Gabriel Fridkis ’16 Wins Major Orchestra Position

Gabriel Fridkis ’16 previously served as the Principal Flute in the Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, which he won on his first professional orchestra audition, and Flutist with Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

Gabriel began his musical training at Westminster Conservatory at the age of seven, studying with world renown flutist and composer Gary Schocker through high school. He resumed his musical education at Purchase, studying with Tara Helen O’Connor, after a three year sabbatical to explore academic interests at the Kogad School of Business at American University.

After winning the Purchase Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition in his first semester, Gabriel went on to attend the prestigious Aspen Music Festival orchestral program the summer of 2014, and recently has been involved in the early stage performances of Gary Schocker’s forthcoming musical “Far From The Madding Crowd.”

Additional performance highlights of Gabriel’s career thus far include world premier performances at the National Flute Convention Albuquerque, and San Diego, soloist for The Stretto Orchestra in their European tours, soloist with The Philadelphia Young Artist Orchestra and the Hun School Orchestra with performances in Carnegie Hall, Richardson Auditorium at Princeton University and Verizon Hall at the Kimmel Center.

Gabriel has had the privilege of studying with renown teachers including Ransom Wilson, Tara Helen O’Connor, Mark Sparks and Nadine Asin and played under conductors including Osmo Vanska, Robert Spano and Hannu Lintu.

In the Summer of 2016 Gabe attended the Brevard Music Center and won the Concerto competition.  In the fall of 2016 Gabe began his Masters Degree with Mark Sparks at DePaul University and received a fellowship in the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.