Biography

In 1974 Susan Milan was appointed Principal Flute of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra where she remained for eight years until her first son was one year old.
Since then she has continued to have a multi-dimensional career as an orchestral guest principal, chamber musician, soloist, teacher and lecturer.
In Great Britain she has performed concertos with all the major orchestras and she tours frequently throughout Europe, USA, Australia and the Far East.

She has given numerous world and UK premieres and has inspired contemporary composers to write for her, among them Richard Rodney Bennett, Antal Dorati, Carl Davis, Jindrich Feld, Edwin Roxburgh, Robert Saxton, Ole Schmidt, and Robert Simpson and Cecilia McDowall. She has recorded the Schmidt Concerto for the Da Capo label and will soon be recording the Simpson Concerto for Hyperion. Recent commissions include a concerto from the American composer Keith Gates, Oiseau Soleil for flute and piano by the French composer Jean Sichler and The Moon Dances by the British composer Cecilia McDowall. Susan Milan is often featured on the BBC and has recorded concertos and recitals for the Chandos label.
Recent commissions and dedications include "The Moon Dances" by Cecilia McDowall, "Sonata" by Brian Lock and "Octagon" by Ian Finney - all British composers. Susan Milan is often heard on the BBC and has recorded for Chandos, Hyperian, Omega, Da Capo, Upbeat and Cala labels. Her latest recording of contemporary British works for flute and piano, recorded with the pianist Andrew Ball, will be released in 2008 on the Metier label.

In the academic field, she has researched and published 19th century repertoire for Boosey & Hawkes, written a number of technical books and is presently restoring her collection of historic 78 recordings of flautists 1910-1945 and issuing them on the Master Classics label.
 

Susan is a Professor of the Royal College of Music, where she was herself a scholar at the age of 16.

She was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Music, which was presented to her by HRH Prince Charles in November, 1999.

Susan has formed the Weber Trio,  with her second son, Christopher, who plays the cello, and the pianist Andrew Ball.

See also Queen of Flute