Ileana Ruhemann

Ileana, born of German and Romanian parents, was educated at the Purcell School and studied the flute with Judith Pearce. She became principal flute of the National Youth Orchestra and won an instrumental exhibition at Cambridge University, where she read Music. On graduating, she won the only place open to foreign flautists at the Paris Conservatoire in 1983 and studied there with Alain Marion and Raymond Guiot. She was also awarded scholarships by the French Government, Munster Trust, Martin Fund, and Ian Fleming Charitable Trust. She has played Principal Flute in most of the major orchestras in the UK, including the BBC Symphony, London Symphony, Royal Opera House, London Philharmonic, and Philharmonia and has made many appearances as concerto soloist on the South Bank and at St John's, Smith Square.
    
Ileana was appointed Principal Flute of the BBC Concert Orchestra in 1989 and now combines this position with a career as a soloist and chamber musician. She won the prestigious National Federation of Music Societies' Award for young concert artists in 1986, which led to solo recitals throughout the country, to her Wigmore Hall debut in 1988 and her first solo recording of French music for flute and piano (with Julius Drake) entitled PARIS. In 1989 she was chosen to appear in the Park Lane Group Young Artists Series and was invited to adjudicate in the televised final stages of the BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition. She has frequently given solo recitals for BBC Radio 2 and 3.Ileana was a member of the leading chamber ensemble, CAPRICORN, with whom she toured extensively, recorded for HYPERION, and broadcast both in this country and abroad.She continues to play as a member of  the ensembles Jeux,Fibonaci and Gemini..    
    
Ileana has had works written for her by composers ranging from Stanley Black to John Tavener.