Emily Cordes is an active musician and Music Performance student at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, studying under Jennifer Dior. She specializes in flute and piccolo performance. Emily was raised in a musical household, and began her journey with flute and piccolo in 2016. Her musical experience include serving as Principal Piccolo in the 2025 Intercollegiate Honor Band and as the Flute Section Leader in the UNCC Wind Ensemble for four semesters. She has worked as a private lesson instructor since 2021 and as a high school marching band woodwind technician with schools such as Charlotte Catholic High School (Charlotte, NC) and East Lincoln High School (Denver, NC) starting in 2024. She has demonstrated leadership through her service as C-NAfME Secretary and as a member of the UNCС Music Department Chair's Advisory Committee. Emily is a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award, the UNCC Athletic Band Scholarship, and the Clara McKay and Charles H. Stone Scholarship in Music. She plans to continue pursuing a career as a performer, educator, and professional flutist starting by obtaining her Master of Music in Flute Performance.

Everyone’s journey with music is unique. Emily's path began in middle school band with a lot of curiosity and a shiny flute, evolving into a deep connection with the art of fluting! She has spent years honing her craft, studying under the guidance of master teachers and performing in multiple ensembles across North Carolina. Her goal is to bring a sense of musicality and technical precision to every performance. Music is a dialogue between the performer and the listener, and she strives to have everyone feel what she is aiming to communicate.

When Emily is not practicing, you’ll probably find her on her porch swing with a crochet project,  hanging out with her sweet dog, Piper, or staying in for a movie night, complete with a mug of hot chocolate (no matter how hot it is outside).