Zachariah Galatis’ “irresistible energy, appealing tone, and dazzling technique” (The Oregonian) have cemented his place in Portland’s music community. Serving as solo piccolo of the Oregon Symphony since 2012, Zach also frequently appears with Third Angle New Music and 45th Parallel.
A native of LaGrange, NY, Zach graduated summa cum laude with performance honors from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he studied with Kenneth Andrews. Zach received an M.M. from Peabody Conservatory, studying with Baltimore Symphony’s Laurie Sokoloff (solo piccolo) and Emily Skala (principal flute), and also pursued doctoral studies with Marina Piccinini at Peabody.
In 2009, Zach won first place in the Mid-Atlantic Young Artist Piccolo Competition, and was a winner of the National Flute Association’s 2009 Piccolo Masterclass Competition. Zach was a fellow at the National Orchestral Institute in 2010 and 2012, and in 2011 was awarded the Piccolo Fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival. Zach also won first prize in the National Flute Association’s 2012 Piccolo Artist Competition, a competition for which he now serves as coordinator.
In addition to performing, Zach is a passionate educator, having given various masterclasses and seminars on piccolo technique, including at the 2012 Hampton Roads Flute Faire, the 2012 International Flute Symposium in West Virginia, and the 2013 Iowa Piccolo Intensive Workshop. For the 2014-2015 school year, Zach served as the Interim Instructor of Flute at Willamette University. He also maintains a private studio in Portland, working with students of all ages.
Zach has played as guest piccolo with orchestras including Baltimore, Detroit, and Seattle, and has appeared as guest principal flute with the Buffalo Philharmonic. He has also performed at various summer festivals, including the Astoria Music Festival and Oregon Bach Festival. Before Joining the Oregon Symphony, Zach played piccolo/third flute in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra, under music director JoAnn Falletta.
