Matthew Roitstein

About Matthew

Matthew Roitstein is the Associate Principal Flutist of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.

Previously a member of the Honolulu Symphony, Sarasota Opera Orchestra, and New World Symphony, he has also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Dallas, Atlanta, and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestras.

Roitstein can be heard on recordings with the Houston Symphony and New World Symphony, as well as on Gloria Estefan's 2013 album, "The Standards." He recently recorded "Studies in Nature," a trio for flute, harp, and viola by award-winning composer Karim Al-Zand.

Roitstein has taught extensively in the United State and abroad and has been on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Camp since 2018.

He received his bachelor’s degrees in architecture and music from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied flute with Seta Der Hohannesian.

He received his master’s degree in flute performance with Leone Buyse at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music.

Other influential teachers include Mark Sparks, Elizabeth Rowe, Stephen Kujala, Gary Woodward, Pedro Eustache, and Roitstein's mother, Rosy Sackstein.

Matthew Roitstein is a Powell Artist and plays on a handmade 14K Powell flute.

In evaluating a student's playing, I am not only looking to address problem areas, but am also keen on identifying strengths and encouraging each student to find their own voice through music. In order to train your body to allow your musical voice to shine through, I offer many practice techniques and exercises for consistency and control of playing aspects such as tone, fingers, articulation, intonation, breathing, dynamics, phrasing, and tone colors, etc. Students are often focused on playing "correctly," but music is not about perfection--it is about communication and emotional connection, and I aspire to motivate students to find what they enjoy about the music and to share that enjoyment through their playing.