Praised as “The Goddess of Flute” by The Korea Times and described as “A Living History” by Echelon Press, Jasmine Choi is celebrated worldwide for her extraordinary virtuosity, acclaimed recordings, and a robust online presence that reaches over one million followers across social media. Renowned for pushing the instrument’s traditional boundaries, she has become an icon of the flute in the 21st century.
Born in Korea into a third-generation family of classical musicians, Jasmine was surrounded by sound from her earliest days. Her mother, a violinist, nurtured her artistic growth and introduced her to the discipline and beauty of music. While she never studied the violin herself, she absorbed the atmosphere of a household filled with rehearsals, practice, and artistry, which instilled in her a lifelong respect for dedication and excellence. Books and stories also shaped her imagination; she was a curious child, drawn equally to learning, reflection, and play. Teachers often recalled her as a quiet but brilliant student, marked by focus and a reflective temperament. The companionship of her younger brother offered balance, laughter, and encouragement, reminding her even in her most serious moments that joy could walk alongside discipline.
At nine, Jasmine discovered the flute, an instrument that immediately captured her imagination and quickly became inseparable from her dream of a professional musical life. By twelve, she displayed remarkable courage and independence when she moved alone to Seoul to pursue specialized musical studies. Living outside her family’s protective embrace at such a young age taught her resilience and self-reliance, qualities that would define her career. Teachers and mentors in those years observed her ability to absorb knowledge quickly, while she cultivated an inner discipline that would later become a hallmark of her artistry.
Her path was soon tested by profound hardship. At eighteen, Jasmine faced a debilitating condition that left her unable to hold a pen, let alone play the flute. Doctors urged her to abandon the instrument and consider another future. But she refused. “Without the flute, I was desperate,” she recalls. The recovery process was long and grueling, but it became a turning point, teaching her perseverance, empathy, and the fragility of art. That season of struggle deepened her understanding of what it meant to be a musician, not just a performer of notes, but a bearer of humanity. It shaped the authenticity of her playing, which continues to move audiences with its honesty and depth.
At sixteen, Jasmine crossed continents to continue her education in the United States. She was admitted to the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, one of the most prestigious conservatories in the world, where she studied under Julius Baker and Jeffrey Khaner, two towering figures in the history of the flute. Curtis was both a crucible and a sanctuary: its rigor honed her technical command, while its intimate environment fostered personal growth. She absorbed not only the subtleties of flute playing but also the philosophy that music is storytelling, that every phrase is a conversation, and every note carries meaning. Following Curtis, Jasmine pursued her master’s degree at The Juilliard School in New York City. Immersed in the city’s energy and diversity, she encountered new artistic voices, endless opportunities for collaboration, and a stage that constantly challenged her. Juilliard expanded her vision, teaching her not only how to perform, but how to embrace her individuality as an artist capable of bridging cultures.
Her professional career began with remarkable momentum. She was appointed Associate Principal Flute of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra under Paavo Järvi, one of the youngest musicians to achieve such a post. Her artistry quickly caught the attention of the international stage. In 2012, she reached a historic milestone as Principal Flute of the Vienna Symphony under Fabio Luisi, one of Europe’s most prestigious orchestras. This appointment made history: she was the first female woodwind principal in the orchestra’s tradition, not to mention the first Asian musician in its woodwind section. In Vienna, Jasmine demonstrated that artistry transcends nationality, ethnicity, and gender, becoming a symbol of a new, global classical music identity. Critics and audiences alike praised her clarity of tone, imaginative phrasing, and expressive freedom, marking her as an artist of unique vision. Jasmine has also carried her artistry to significant cultural stages, including performing Arirang at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
As a soloist, she has performed with many of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Vienna Symphony, Salzburg Mozarteum, Berlin Symphony, Czech Philharmonic, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony, and Seoul Philharmonic. Her recent concerts include appearances with the Orchestre de Chambre de Genève, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Düsseldorf Symphony Orchestra, Würzburg Philharmonic, Haifa Symphony Orchestra, Korean National Symphony Orchestra, and the Macao Orchestra. In chamber music, she has cultivated rich collaborations with pianists Kit Armstrong and Julien Quentin, harpist Johanna Schellenberger, and the Schumann Quartet. These partnerships reveal her versatility, from the intimacy of duo recitals to the dynamic interplay of ensembles. An in-demand recitalist, she has performed in Paris, Vienna, London, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, and Hong Kong, among many other cultural capitals. Since 2015, she has also served each summer as principal flute of the Festival Orchestra of Lincoln Center under Louis Langrée and Jonathon Heyward.
