Ervin Monroe is one of America’s most distinguished flutists. Born in the rural south, Ervin was largely self taught. By age sixteen he was driving fifty miles each week to play Principal Flute in the Pensacola Florida Symphony. His dedicated musical efforts eventually won him full scholarships for flute performance study at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. At age nineteen he studied in Austria and toured as a member of Salzburg’s Mozarteum Orchestra, but decided to complete his musical studies in the states and vie for a position with an American symphony. While working on a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, Monroe was hired to play Principal Flute for the American tours of the world’s most prestigious ballet companies, inluding the Bolshoi, Royal Danish and Royal English Ballets. At age twenty-three he was the youngest wind player selected to play in the Chamber Symphony of Philadelphia and record chamber music for RCA Red Label Classics. Just two years later he was appointed Principal Flute of the Detroit Symphony, a position he held for 40 years until his retirement in 2008. One of the 20th century's most recorded Flutist's, Mr. Monroe can be heard on over 100 great Symphonic recordings with legendary conductors such as Antal Dorati & Neemi Jarvi, in addition to extensive discography of solo, duo and holiday Cd's. Monroe is a musician of great versatility. Flutist, composer, arranger and conductor, he is one of the most published flutists today. Ervin is a frequent lecturer and recitalist throughout the Americas and abroad. His congenial teaching style and his warm, expressive performance approach are transferred to his articles and periodicals that have appeared in leading music publications worldwide.