Frances Blaisdell

Frances Blaisdell (1912–2009) was an American flutist and renowned music educator. She began learning flute with Georges Barrère at what is now the Juilliard School, and later proceeded under Marcel Moyse and William Kincaid. In the thirties, Frances was a first flute in the National Orchestral Association and the New Opera Company. Blaisdell became one of the first women to play in the woodwind section of The New York Philharmonic Orchestra and had appeared as a soloist during the children's concert in 1932. She applied for a permanent position in 1937 but was refused at an audition – basically, just for being a woman. She returned to the ensemble only thirty years later, as an extra flute in 1962. While in New York, Frances Blaisdell taught at the Manhattan School of Music and accompanied soprano singer Lily Pons. In 1973, she moved to California and joined the faculty at Stanford University for 35 years.