Bill McBirnie

Education

Bill studied with renowned American flutist, Samuel Baron, Canadian flutist and composer, Robert Aitken, as well as Cuban charanga legend, Richard Egues.

Career

Here are a few illustrative comments regarding Bill’s work:

All have garnered excellent reviews internationally—in Canada, the United States of America, Britain, France, Australia, Greece and the Netherlands. He has also been a longstanding contributor to the Woodwinds column of the Canadian Musician magazine and was recruited personally by James Galway to serve as his resident Jazz Flute Specialist at his official web site.

Achievements

• McBirnie is known for his excellent technique and he is also recognized as an accomplished improviser, notably in the bebop, swing and Latin idioms as illustrated by his recordings as a sideman with Junior Mance ("Here "Tis", Sackville Records) Irakere ("Afrocubanismo Live", Bembe Records), Memo Acevedo ("Building Bridges", Jazz Alliance), Emilie-Claire Barlow ("The Very Thought of You", Empress Music) and Cache ("Blended" and "The Toronto Sessions", Indie Pool). These albums have consistently attained Top 40 spots at Canada"s premier jazz station, Jazz.FM91, and in the United States of America on Bob Parlocha’s syndicated jazz program and remain in their regular spin cycles. McBirnie"s most recent release entitled, "Mercy" (featuring Romani piano sensation, Robi Botos), has also garnered critical success as well as the 2009/2010 Toronto Independent Music Award (TIMA) in the "Best Jazz" category. McBirnie has been chosen Flutist of the Year by the Jazz Report Awards, nominated as Miscellaneous Instrumentalist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards as well as being the only winner in all three of the United States.A. National Flute Association"s jazz flute (1) Soloist, (2) Masterclass and (3) Big Band Competitions.

Membership

He has performed with many of Toronto"s foremost musicians including as a longstanding and charter member of Bernie Senensky"s Moe Koffman Tribute Band.