Elena Durán was born in California. After her initial studies in San Francisco with teachers including Lloyd Gowan of the San Francisco Symphony and Darius Milhaud at Mills College, she was appointed Lecturer in Flute at Stanford University. Two years later, she resigned to study in Europe with Jean-Pierre Rampal and James Galway.
Using London as her base, she developed a concert career taking her over Europe, the Far East, the United States, and Mexico. She has made concerto appearances and recording with many major orchestras including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, Bournemouth Sinfoniette, the Moscow Virtuosi, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de México.
In the US, she has appeared with the San Diego Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, and has appeared with the distinguished Mexican conductor Enrique Diemecke with the Flint Symphony and the Inland Empire Symphony.
Durán has a wide recital repertoire, and has appeared with many distinguished collegues, including the great French pianist, Pascal Rogé. She has appeared frequently on television, and has had her own radio programs in both the UK and Mexico.
A frequent performer in South America, she made a triumphant debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra where in 1996 played the Mozart G Major Concerto. Other concert tours have included the US, New Zealand, and Mexico.
Durán is a member of the staff at the Birmingham Conservatoire (UK), and is director of the annual International Flute Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon. She hosts her own weekly radio show on Classic FM, "Music of the Americas", which is broadcast throughout the UK.
On the lighter side, she has made two recordings with Stephanne Grappelli as well as a best-selling single with Paul McCartney. Other recording include the Bolling Suites and a best-selling album of South American music, "Viva Elena!"
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For further information on Elena Durán,
write Elena Durán
1 June 2004