equal parts flute nerd, curious creator, and “what happens if we try this?” kind of person
Why hello there! I’m Laura. Happy you found me here.
I’ve spent most of my life being curious — chasing sounds, asking questions, and wondering, “What happens if we try this?”
I love the moment when something clicks. When a student discovers something they didn’t know they could do. When a composer creates something that expresses a feeling or idea you didn’t know music could hold. When artists come together to create something completely new, surprising, and maybe even a little magical.
That’s the stuff that keeps me going.
I’m a musician, creator, teacher, and lifelong learner (with a serious flute obsession 😉). I perform music that stretches my ears and imagination, create new works, write books and resources for musicians, collaborate with artists, and love teaching.
The flute has been my companion on some pretty wonderful adventures - from the Catskills to Rochester, Rome (Italy!), and now Salt Lake City, from classrooms to concert halls, and into collaborations with artists who continually inspire me.
I started my career as a classical flutist, but curiosity kept opening new doors: entrepreneurship, nonprofit work, grant writing, creating educational resources, and working with composers and artists from around the world.
And now? I’m beginning another adventure: a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in flute performance at the University of Utah.
In bullet form!
New move! As of August 2026 living in Salt Lake City, Utah, but have lived in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, and Rome, Italy. I’m originally from a town of 200 people in the Catskills.
Obsessed with performing, teaching, & learning, hummingbirds, botanical gardens, dark chocolate (really any chocolate), tea shops, good coffee also, hiking, being in the sun.
Found music in my family as a 3rd generation musician (now my son is going to grad school at Boston Conservatory for piano performance), and later decided to study flute performance and music education. I have two flute degrees in flute performance from University of Wisconsin-Madison and Crane School of Music and also did additional studies or masterclasses in Italy and elsewhere in the US with fantastic mentors. I’ve taught in public and private schools, universities, and my own studio. I’ve performed and taught from upstate NY, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania to Rome, Italy. Recently I’m exploring the composer hat in addition to everything else.
Presented on various topics about the flute, pedagogy, grant-writing, diversity in music, nonprofit organizations, chamber music and more at a lot of conferences, schools, and universities from California to Utah to Washington, D.C. to Malta. I have also spent time promoting my book Modal Flute Warmup which was chosen as a “finalist” in the Pedagogy category in The National Flute Association’s Newly Published Music Competition for 2026. I’ve shared sessions about my book at a variety of places including the University of Michigan, Middle State Tennessee University, Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, Chicago Flute Festival, and the National Flute Association Convention.
Performed with a wide range of groups such as Madison Symphony, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, The Crossroads Trio, Sotavento, Orchestra of Northern New York, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and fivebyfive. I’ve also enjoyed presenting solo performances and recently I’ve premiered works I commissioned, working with composers like JacobTV, Marc Mellits, Missy Mazzoli, Sean William Calhoun, and Michael Frazier. As a soloist I’ve recorded a few albums - I’d love if you checked them out on Spotify, Apple Music or my favorite artist platform, Bandcamp!
New chapter…I’ll be completing the DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) in flute with full funding. I’m very appreciative and can’t wait!
A more standard bio (98 words)
Laura Lentz is a flutist, educator, composer, and author based in Salt Lake City, Utah, driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a fascination with the endless possibilities of music. Her work spans contemporary performance, new music creation, interdisciplinary projects, and creative approaches to teaching and learning.
Laura is the author of Modal Flute Warmup, which was named a finalist in the National Flute Association’s 2026 Newly Published Music Competition, and has presented workshops and performances throughout the United States and Europe. She is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Flute Performance at the University of Utah.