Sharon Sparrow

About Sharon

Sharon Sparrow recently retired as Assistant Principal Flutist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra after a prestigious 28 year career. While finishing her career, she has won the National audition and played the positions of both Second and Principal Flute, and can be heard and seen on numerous recordings and broadcasts with the orchestra throughout her 28-year tenure.

Beyond her career on the stage, Sparrow is known nationally and internationally for her successful audition training method based on her book, “6 Weeks to Finals,” published by the Theodore Presser Company in 2016 and receiving a top publication award by the National Flute Association. She travels around the country as a frequent guest artist at many flute festivals and masterclasses throughout each year, helping musicians perform their best at auditions and events. Telemann for Two, Volumes One and Two—a collection of flute duets based on the Telemann’s solo fantasies Sparrow composed with colleague Jeffery Zook—was also published and released by Theodore Presser. These are frequently performed and recorded all over the world. Sparrow’s current passion, theAuditionAdvantage, is a highly effective online program she began to provide non-competitive and complete training curated for all musicians preparing for auditions. In 2024, Sparrow joined rob’s inner circle as a primary coach in Rob Knopper's highly successful International audition training program. During the summers, she splits her time between theAuditionAdvantage, Interlochen Arts Academy, and the Strings Festival in Colorado, providing a perfect blend of performing and teaching opportunities.

Sparrow received her Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Juilliard School and her Master of Music degree from Mannes College of Music, and credits her three major teachers, Julius Baker, Thomas Nyfenger, and Geoffrey Gilbert with her unending pursuit of excellence and love for the flute and music-making.

I base my teaching on each individual student's potential for growth as a flutist, musician, lover of music and community member. Striving for excellence through an understanding of preparation while maintaining a positive mindset is key to my instruction.