BIO
Inspired by the musicians in her family, Toni French first picked up the flute at age 10. Since then, she has pursued a career as a flutist and educator. From performing for U.S. astronauts at the Cosmosphere to concerto soloist on the stage of the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson, Kansas, Toni has played the flute across the United States.
Toni enjoys the challenge of competing because it inspires her to strive for excellence in practice and on stage. Her accolades include receiving first place in the 2017 Tack Flute Foundation Young Artist Competition and the 2017 Anderson Concerto Competition, which led to a performance with the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra. She was also named a finalist in the 2021 Wichita State University Concerto-Aria Competition.
Toni also loves to collaborate with other talented musicians. During her time at Wichita State University, she performed in the American Prize-winning Wind Ensemble and was co-principal flutist in the Symphony Orchestra. Toni was also a member of the FluteShox Flute Choir. While attending East Texas A&M University (formerly Texas A&M University-Commerce), she performed with the Wind Ensemble. Additionally, she performed with and conducted the ETAMU Flute Choir as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. Toni has been selected through competitive audition to perform in flute choirs at the National Flute Association Conventions in Orlando, Salt Lake City, Chicago, and San Antonio.
Committed to sharing her love for music, Toni began her teaching career in the summer of 2019 when she started her own flute studio. She currently teaches students in grades 5-12 virtually and in the DFW area.
Originally from Hutchinson, Kansas, Toni French now resides in the DFW area where she maintains her own private lesson studio. Toni recently earned her Master's degree in Flute Performance from East Texas A&M University, where she studied with Dr. Julee Kim Walker while working as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. During the 2022-23 school year, Toni worked as a Graduate Assistant in Research, during which time she won first place in the CHSSA Graduate Division of the ETAMU Research Symposium for her thesis titled "Netzel, Chaminade, and Bonis: Romantic Era Women Breaking Barriers." Toni received her Bachelor of Music degree in 2022 while studying with Dr. Carmen Lemoine at Wichita State University. Prior to her time at WSU, Toni studied with Dr. Ellen Johnson Mosley. Toni has also performed in masterclasses for many notable flute teachers including Sergio Pallottelli, Alice K. Dade, Katherine Borst-Jones, Laura Pillman, Colleen White, SFC James Miller, MSG Robert Aughtry, Guilherme Andreas, David Buck, and Sarah Shin.
When she is not playing her flute, Toni enjoys spending time in the kitchen. From fresh homemade pasta to beef wellington, Toni is always trying new things and experimenting with new recipes. Other hobbies include figure skating and spending quality time with her partner Joe and their three cats—Ajax, Sapphire, and Holly.