Rita George Simmons

Rita George Simmons holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Boston Conservatory and a Master of Music degree from Ithaca College, both with emphasis on Flute Performance. Rita completed training in teaching the Suzuki Flute method and is now offering Suzuki Flute instruction at Hochstein.

An active chamber musician, in 2012 Rita founded the Telos Trio with Hochstein faculty colleagues, clarinetist Debbie Grohman and pianist Willie La Favor. Rita is also flutist with the chamber music trio Gossamer Edge with mezzo-soprano Allyn Van Dusen and pianist Paula Bobb, founded in 2013.

An experienced performer on piccolo, Rita performed for 21 years with the Greater Rochester Music Educators’ Wind Band. She has performed at the National Flute Association Conventions and on Hochstein’s “Spotlight on Faculty” and “Live from Hochstein” series.

A dedicated and enthusiastic educator, Rita has also served on the faculty of the Rochester Flute Association Summer Flute Camp and the Webster High School Marching Band. Her students have won coveted chairs in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra, Hochstein Philharmonia, and All-County and Area All-State ensembles. During her tenure, she has assisted many of her graduating students with moving on to prestigious music programs at SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Potsdam/Crane School of Music, Nazareth College, and Ithaca College.

Active with the Rochester Flute Association, Rita is a member of NAfME and a certified NYSSMA Adjudicator. She sponsors the Frank and Mary Louise George Memorial Scholarship for Principal Flute in the Hochstein Youth Symphony Orchestra.