Alina Freiman Steele (Flutastica)
Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan to Ukrainian-Jewish parents, Alina Freiman Steele immigrated from Central Asia to Brooklyn, New York in 1992 as a political refugee at the age of 7 with her parents and older sister. Raised in a musical household, Alina first picked up the flute in the 6th grade band and started taking private flute lessons in 10th grade. Soon after, Alina was accepted into the NY All-State Wind Ensemble as principal flute, she was a featured soloist with her high school Symphonic Band performing Flight of the Bumblebee, and she was a featured soloist at the National Honors Society ceremony performing Carmen Fantasy arranged for flute and piano.
Alina was also a finalist in the Young Artist Competition sponsored by the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” and a 1st runner-up the following year, having the opportunity to perform two years in a row with the Army Band at David Geffen Hall (formerly Avery Fisher Hall) at Lincoln Center in New York City. Alina has performed with orchestras in several other major halls including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, and Symphony Space in New York City.
Alina has played flute/piccolo/alto flute in many pit orchestras for community productions of musicals and operas in New York City. Alina has also played principal flute and piccolo with several orchestras including the Greenwich Village Orchestra, Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, Interschool Orchestras of NY (ISO) Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Classical Symphony, DePaul Chamber Orchestra, DePaul Opera Productions, and she currently plays principal flute with the Palomar Symphony. As a Constance Mensch Concerto Competition winner with the ISO Symphony, Alina had the honor of performing Gordon Jacob’s Flute Concerto with the ISO Symphony at the NY Botanical Garden in the Bronx.
Having a strong interest in sound design, composition, and contemporary music, Alina Freiman Steele is a classically trained flutist also with expertise in audio and music technology. She received a Bachelor of Music in flute performance, and a Bachelor of Science in Sound Recording Technology from DePaul University School of Music in Chicago. She also completed a Master of Music degree in music technology from New York University. Very fortunate to have studied with some of the most highly regarded flutists of our time, principal flute teachers have included Linda Chesis, Mary Stolper, and Robert Dick. Ms. Alina continues to be an active performer in chamber and orchestral settings.
A former audio designer and editor for CBS at Rockefeller Center in New York City, Alina Steele’s work has been heard on Showtime, HBO, CBS, CBS Sports Network, and ESPN. She has also recorded radio and television audio for many top-40 musicians and celebrities including Mariah Carey, Cher, Alec Baldwin, and many more. With a professional home studio in Encinitas, Alina continues to enjoy producing high quality audio, sound design and music for artists and video production near and far. Her major musical influences include composition teachers Jerica Oblak and Ira Newborn, and computer music teachers Joel Chadabe and Morton Subotnick.
Alina Steele is a devoted educator and spends much of her time teaching. As the founder and director of the San Diego Flute Academy, Alina teaches and supports her private flute students to reach their performance goals. Alina’s flute students are some of California’s finest young musicians, winning top level competitions such as MTAC’s VOCE competition and San Diego Youth Artist Competitions, and earning spots in the top youth orchestras of San Diego Youth Symphony, Mainly Mozart Youth Orchestra, Civic Orchestra, and All-State.
Alina Steele is on the music faculty at Palomar College, where she is professor of flute. She has also substituted for Dr. Madelyn Byrne, teaching classes in computer music and computer music composition, as well as conducted the Palomar Symphony in Dr. Ellen Weller’s absence.
Alina Steele is very excited to perform with Swarmius as Flutastica and is looking forward to future performances and recording projects.