Sandra Saathoff is a freelance flutist, clinician, and principal flute of the Seattle Philharmonic. She helped launch a nonprofit organization, Silver Flight Ensembles and Foundation, dedicated to helping student flutists, and currently conducts the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra's flute ensemble. A published author and music arranger, Dr. Saathoff has also performed and taught throughout the United States and Europe. She has served as Assistant Program Chair, Secretary, Convention Manager, and on the Long-Range Strategic Planning Committee for the National Flute Association; as well as President, Vice President, Hospitality Chair, and Newsletter Editor for the Seattle Flute Society. She has taken the stage with flutists such as Sir James Galway, Trevor Wye, Ian Clarke, Matthias Ziegler, and Ian Anderson, and has performed as concerto soloist with the Seattle Philharmonic, Sammamish Symphony, and the Rain City Symphony.
Dr. Saathoff enjoys teaching flutists of all ages and has served as adjunct flute faculty at Cornish College of the Arts and Seattle Pacific University; taught middle-school band and orchestra, and coached at the Midsummer Musical Retreat for adult musicians. She enjoys planning large scale flute events and masterclasses, such as the Northwest Flute and Piccolo Forum. Additionally, Baroque traverso, Native American flute, low flutes, and Irish flute round out her favorite musical pastimes. She recently earned her DMA at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with Dr. John Bailey.
