Mr. Houston was a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate at Indiana University when he accepted the position of Marketing Director for Verne Q. Powell Flutes, Inc. in 1990. There he also learned flute finishing and was a headjoint tester. He was Director of Customer Service when he left Powell Flutes in 1998 to work for Brannen Brothers Flute Makers, Inc. He remained there until 2007, when he was asked to return to Powell Flutes as Director of Quality. During his 20 year tenure at Powell and Brannen, Mr. Houston was directly involved in and responsible for many various facets of flute, piccolo and headjoint design and construction. In 2010 he left Powell to return to and pursue his first love of teaching and performing by starting a private flute studio for students of all levels.
Mr. Houston is on the flute faculty at Powers Music School, Floot Fire Boston and Performing Arts Center of Metrowest where he conducts the PAC Flute Ensembles. He was the private flute instructor for the University Wind Ensemble at Boston College (2012-2023), and he has worked regularly as the flute section coach for the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras. Mr. Houston has served on the preliminary and final judging panels for the James Pappoutsakis Annual Memorial Competition, the Claire Johnson Flute Soloist Competition, the Chicago Flute Club Competitions and others. He is on the Advisory Council of the Marcel Moyse Society and was Executive Director (2012-2022). In 2021 he was elected to serve on the National Flute Association’s Board of Directors and also serves on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He was a judge and on the selection panel for the NFA’s First Generation in College Scholarship. Mr. Houston has been invited to be a guest speaker, recitalist and masterclass presenter at various US colleges, universities and music schools, and maintains an active private flute studio in Framingham, MA.
Fully immersed in the flute community, Mr. Houston enjoys dividing his time between teaching, performing and flute making. In 2011 he collaborated with flutemaker, colleague and longtime friend, Lev Levit, to produce the exclusively handcrafted Levit Flutes. Levit Flutes are now being played by flutists around the globe.
Mr. Houston is an active teacher and performer in the greater Boston area. He performs regularly with Trio Tableau, comprised of himself, pianist, Joy Cline Phinney and Boston Symphony Orchestra violinist, Catherine French. Past appearances include performances with the Riverview Chamber Players of Boston and Nuage Chamber Players of Boston. He has been a member of The Queens Philharmonic Orchestra, The Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, and Orquesta Sinfónica de Tenerife, Spain, and featured in chamber music performances at Bargemusic in Brooklyn, NY, as well as solo appearances at The National Flute Association conventions. Mr. Houston has been a member of Atlantic Chamber Music of NYC, Saint Adelbert’s Chamber Ensemble of NYC, and was a performing co‐founder of A Flute Soireé of NYC. In addition, Mr. Houston was chosen as featured solo performer on WQXR-NY radio’s McGraw Hills Young Artist Showcase and was first runner‐up in the 1992 Myrna Brown Flute Competition in Arlington, TX.
Complimenting his extensive musical training, Mr. Houston has a background in acting and improv theatre. Having completed classes in acting for film and TV at C.P. Casting in Boston and theatre improv levels I‐V at ImprovBoston, Mr. Houston adapts and incorporates these methods into techniques appropriate for musical study in order to help students explore and develop their own musical style and interpretation.
