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Kelly Watson Woelffer, a versatile flutist and composer split between Berlin and New York, spearheads Hear Now Berlin, a trailblazing contemporary classical sextet in Europe. Their debut album, "Music in Circles" (Backlash Music, 2023), drew critical acclaim, hailed by The Guardian as "an intriguing gem," showcasing a range from lively vigor to haunting nocturnal tones.

Specializing in live contemporary compositions, Kelly thrives in the fluidity of genres, urging musicians to infuse distinctive, personal touches into performances. As a bandleader, Kelly released two albums of original music: From the Shelf (CD Baby, 2006) and dear and bare (Phonector, 2008). Her piece, the (un)raveling can be found on Music in Circles.

Kelly boasts a rich collaborative history, recording with Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg and performing alongside diverse musicians like Becca Stevens, Jacob Collier, Kurt Elling, Barry Manilow, Greg Osby, and Reggie Workman. Her accolades include triumphs in competitions like the Leni Fe Bland Young Soloists Competition and recognition from the National Flute Association.

Adept at both traditional and improvisational orchestral roles, Kelly served as Principal Flutist for the Experiential Orchestra in NYC and Butch Morris's Orchestra-Slam, renowned for its cutting-edge improvisation.

Her musical journey includes mentorship from Jim Walker at USC and Göran Marcusson in Stockholm. Expanding her skills, she pursued composition and improvisation under Greg Osby at the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in NYC.

A passionate educator, Kelly nurtures a thriving private studio and holds extensive Suzuki teacher training from the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the European Suzuki Association. She's shared her expertise at renowned institutes like the Colorado Suzuki Institute and the Boston Suzuki Flute Institute.

Kelly Watson Woelffer is a versatile flutist and composer based in Berlin and New York. She is the flutist and founder of Hear Now Berlin, a contemporary classical sextet at the forefront of the contemporary classical scene in Europe. Hear Now Berlin released their critically acclaimed debut album in 2023, Music in Circles (Backlash Music). The Guardian described the album as “an intriguing gem…from punchy and energetic…to shadowy sounds of the night… this is one of the most interesting chamber music albums I’ve heard recently.”

As a composer/performer, Kelly finds herself most at home in music written by living composers, where genres are fluid and musicians are challenged to bring unique and personal contributions to the performance. As a bandleader, Kelly released two albums of original music: From the Shelf (CD Baby, 2006) and dear and bare (Phonector, 2008). Her piece, the (un)raveling can be found on Music in Circles.

Kelly regularly records for the studio orchestra, Deutsche Filmorchester Babelsberg and has been fortunate to perform and record with musicians from a wide variety of genres including Becca Stevens, Jacob Collier, Kurt Elling, Barry Manilow, Greg Osby, and Reggie Workman.

Kelly has appeared as a Guest Soloist and Composer with the Mid-Texas Symphony and as a composer has received commissions from The New School for Music, Butch Morris’s Orchestra Slam, Aspenwood Music Company and the School for Improvised Music of New York.

Kelly won first prizes in the Leni Fe Bland Young Soloists Competition and was a winner in the National Flute Association’s College Masterclass Competition and NFA's High School Flute Choir Competition. She presented her debut recital at the age of 16 as a soloist and first prize winner of the South Texas Young Artists Competition.

Kelly served as Principal Flutist in the Experiential Orchestra in New York City and Principal Flutist of Butch Morris's Orchestra-Slam, a largely improvisational and cutting-edge orchestra.

Kelly Watson Woelffer studied with Jim Walker at the University of Southern California and Göran Marcusson in Stockholm. Following a need to broaden her musicianship and artistry, Kelly attended the New School for Jazz & Contemporary Music in NYC, where she studied composition and improvisation with Greg Osby.

A devoted and passionate teacher, Kelly maintains a thriving private studio. Kelly has extensive Suzuki teacher training from both the Suzuki Association of the Americas and the European Suzuki Association and has been a guest teacher at the Colorado Suzuki Institute and the Boston Suzuki Flute Institute.