Flutist Sydney Carlson holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, East Carolina University and the University of Houston. She studied flute with Byron Hester, Bonita Boyd, and David Shostac. Additionally, she has performed in the masterclasses of Julius Baker, Jean-Pierre Rampal, Keith Underwood, James Walker and Samuel Baron. She is a member of the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. She has also been a frequent guest with the Houston Ballet Orchestra and Houston Symphony. She is the former Principal Flute of the Mineria Orchestra (Mexico City), and former Principal Flute on European tour and at the Bellingham Music Festival with the American Sinfonietta. She has recorded on the Albany, Mark, and Delos labels. Dr. Carlson was formerly an affiliate artist at University of Houston's Moores School of Music and prior to that she was a Professor of Flute at Stephen F. Austin State University.