Julie Thornton

Julie (she/her) has been a member of the Colorado Symphony since 1997. During her tenure she has performed many times as soloist on both Piccolo and Flute.  She has also performed extensively with the New York Philharmonic, the Saint Louis Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Houston Grand Opera, the Minnesota Orchestra and the Oregon Symphony. Other engagements include being Principal Flute of the Washington Island Music Festival and performing with The Grand Tetons Orchestra and Strings in the Mountains.

Julie has been a featured teacher and performer in Europe, South America and Australia. Two of her most special experiences are working with underprivileged students in Medellín, Colombia and teaching and performing at Festival Internacional de Inverno de Campos do Jordão (Brazil).  Julie also loves performing with The Arcadia Trio and being the Instructor of Flute at the University of Denver, Lamont School of Music.  

She holds a Bachelor’s degree with honors from Northwestern University and a Master’s Degree from the Eastman School of Music. In addition, Julie completed her coursework towards a Doctoral Degree at Rice University. Her primary teachers include Walfrid Kujala, Bonita Boyd, Leone Buyse, Carol Wincenc, Anne Diener-Giles and Richard Breitstein. As a student, Julie performed with the Solti Orchestral Project at Carnegie Hall, the National Repertory Orchestra, the National Orchestral Institute, the Music Academy of the West, and she held the Piccolo Fellowship with the Aspen Music Festival for three summers. In High School, Julie was a finalist in the Seventeen Magazine General Motors National Concerto Competition and the National Flute Association High School Solo Competition.  Julie is married to Michael Thornton, Principal Horn of the Colorado Symphony. They are the proud parents of two daughters.