Kyrese Washington is an award-winning flutist and composer based in New York City. Influenced by mentors who forged unconventional artistic paths, Kyrese is committed to shaping an individual voice and encouraging others to do the same.

Washington’s musical journey began in middle school, where studying the flute, oboe, and alto saxophone created a space in which music felt both healing and safe. Having grown up with some difficulties at home combined with this new sense of peace from music, Kyrese began composing their first piece for wind band, “A New Beginning.” It was premiered at the final concert of the year, performed by Kyrese’s eighth-grade band class. Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, in eighth grade Kyrese began private flute and alto saxophone studies at the Community Music School in downtown Raleigh, where they were gifted with the opportunity to learn from Dr. Kelly Nivison, an experience that proved foundational to their artistic development.

Throughout high school, Kyrese earned numerous honors, including multiple prizes in the Raleigh Area Flute Association competitions, consistent placement in the North Carolina All-District Band, placement in the NC Eastern Regional Orchestra, and principal flute positions with the Triangle Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and the North Carolina Youth Wind Ensemble. In their senior year, Kyrese was selected for both the North Carolina All-State Orchestra and the All-State Choir (2018), earning distinction among the state’s top young musicians.

Kyrese pursued undergraduate studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, initially as a double major in Music Education and Flute Performance before focusing solely on performance. Studying with Dr. Erika Boysen, Kyrese built a strong technical and artistic foundation. They won the UNCG Student Artist Concerto Competition and received the 2020-2021 Presser Scholarship. They also continued to earn top prizes in local collegiate flute competitions and participated in the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Mentorship Program. Later studies with Dr. Timothy Hagen played a pivotal role in shaping Kyrese’s compositional voice. During this period, and particularly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, their commitment to composition deepened, leading to the premiere of original works on both of their required undergraduate recitals.

Following graduation, Kyrese spent a year working professionally as a freelance flutist while also working as a substitute teacher in Guilford County Public Schools and a part-time babysitter. During this time, they held principal flute positions with Appalachia: A Southeastern Symphony and the Greensboro College Wind Ensemble, and made their concerto debut with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra, performing Carl Nielsen’s “Concerto for Flute and Orchestra.” Kyrese also earned a substitute flute placement with the Salisbury, Raleigh, and Durham Symphony Orchestras.

Washington went on to earn a Master of Music degree in Classical Flute Performance from the Manhattan School of Music, where they studied with GRAMMY-nominated flutist and composer Valerie Coleman—an artist Kyrese had admired and drawn inspiration from long before beginning their studies. Working closely with Coleman proved deeply influential, shaping Kyrese’s artistic identity as both a performer and composer. While at MSM, Kyrese won first place in multiple national competitions, including those hosted by the New York Flute Club, Atlanta Flute Club, Rochester Flute Association, and Raleigh Area Flute Association. Performance highlights include appearances with the MSM OPUS Orchestra, the Long Island Concert Orchestra, Sugar Hill Salon Chamber Music, and participation in the Imani Winds Chamber Music Festival at The Juilliard School as both a performer (2023) and composer (2025).

As a composer, Kyrese has received growing national and international recognition. Their work has been premiered at festivals and conventions across the United States, including the Flutistry Boston Flute Festival, International Women’s Brass Conference, and National Flute Association Convention. Kyrese made their international compositional debut in Oslo, Norway, with euphoniumist Bente Illevold, supported by Katherine Needleman’s Fund for New Music, and was awarded the flute and piano prize in the Flute New Music Consortium Composition Competition (2025) for their piece “poem for flute and piano.”

Currently, Kyrese works as a Teaching Artist with the Harmony Program at an elementary school in Harlem and performs as the flutist of the Indigo Woodwind Quintet. Outside of music, Kyrese enjoys walking, dancing, and spending time with their cat, Tutti.