Norman Menzales

Norman Menzales is the Principal Flutist of Montana’s Great Falls Symphony, Colorado’s Fort Collins Symphony, and the Wyoming Symphony Orchestra.  

An artist dedicated to sharing and spreading his passion for chamber music, Menzales performs as solo flutist of Montana’s premier woodwind quintet, the Chinook Winds. The group strives to bring live, classical music to rural communities throughout the United States and stresses the importance of music education in schools.  

As an enthusiastic educator, Menzales is on the music faculty of Western Nebraska Community College and the Interlochen Arts Flute Intensive. Menzales is a founding member and president of the Montana Flute Association, a non-profit organization whose goal is to cultivate, promote, sponsor, and develop the appreciation of the flute and flute music among its members and the general public.

A first-generation Filipino-American, Menzales is an active advocate for the rich culture and musical traditions of the Philippines. He founded the Sampaguita Flute Project, a community of musicians that performs classical works inspired from the Philippines. The project will culminate in an album ranging from early Filipino repertoire to new commissions from living Filipino composers.

Born in Georgia, Menzales began studying the flute at the age of 12 and played in a variety of community ensembles.  After graduating with a Bachelor of Music with Dr. Tadeu Coelho at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, he continued his graduate studies at the Eastman School of Music where he served as a teaching assistant for world renowned flutist and pedagogue, Bonita Boyd.  While at Eastman, he was a flute instructor at the Eastman Community Music School and served as a mentor for the New Horizons Band Programs in Rochester NY.  He graduated with a Master of Music, a Performer’s Certificate, and completed two years of doctoral coursework before leaving and starting his professional career.

When not playing the flute, Menzales enjoys hiking, eating, binge-watching tv shows, reading, drag performances, and spending as much time as he can with his husband.