Jonathan Keeble
Associate Professor of Flute
B.M.A., Northwestern University; M.M., D.M.A., and Performer's Certificate, Eastman School of Music.
“An engaging and vibrant sound,” (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle), and a “beautiful flutist and charismatic teacher” (Tom George, Madeline Island Music Camp) are just a pair of Jonathan Keeble’s recent accolades. A regular on concert series throughout North America, Jonathan is one of the leading performer/pedagogues of his generation. His concerto appearances with orchestras and wind ensembles have taken him to venues in North America, South America and Europe.
Jonathan’s passion for new music led him to commission many new works for the flute from rising young composers. From these efforts comes a soon to be released recording of flute and harp music on the Albany record label, and a recording of Hungarian wind quintet music with the Prairie Winds. These come in addition to his first solo recording, icarus, and Gale Force, ranked among the top 15 recordings of 2000 by Chicago Tribune critic John von Rhein. In addition to his active solo and chamber career, Jonathan is the Principal Flute of Sinfonia da Camera.
As a member of the Prairie Winds Woodwind Quintet and as a solo clinician, he travels throughout the world performing and teaching. Recently, he was the featured artist at Flutemania in Arvika, Sweden, and as a member of the Prairie Winds, he received a grant from Chamber Music America to perform and teach throughout Alaska.
Performances from the past couple of years have taken Jonathan to Mexico City to perform and teach at the National Conservatory, in addition to concerts and classes in Austria, Holland, Serbia, Canada and the Far-East. Recent domestic programs have taken him to concert series throughout the Midwest, California, Washington, New York, Tennessee, Texas, and Georgia.
He is a regular performer, adjudicator, and presenter at National Flute Association conventions, and is currently the Vice-Chair of the Association. In addition, he was the Program Chair for the 2008 convention in Kansas City. Jonathan has appeared as a panelist and performer at Chamber Music America conferences, and at the International Double Reed Society.
Jonathan’s teaching experience includes his present position as the flute professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with past appointments at Oklahoma State University and as a visiting professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia. He spends summers performing and teaching at the Madeline Island Music Camp, and at the University of Illinois Summer Youth Music Flute Camp.
Jonathan and his wife Sue live in Mahomet, Illinois, where they spend the bulk of their free time vainly attempting to convince their sons Alexander and Bryson of the evils of video game play.
The University of Illinois flute studio boasts a proud heritage of producing some of the country's finest musicians. Flutists are encouraged to cultivate their playing in a supportive and stimulating environment, while playing in some of the nation’s finest ensembles. In addition to the wealth of class offerings a major university provides, flute majors enjoy a small school’s feel with myriad opportunities to work closely with Professor Keeble. In addition to weekly lessons, and optional twice weekly warm-up sessions, flute students hone their skills in studio class, and may continue their studies through courses such as orchestral flute repertoire, and flute pedagogy. Please feel free to contact Professor Keeble if you have any questions about the program.