Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson is the principal flutist of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as a distinguished international soloist and chamber musician. He was appointed to the post in 2015 by Music Director Riccardo Muti. Prior to joining the CSO, he served as principal flute of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra from 2008-2015.
A native of Iceland, Stefán has been praised by the New York Times for his agility and warmth of expression.
Mr. Höskuldsson has performed widely throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan under the skilled direction of James Levine, Fabio Luisi, Valery Gergiev, Daniel Barenboim, Seiji Ozawa, Esa-Pekka Salonen, and Riccardo Muti. He regularly performs at Carnegie Hall with the Met Orchestra and Chamber Ensemble and in 2009 he was featured as a soloist in Pierre Boulez’s Mémoriale-Explosant Fixe. Stefán has collaborated on performances and recordings with such artists as renowned pianists Evgeni Kissin, Alfred Brendel and Yefim Brofman, violinist Gil Shaham, and sopranos Diana Damrau and Anna Netrebko. As a member of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Mr. Hoskuldsson has received two Grammy Awards in the category of best opera recording for Wagner´s Ring Cycle and Thomas Ades’ The Tempest.
Stefán has been invited as guest principal flute with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Mostly Mozart Festival and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. His extensive solo performances include engagements with the Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, recitals at the Sir James Galway International Flute Festival in Lucerne and a live radio broadcast with BBC Radio 3 In Tune in London.
In 2011, Stefán performed the Mozart Flute and Harp Concerto with members of the Met. Orchestra at the Parlance Chamber Concert series. Mr. Höskuldsson also frequently appears as soloist with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and in 2013 he performed the Carl Nielsen Flute Concerto under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy. Previous performances with the orchestra include the Lowell Liebermann Flute Concerto and the W.A. Mozart Flute Concerto in D major.
Stefán currently teaches at DePaul University in Chicago and has been a faculty member with the Pacific Music Festival in Japan since 2010. He has given master classes at The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, Mannes College of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and the Royal Academy of Music.
Mr. Höskuldsson attended the Reykjavik School of Music in Iceland where he studied with Bernhard Wilkinson. Following his graduation, Stefán attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, where he studied with Peter Lloyd and Wissam Boustany.
Stefán can be heard and seen on live HD broadcasts with the Metropolitan Opera. He has recorded for Castle Classics and the Naxos label-American Classics Series.
In 2015 Stefán will release his debut solo album on the Delos label.
