Emi Ferguson
About Emi
Hailed by critics for her “tonal bloom” and “hauntingly beautiful performances,” English-American performer and composer Emi Ferguson stretches the boundaries of what is expected of modern-day musicians. Emi’s unique approach to the flute can be heard in performances that alternate between the silver flute, historical flute, and auxiliary flute, playing repertoire that stretches from the Renaissance to today.
Ferguson can be heard live in concerts and festivals around the world as a soloist and with groups including AMOC*, the New York New Music Ensemble, the Handel and Haydn Society, and the Manhattan Chamber Players. She has spoken and performed at several TEDX events and has been featured on media outlets including The Discovery Channel, Vox's "Explained" series on Netflix, and Amazon's The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Her debut album Amour Cruel was released by Arezzo Music in September 2017 and spent 4 weeks on the Classical, Classical Crossover, and World Music Billboard Charts. Her 2019 album Fly the Coop: Bach Sonatas and Preludes debuted at #1 on the iTunes classical charts and #2 on the Billboard classical charts, and was called “blindingly impressive...a fizzing, daring display of personality and imagination” by The New York Times.
Ferguson was a featured performer alongside Yo-Yo Ma, Paul Simon, and James Taylor at the 10th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of 9/11 at Ground Zero, where her performance of "Amazing Grace" was televised worldwide. Her performance that day is now part of the permanent collection at the 911 Museum.
As a historical flutist, in addition to her appointment as Principal Flute of the Handel and Haydn Society, Ferguson is thrilled to be a frequent guest artist with period ensembles including Tafelmusik. She can also be heard with period instrument groups including Voices of Music, the American Classical Orchestra, and Trinity Baroque Orchestra.
Ferguson is currently on the faculty of The Juilliard School teaching Ear Training and the Bach Virtuosi Festival, and has taught on the faculty of the University of Buffalo. She was the first person to have graduated from The Juilliard School with Undergraduate and Graduate degrees with Scholastic Distinction in flute performance, as well as a second Graduate degree in Historical Performance as a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow.