George Pope

Altus artist George Pope has taught flute at the Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music since 2002 and is emeritus professor of flute at the University of Akron where he was on faculty from 1978 to 2013. Pope was principal and solo flute of the Akron Symphony Orchestra from 1978 to 2002 and is currently principal flute of the Blossom Festival Orchestra. He has performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, the Canton Symphony Orchestra, the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Cleveland, the Tulsa Philharmonic, the New Mexico Symphony, the Monteux Festival Orchestra and the Brevard Music Center Orchestra.

A graduate of Northwestern University and The University of Tulsa, Pope studied with Marion McNally, Maurice Sharp, Walfrid Kujala, Bernard Goldberg, William Bennett and Geoffrey Gilbert.

Pope was a founding member of the Solaris Wind Quintet at The University of Akron. Solaris released two CDs on Capstone Records and a CD of music by Alec Wilder on Crystal Records. Pope’s solo CD was released in 2016 by Crystal Records. Gramophone writes, “The wonder of Pope’s playing is how engagingly, articulately, flowingly and objectively he pours himself into the music….” (Sept. 2016).

Pope’s master classes throughout the world have firmly established his reputation as a motivational and highly successful teacher. Pope has published transcriptions and arrangements through ALRY Publications. He is active in the National Flute Association, having served as president, program chair and as a member of the Board of Directors. Pope has served since 2013 as a Chair of the Scholarship Committee of the Tuesday Musical Association. He is a founding member and Board President of the Chamber Music Society of Ohio.

Pope was named “Arts Educator of 2009” by the Akron Area Arts Alliance. In 2018, he received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Flute Association.