Dr Melanie Walters has been described as a “champion of new music in South Australia”(The Serenade Files), and her flute-playing as “truly exceptional” (The Advertiser)

She holds a PhD in flute performance, for which she has received a Dean’s Commendation, and a Master of Music degree in Australian flute music. Melanie is an active freelance performer and has played with ensembles including Soundstream Collective, Stereo//Mono flute and electronics duo, The Stables Flute Ensemble and Chronology Arts. She was a performance fellow at the 2014 Bang on a Can Summer Festival in the US and has also performed at Musica Viva Sessions, Recital Australia’s ReClassified concert series, and the Australian Flute Festival.

Her solo performances have included recitals at the Tilde New Music Festival in Melbourne and the Totally Huge New Music Festival  Conference in Perth, and gigs at COMA (Creative Original Music Adelaide), Experimental Night at The Metro, and 3D Radio’s Live at the Sound Lounge. Since 2017, she has been presenting solo shows at the Adelaide Fringe Festival that aim to bring music by living composers to a wider audience. She recently represented South Australia in Eliza Shephard’s March of the Women: Connecting Australia recording project and is currently Principal Flute of Adelaide Wind Orchestra & Artistic Director of Coruscalia Collective.

Melanie has taught flute and piano for over 20 years both in her private studio and at various schools. She has tutored flute at Tabor College, and has given lectures on contemporary flute techniques and free improvisation at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. She is currently President of the Flute Society of South Australia. As well as performing and teaching, Melanie has written about live music for The Conversation, The Advertiser, CutCommon, and Limelight Magazine.