “The Shadows Sirens Make as They Lure Innocent to the Vampire's Lighthouse” *# 2013
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World premiere UNO faculty recital; Omaha, NE; 2013
Loeb, David. “Six Harbingers of Spring” for solo piccolo# 2011
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World premiere UNO Faculty Recital; Omaha, NE; 2015
Ford, Barry. “Elements” for flute (doubling on piccolo and alto flute) and percussion^# 2011
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World premiere Zephyrus recital (with Tomm Roland, percussion); Omaha, NE; 2011
Nourse, Nancy. “Quelque Chose Canadienne” for three piccolos# 2010
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World premiere Fête International de la Flûte; Manosque, France; August 2010
Loeb, David. “Snowsounds” for solo piccolo# 2009
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World premiere at the National Flute Association Convention; Chicago0, IL; August 2014
Smith, Matt. Sonata No. 2 for piccolo and piano# 2006
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North American premiere: UNO Faculty Recital (Omaha, NE), 2007; National Flute Association Convention (NYC), 2009
Vosk, Jay. “Pecking Orders” for three piccolos# 2002
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American premiere, UNO faculty recital; 2010
Smith, Matt. Sonata No. 1 for piccolo and piano# 2001
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North American premiere: UNO Faculty Recital; Omaha, NE; 2003
Flory, Neil (USA). “Summer Songs” for flute (doubling on piccolo and alto), soprano and guitar^# 2001
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World premiere at the University of Texas at Austin; 2002
MUSIC FOR OR WITH FLUTE(S)
Day, Kevin. Title TBA for flute and piano^ 2026
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Flutist New Music Consortium commission; world premiere TBA
Glascock, Christian. “Global Warning” for alto flute and backtrack# 2025
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World premiere at the Scheherazade Music Festival; Manhattan, KS; June 2025; NFA Convention, August 2025
Esmail, Reena. “Pathways of Desire” for solo flute^# 2024
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Flute New Music Consortium commission; world premiere at UNO in Octobert 2024; Christine Beard, soloist
Seo, Juri. “Birds, Bees, Electric Fish” for double flute/percussion duo (4 players)^# 2023
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Consortium commission, led by Cabillto Negro duo; world premiere at UNO by XY Duo, March 2024
Spencer, Erin. “Somewhere Bluebirds Fly” for flute choir# 2023
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World premiere by the LGBTQA+ Flute Choir at the National Flute Association Convention (Phoenix), 2023
Keith, Leanna. “The Troll and the Fae” [Suite] for solo flute/piccolo^# 2023
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Consortium commission participant; world premiere at the MidAtlantic Flute Convention; February 2023.
Keith, Leanna. “Thoughts and Prayers” for flute and backtrack*# 2022
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#flutistactivist commission by Christine Beard; world premiere at the National Flute Association Convention; Chicago, IL; August 2022
Wolfe, Julia. “Oxygen” for twelve flutes# 2022
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National Flute Association commission; world premiere by the UNO flute studio at UNO (March 2022) and a “combined” world premiere at the National Flute Association Flute Convention; Chicago, IL; August 2022
Zyman, Samuel. “Intuition” for two flutes^# 2020
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Flutist New Music Consortium commission; world premiere at the World Flutes Festival; Argentina; 2022
Coleman, Valerie. “Amazonia” for flute and piano^ 2019
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Flutist New Music Consortium commission
Booker, Jr, Charles. "Joan of Arc" Concerto for flute & wind ensemble^# 2019
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Consortium commission; Premiere performance with UNO Symphonic Wind Ensemble; October 2019
Harberg, Amanda. Sonata (“Court Dances”) for flute and piano^ 2017
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"We Bring Flowers Project" consortium commission
Baldwin, Daniel. “Sonic Rhapsody” for contrabassoon and chamber ensemble# 2017
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World premiere recording; Lincoln, NE; May 2017
Wolff, Daniel. “California C.A.R.D.” for two flutes, cello and guitar*# 2016
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World premiere at National Flute Association Convention; San Diego, CA; August 2016
Welcher, Dan. “Forest Devil Waltzes” for flute choir# 2015
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World premiere by alumi of the University of Texas for Karl F. Kraber’s 80th birthday; in Austin, TX; May 2015
Trevino, Ivan. “This is Like Jazz” for bass fl (or contrabass) and percussion^ 2014/2015
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Consortium commission
Charke, Derek. “Raga Dohara” for double flute quartet# 2014
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World premiere: National Flute Association Convention; Chicago, IL; August 2014
Donofrio, Anthony. “Untitled No. 2” for flute and vibraphone# 2013
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World premiere on the Petite Musique series recital; Omaha, NE; October 2015
Bales, Kenton. “An Ozark Garden” for flute choir*# 2011
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World premiere at The Midwest Clinic; Heartland Flute Choir; Christine Beard, conductor; Chicago, IL; 2011
Claman, David. “Variations on "Amba Kamashi” for flute and vibraphone^# 2009
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World premiere at the Festival of New American Music; Sacramento, CA; 2010
Ford, Barry. “Zephyrs” for flute and percussion^# 2005
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World premiere at the College Music Society Super-Regional Convention; Normal, IL; 2008
Bissell, Paul. “Fermat's Last Theorem” for two flutes*# 2004
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World premiere on UNO faculty recital; 2004
Lewis, L. Mark. Concerto for Six Players (flute, violin, clarinet, cello, piano and percussion) # 2000
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World premiere at the University of Texas at Austin; 2000
Coelho de Souza, Rodolfo. “Divertimento” for flute and piano# 1996/97
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World premiere at the University of Texas at Austin; 1997
Wadley, Craig. “The Ring Bearer's Tale” for solo flute# 1995
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World premiere on Arkansas State University composer's recital; 1995
