Flutist Debora Harris joined the faculty of Concordia College, Moorhead, Minnesota, as Associate Professor of Flute in 2001. Prior teaching posts include Associate Professor of Flute at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Valdosta State University, and the University of Wisconsin-Wausau.
For the past 25 years, she has served as Principal Flute of the Fargo-Moorhead Symphony and has been a guest soloist with the orchestra performing Mozart Concerto in D Major, Bernstein Halil, Bach Suite in B Minor, and Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Other orchestral positions include Breckenridge Music Institute in Colorado, Peoria Symphony, and Wausau Symphony. Since 1989, she has served as Principal Flute of the Fargo-Moorhead Opera orchestra and has also performed with the Berkshire Opera Company, Lenox, MA, and Opera Illinois.
Since 2009, Debora has been a member of the flute, sax, piano trio, Excelsior! Trio. The Trio has performed concerts throughout the US, at the World Saxophone Congress in Scotland, the Museo Internazionale delle Ceramiche, in Faenza, Italy, and at the National Flute Association Convention in California.
As a member of the flute-guitar duo, Harris-Coates Duo, she has released three CDs under the Barking Dog Records label and has performed in various venues around the United States, including National Flute Association conventions in Phoenix, Dallas, Albuquerque, San Diego, Las Vegas, and Charlotte. About their CD “Dances in the Madhouse,” New Millenium Guitar (Feb. 2001) writes, “This music is simply ravishing, exquisitely arranged and played with all the tenderness and exuberance the music requires.” Flute Talk Magazine (Feb. 2003) writes, “Harris plays beautifully, has a facile technique, and a smoothly-singing legato. Her intonation is impeccable.”
Recent guest artist engagements include the VI Festival de Flauta Traversa in Honduras and the Syrinx Flute Festival in Winnipeg.
Debora’s summer schedule includes teaching at the Soiva International Music Camp (where she is also the director of the camp), as well as International Music Camp, on the border of Canada and the U.S., where she has been a flute instructor since 1991.
Harris holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Bradley University and a Master of Music degree in flute performance from Florida State University, where she is also ABD for the Doctor of Music degree. She studied with Charles DeLaney and has had additional study in England and at the Wild Acres Retreat in North Carolina with English flutist William Bennett.