Appointed principal flute of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra in 2012 at the age of 22, “Sonora Slocum has wonderful resonance and a delightfully relaxed vibrato. It’s easy to love such vocal playing, and any orchestra is blessed to have her big sound.” (American Record Guide).

Slocum has performed with orchestras around the country, notably Guest Principal flute with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (touring/recording), Philharmonia Orchestra of New York at Lincoln Center (audio/visual recording), as well as appearances with The Philadelphia Orchestra.

As a soloist, Sonora has performed J.S. Bach's B Minor Suite and Brandenburg Concerti, Carl Reinecke Concerto, Carl Nielsen Concerto, and Toru Takemitsu's Toward the Sea II for Alto Flute, Harp and Orchestra with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. In addition, she has performed the Nielsen Concerto with the Johnson City Symphony Orchestra and Leonard Bernstein’s Halil with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra. 

Sonora has released two solo albums: Return (Affetto Records) featuring John Wilson on piano, and the Mozart Flute Quartets (Acis Productions). An EP of the J.S. Bach B Minor suite on her own label, Aronos Productions, and signed physical CDs can be purchased on her website.

Slocum has published two collections with Hal Leonard: Flute Music by French composers and Moyse Exercises for Flute.

Sonora Slocum maintains a thriving and successful private teaching studio, online and in-person. Slocum has conducted master classes at the Curtis Institute of Music, Eastman School of Music, NFA Orchestral Audition Masterclass, Northwestern University, DePaul University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, East Tennessee State University, Wisconsin Youth Symphony, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and the Umoja Institute. Slocum has served as a faculty member of the Curtis Mentor Network, the Curtis Young Artist Summer Program, and the NYO-USA and NYO 2 Carnegie Hall Youth Orchestras.

Born into a musical family, Slocum grew up in New York City where she attended The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Divisions. Slocum holds a Bachelor's Degree from the Curtis Institute of Music and Master's Degree in Orchestral Performance from the Manhattan School of Music. She attended the Pacific Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival and Music Academy of the West. Slocum studied with principal flutists Jeffrey Khaner, Robert Langevin, and Bart Feller, among many others.

Updated March 2025