Paul Brittan
Flutist

Paul Brittan was born in Boston on 9-11-1946. His birthdays have been uneventful, with one notable exception. Thanks to his father's love of classical music, he was exposed to it at an extremely early age and was quickly fixated on becoming an orchestral musician long before he started learning to play the flute at age 10. He joined the local community orchestra, the Arlington Philharmonic, as principal flutist when he was 13. A year later he became the principal of the newly formed Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. With the GBYSO he made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1962 and played for Jacquelyn and John Kennedy at the White House Easter Egg Hunt. He had become enthralled with the great upheavals of 20th-century music and even played with avant-garde icon, John Cage, while still in high school. His teachers were Doriot Anthony Dwyer, the famous principal flutist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and her star pupil, Elinor Preble, who became a life-long friend.

Mr. Brittan received a full scholarship at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, studying with the great Joseph Mariano (Dwyer's teacher). While at Eastman he helped founding director Richard Pittman establish the 20th-century avant-garde chamber group Eastman Musica Nova. He graduated in 1968 with a Bachelor of Music degree with Distinction and a Performer's Certificate. Joining the United States Marine Band, he played for various heads of state in the White House under Presidents Johnson and Nixon. In 1972 he became the Second Flutist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

During his 35 years with the ASO, Mr. Brittan has worn many hats, as he performed as soloist with the orchestra, participated in ASO fund drives, was part of collective bargaining negotiations, represented the orchestra at conferences of the International Congress of Symphony Orchestra Musicians, taught a course for ASO Adult Education, taught in the Talent Development Program, coached the ASYO flutists, and took part in numerous outreach functions. Besides the ASO, he has appeared as soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (at age 16), GBYSO, Colorado Philharmonic, and Rochester Philharmonic. He has taught at Georgia State University for nearly 30 years, as well as at Agnes Scott College and Emory University. A founding member of Thamyris, the 20th-century chamber ensemble, he has also given countless recitals and master classes across the Southeast.

He raised Lhasa apsos for more than 30 years and is sadly living dog-free at the moment. He eagerly awaits being chosen by the next puppy, so that his life can once again be complete.