Meet the Flute Studio

Dr. Tadeu Coelho

Tadeu Coelho teaches flute at UNCSA. Prior to teaching at UNCSA, he served as associate professor of flute at the University of Iowa (1997-2002), as assistant professor of flute at the University of New Mexico (1992-97) and as visiting professor at the Ino Mirkovich Music Academy in Croatia. He frequently appears as soloist, chamber musician and master clinician throughout Europe, Asia and the Americas. He has performed as first solo flutist of the Santa Fe Symphony, Hofer Symphoniker in Germany and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Italy, among others.

Ariel Collins

Ariel Collins is a first-year graduate student studying with Dr. Tadeu Coelho at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She was awarded the Flute Studio Teaching Assistantship and the Artistic and Academic Services Graduate Assistantship. Previously, she graduated with a B.M. in Flute Performance and Music Industry at James Madison University studying with Dr. Beth Chandler Cahill.

While studying at James Madison University, Ariel was the first flutist of the JMU Symphony Orchestra and the JMU Wind Symphony. She also was selected to perform a chamber work by the guest composer, Ingrid Stötzel, on the 41st Contemporary Music Festival concert. During her time at JMU, Ariel was a member of numerous chamber ensembles as well as the JMU Chamber Orchestra.

Ariel was selected for the Frances Blaisdell Scholarship hosted by the National Flute Association in 2022 for the Chicago, IL convention through audition and essay competition. She has auditioned and been selected to perform in the National Flute Association Collegiate Flute Choir and the Flute Society of Washington High School Flute Choir. Ariel is an active member of the National Flute Association, the Midsouth Flute Society, and the Flute Society of Washington. Nationally, she was awarded the Semper Fidelis Award for musical excellence by the U.S. Marine Band

Ariel was selected to attend the Aria International Music Academy for the Summer of 2022. Furthermore, she has performed in masterclasses for Bonita Boyd, Alexa Still, Molly Barth, Jennifer Grim, Rachel Ordaz, Debra Wendells Cross, Sooyun Kim, and Christinia Jennings. Ariel is furthering her education at UNCSA with Dr. Tadeu Coelho to pursue a professional music career after graduation and hold a private flute studio.

Bryan Culler

Bryan Culler is an incoming 1st year grad student at UNCSA studying flute performance. Bryan is a flute teacher and performer with undergraduate degrees from Appalachian State University in Music Education and Flute Performance. Bryan has performed with the Symphony of the Mountains, Charlotte Pride Band, Charlotte Pride Woodwind Quintet, and is a founding member of the Cardinal Sound Collective, a Wind Quartet and flex chamber ensemble based out of Greensboro, NC. Bryan is a committed student of the Alexander Technique and additionally loves to play in large ensembles, chamber groups, and especially enjoys playing piccolo.

Victoria King

Victoria King is a first-year undergrad studying music composition. Although she isn't a flute major, she is grateful to be playing in the flute ensemble to continue learning about her instrument, her peers, and music itself.

Ell Poole

Ell Poole, born in Savannah, Georgia, fell in love with the flute at the age of 10. Throughout their middle school career living in Alma, Georgia, Ell participated in Georgia honor bands. After moving to North Carolina to begin high school, Ell played in various UNC college honor bands and North Carolina honor bands, including a tour of Europe with the NC Ambassadors of Music and piccoloist with the Eastern Youth Orchestra.

Ell began senior year of highschool at UNCSA under instruction of Tadeu Coelho, and decided to go to college at UNCSA as well. They will graduate with a Bachelor's Degree in Flute Performance in 2025.

Ell has attended 2023 CCM International Summer Winds Festival with the President's Own Marine Band, 2023 Brevard Flute Seminar and works as a flute counselor at UNCG Summer Music Camp.

When they aren't in the practice room, you can find them behind the register at Hanes in Thruway in Winston Salem, playing video games, or watching anime.

Daniel Peña Cruz

Daniel is a Colombian flutist who earned his B.M. in 2022 at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, where he studied with Rafael Rodriguez. He is currently in his first year of pursuing a master's degree in flute performance at UNCSA with Dr. Tadeu Coelho. Throughout his musical career, he has participated in international tours, having been chosen to join the Colombia-France Binational Symphony Orchestra and the Javeriana Symphony Orchestra. He recently worked as a flutist in the Bogotá Youth Philharmonic Band and has achieved outstanding results in competitions within his country, including second place in the International Flute Workshop in the Colombian Southwest, third place in the 1st International Flute Festival in Sopó, and winning the convocation for “Artistic Residency and Participation in The Binational Orchestra Concert- Cross Seasons 2017” as the first flutist.

Phoebe Pylant

Phoebe Pylant is a flutist, harpist, pianist, soprano, and composer from the metro Atlanta area. She has played piano since 3rd grade, flute since 4th, and harp since 7th. She has participated in more than two dozen youth chamber groups as well as the Georgia Music Educators Association All-State Band, All-State Chorus, Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, and Atlanta Junior Wind Ensemble. She has attended and performed in masterclasses given by Valerie Coleman, Katherine Borst Jones, Robert Dick, and Jennifer Grim, and has been commissioned by flutist Tadeu Coelho for his concert featuring underrepresented composers.

The Music Teachers National Association named her the 2020-2021 Georgia alternate for the woodwind competition (junior division), the 2019-2020 Georgia winner for the woodwind competition (junior division), as well as the 2021-2022 and 2020-2021 Georgia winner and Southeast regional alternate for its music composition competition (junior division). Juan Ramirez of The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra named her the 2021 Georgia winner of the inaugural statewide music composition competition hosted by Ztunes Music. In 2023 Phoebe won the National Flute Association's Flute Choir Call for Scores. She is the youngest person to do so.

Phoebe's creative compositions have been played at many concerts, university degree recitals, and even masterclasses and her works have been recorded by a wide selection of performers.

Phoebe currently studies flute at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts as a junior in high school and composes regularly.

Savannah Sherman

Savannah is a 1st year master’s student from Macomb, Michigan. She received her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Bowling Green State University. Savannah is a passionate teacher and holds her own private flute studio. Outside of flute, she enjoys puzzles and spending time with her two cats, Kiki and Milo. Savannah is the UNCSA School of Music’s social media graduate assistant.

Evi Toper

Evi Toper is a rising senior in High School from Burlington, North Carolina. She started flute lessons when she was about 10 years old and continued playing solo works throughout middle school and the beginning of high school. The summer before her junior year, she joined her first musical group at Governor’s School West playing in a contemporary orchestra. Since then, she’s been a member of the Elon University Flute Ensemble and continues to play with the Greensboro Symphony Youth Orchestra.