Flutist Meret Bitticks maintains an active schedule as a soloist, chamber musician, and clinician in the U.S. and abroad. As a performer, Ms. Bitticks joined U.S. State Department cultural ambassadors, Trio Chicago and Friends, for concert tours of the United Arab Emirates and Australia. She also regularly performs as a soloist and with faculty ensembles and chamber groups. Her recording credits include the Head of Femur album, Hysterical Stars, for the SpinArt label as well as the premier recording of Leslie Basset’s Sounds, Shapes, and Symbols under the direction of conductor Russell Mikkelson. A passionate and enthusiastic educator, Ms. Bitticks is one of only a handful of registered Suzuki Flute Teacher Trainers and the first flutist to receive a Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Suzuki instruction from the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Ms. Bitticks originated the Master’s of Suzuki Flute Pedagogy program at Roosevelt University, the only degree-granting program of its kind for flute. She has been a clinician for workshops in Canada, Mexico, Australia, and all over the U.S. Ms. Bitticks believes quality music instruction can only break down barriers when it is available to every person, regardless of age or economic background. With this in mind, Ms. Bitticks volunteered at music camps for the Ecole de Musique Sainte Trinite and Ecole de Musique Dessaix Baptiste in Haiti and trained the first Haitian Suzuki flute teacher. She worked with foster children through DePaul’s Pathways program and has also been a Tuition-free Conservatory instructor for the Merit School. Ms. Bitticks is an Altus Artist and nurtures a large flute studio at the Music Institute of Chicago. She is also on faculty at Lake Forest College, Roosevelt University, and DePaul University. She lives in Evanston with her husband and two small children.