Ota, Yukie

A Japan born flutist Yukie Ota studied flute with Mathieu Dufour at the DePaul University School of Music in Chicago.
In 2011, she won first prize in the Chicago Flute Club Solo Artist Competition and three years later the “Newly Commissioned Work” Prize at the 36th annual Young Artist Competition during the National Flute Association convention.
In 2014 she won the 2nd prize in the Carl Nielsen International Flute Competition and became known as “Madame Butterfly” when a butterfly landed on her during the performance.
Since 2011 she has been principal flute of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and is a regular substitute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Additionally she has been performing at various festivals around the world, including the Verbier Festival in Switzerland, and the Incheon & Arts Festival in Korea.