Jasmine’s discography reflects both reverence for tradition and fearless exploration. On Sony Classical, she has released Fantasies, a dazzling display of virtuosic flute works, along with Mozart’s Flute Concertos and Quartets and Claude Bolling’s Jazz Suite. She has recorded works by Brahms, Schumann, and Reinecke. She has produced albums such as Love in Paris, Golden Age Flute Concerto, Trio Joy (a free improvisation project), and singles dedicated to Paganini, Reichert, and Ian Clarke. Critics have praised her ability to combine technical brilliance with emotional warmth, making even the most demanding repertoire feel intimate and personal. Beyond interpretation, Jasmine has expanded the expressive boundaries of her instrument with her own flute arrangements of iconic works such as the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky violin concertos. She has premiered more than fifteen new flute concertos written for her, championing the voices of living composers and ensuring the flute’s place in the music of today and tomorrow.
Her creativity extends beyond performance. In addition to her recordings and publications, Jasmine designed her own signature flute case, a fusion of artistry, elegance, and practicality. Praised for its innovative design, the case has become not only a functional accessory but also a symbol of her individuality and vision, an extension of the same creativity and precision that define her playing.
Education and mentorship are central to Jasmine’s mission. She has published acclaimed adaptations with Theodore Presser Company, including her reimagined edition of Taffanel & Gaubert’s 17 Daily Exercises. In 2021, she released her Flute Method books for beginners, which became immediate bestsellers, followed by her Flute Performance series, a natural continuation of her educational vision. Jasmine has taught masterclasses at many of the world’s most distinguished institutions, including The Juilliard School, Curtis Institute of Music, Indiana University, the Colburn School of Music, Manhattan School of Music, Florida University, Harvard University, and the Universität für Musik in Vienna, among others. She has also filmed the Henle Verlag Masterclass series in Germany and served on the flute faculty of Carnegie Hall’s National Youth Orchestra as well as the Sarasota Music Festival in Florida.
Today, she continues this mission as a professor at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where she emphasizes artistry as storytelling and encourages students to find their own voices and connect deeply with their audiences. For Jasmine, teaching is inseparable from performance: every lesson is an invitation to dialogue, empathy, and self-discovery.
A true 21st-century musician, Jasmine bridges the classical stage with digital platforms. With over one million followers across social media, she has cultivated a vibrant, global community that spans cultures and generations. Fans travel from across continents to hear her live, drawn by her rare ability to combine intellect with soul, discipline with spontaneity, and accessibility with artistry. Critics have hailed her as “a revisionist” who redefines tradition (Philadelphia Inquirer), a musician who brought flute playing to “a new level” (Nikkei Daily, Japan), and even “one of the best flutists in the history of music” (Sinfini Magazine, UK).
Since the recent passing of her mother from pancreatic cancer, the first to nurture her gift, Jasmine has carried her memory into every performance. Her artistry is infused with gratitude, remembrance, and devotion. Each phrase becomes more than music; it is a testament to the enduring bond between mother and daughter, and a reminder that art at its truest is love sustained across time.
Proudly calling Korea her homeland, she also serves as cultural ambassador for her hometown of Daejeon, where she launched her festival, the Heredium Concert Series: Jasmine & Friends, in the 2025–2026 season as founder and artistic director.
From Korea to Philadelphia, New York to Vienna, from the Olympic stage to her hometown of Daejeon, Jasmine Choi’s artistry is one of courage, innovation, and grace. She has achieved the highest honors of her profession while continuously expanding the boundaries of her craft. Through every performance, she reaffirms the timeless power of music to illuminate, to connect, and to inspire humanity. To hear her on stage is to be drawn into a rare space where sound becomes story, technique becomes poetry, and every phrase breathes humanity—a place where brilliance meets soul, and music transcends entertainment to become revelation.
