Preston, Stephen

Stephen Preston is a renown baroque flautist, recording artist and creator of a new musical language - ecosonics.
He studied flute with Geoffrey Gilbert at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. In 1966 he became the flautist in the Galliard Harpsichord Trio, alongside harpsichordist Trevor Pinnock and cellist, Anthony Pleeth that helped him to further explore his interest in the 18th century flute.
In 1970s he was invited to become principal flute in all the leading period-instrument ensembles and orchestras in the UK and ever since has recorded all major baroque works for flute.
From 1981 to 2001, Stephen Preston pursued his interest in historical dance, and worked as a choreographer, principally of historical dance in opera, founding two dance companies.
Since 2001 his further explorations of the Baroque flute were in a more experimental and improvisational vein that reflected his experiences with dance and music.
Stephen Preston teaches at the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the Royal Northern College of Music, Trinity College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, as well as gives regular masterclasses in the USA.
The example of his new musical language - ecosonics can be heard in the "The Soft Complaining Flute" by composer Edward Cowie.