Colin Fleming
Colin Fleming, Principal Flute, from Ballyclare N.Ireland, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Orchestra of the Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic, joined the Ulster Orchestra in 1978.
When did you start playing the flute?
I started playing the flute when I was about 6 years old. I had been given a flute before that when I was much younger. My father was a flute player in a local flute band and that is where I started learning the instrument. After that I went to the School of Music in Belfast. When I left school I went to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester for a year and was then awarded a 2 year scholarship to the Herbert von Karajan Orchestra Academy of the Berlin Philharmonic where my teachers included James Galway.
Most inspiring composer?
My favourite composer has to be Mozart. Not only did he write 3 wonderful concertos for the flute, which he reportedly didn’t like, but all his music conveys such wonderful melodic material over such a short life time.
Who were your most important mentors?
In my flute playing career my most inportant mentors were Jean-Pierre Rampal and Sir James Galway. I also get a lot of inspiration from listening to great singers, violinists and pianists. We can all learn so much from listening to other instruments.
What’s the best thing about your instrument?
The best thing that I like about the flute is its versatility.
What’s the most difficult aspect of the flute?
It is one of the easiest instruments to play badly but like a lot of other instruments it is difficult to play well.
What’s in your cd player right now?
I tend to listen to vinyl records rather than cd’s. At the moment on my record player is a disc of operatic arias sung by Maria Callas, who I think is one of the greatest dramatics in music of all time.
Most memorable moments with the UO?
The most memorable moments with the Ulster Orchestra have been having the opportunity to play in such concert halls as the Musikervien in Vienna and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
What do you like to do outside of work?
I don’t really consider playing the Orchestra as work. It’s my job and I enjoy it and I am extremely lucky. I do like to collect and preserve old flute sheet music and I have a large collection of vinyl flute recordings.