From Korea to Texas, Spotlight on Star Maker: Professor Monica Song

September 1, 2026 The Flute View

Praised by The Dallas Morning News for her “gift for drawing out the best in her students,” Monica Song has been a dedicated and influential flute teacher in the Dallas area for more than 40 years. Her exceptional contributions to flute education have been recognized with the Texas Flute Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Dedication to Flute Teaching (2023), the Texas Music Teachers Association (TMTA) Outstanding Pre-Collegiate Teaching Achievement Award (2009), and the Seoul National University Texas Alumni Association Achievement Award. She was also a 2024 nominee for the Global Flute Excellence Awards. In addition, she has received numerous teacher recognition awards from the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA), National Flute Association (NFA), and William & Donna Marie Haire Competition in recognition of her students’ outstanding achievements at the national level.

Ms. Song’s students have achieved remarkable success at both the state and national levels. Her students have earned top honors in Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) competitions 10 times and have received top prizes in National Flute Association (NFA) competitions for seven consecutive years. For more than 10 years, Ms. Song has hosted a Young Artist Recital Series, providing Dallas audiences, particularly aspiring young musicians, with the opportunity to hear and be inspired by exceptionally talented emerging artists. Through this series, she has supported and encouraged numerous rising musicians by giving them a platform to perform for DFW audiences.

Prior to her teaching career in Dallas, Ms. Song enjoyed an accomplished orchestral career. She served as Principal Flute of the Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra in South Korea and the Alexandria Symphony Orchestra in Virginia, and was a member of the Seoul Woodwind Quintet. She studied at Seoul Arts High School, Seoul National University School of Music, and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. Her principal teachers include Soonja Ko, Wallace Mann, and Britton Johnson. Ms. Song has also served on the Board of Directors of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra, as well as Chair of the Wind Division Competition for the Dallas Symphonic Festival. Through her teaching, performing, and advocacy, she has made a lasting contribution to the Dallas flute community and continues to inspire generations of young musicians.

What is your secret to creating so many talented students?

I believe the key is to build a close relationship with each of my students. Every student is different, so I take the time to understand their individual strengths and weaknesses as flute players and find the best repertoire that allows them to grow and shine. Most importantly, I want my students to fall in love with the flute and enjoy making music. I always encourage them, celebrate their progress, and help them believe in their own potential. When students feel supported and inspired, they can achieve more than they ever imagined.

Did you have any routine that helps prepare your students for competitions?

I always emphasize the importance of building a strong foundation before working on repertoire. My students begin their practice with long tones, etudes, and scales before moving on to their competition pieces. I encourage them to practice slowly and carefully, focusing first on developing a beautiful, consistent sound. Then, we work on every detail from intonation and articulation to phrasing, dynamics, and musical expression. I believe that paying attention to these fundamentals and details every day is what ultimately prepares students to perform their best in competitions.

How much in advance did you start training them for competitions?

Typically, I begin focused competition preparation about three to six months in advance. However, the preparation really starts much earlier. I always encourage my students to listen to variety of music and become familiar with different styles and repertoire. When they have heard a piece or a particular style before, it becomes much easier for them to understand, learn, and perform the music. I believe that developing strong musical awareness throughout the year is just as important as preparing for the competition itself.

What does your schedule look like for the next 6 months?

The next six months are the busiest time of the year for my students as they prepare for various competitions. My main focus will be working closely with each student, helping them prepare their repertoire, strengthen their technique, and build confidence so they can perform at their very best.

What are your goals personally? Professionally?

Personally, I want to continue becoming a better mother, grandmother, and wife especially a better wife to my husband, Henry. He has always supported my dreams and my career as a musician and teacher.

When we moved to the United States, Henry was a well known KBS news anchor in Korea. He was invited to work with the Voice of America in Washington, D.C. When we arrived in Virginia, he needed a car for work, but instead, he took the bus every morning so that he could buy me a handmade Haynes flute to support my dream of studying the flute in the United States. I have never forgotten that.

Also, when I started my Young Artist Recital Series, he supported me through every experience and every challenge. He has always believed in me and encouraged me to pursue my dreams. I am very grateful for his love and support, and I hope to continue being the best wife I can be for him.

Professionally, I want to continue growing as a teacher and finding new ways to help my students succeed. Of course, I want to help them achieve their goals and succeed in competitions, but my goal goes far beyond winning. I want to help my students get into the colleges they dream of attending and prepare them for whatever path they choose. Whether they decide to major in music or pursue a completely different career, I hope they will always have good memories of playing the flute and continue to enjoy making music even if it is simply as a hobby. Most of all, I want my students to carry their love of music with them throughout their lives.

What inspires you the most in life?

Two people who have inspired me the most throughout my life are Wonsik Lim and Samuel Baron. I would not be the musician or teacher I am today without their guidance and generosity.

Wonsik Lim was the founder and principal of Seoul Arts High School, as well as a renowned conductor and educator. He was the person who first gave me a flute and encouraged me to begin playing. Without him, I may never have had the opportunity to discover the flute. He supported me throughout my years at Seoul Arts High School and Seoul National University, and later during my career as Principal Flute of the KBS Symphony Orchestra. His belief in me from such an early age had an enormous impact on my life.

Samuel Baron, the renowned American flutist and longtime member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, also had a tremendous influence on my life. I first met him when he visited Korea while I was a member of the Seoul Woodwind Quintet. After hearing me play, he encouraged me to come to the United States to study and generously offered me a scholarship. Throughout my career, he continued to support me by helping provide opportunities, instruments, and music so that I could continue to study and perform.

I am incredibly grateful to both of them. They not only helped me become a better musician, but also showed me the importance of believing in and supporting young musicians. I hope to pass that same generosity and encouragement on to my own students

What has been your greatest challenge?

One of the greatest challenges I have taken on was organizing and hosting my annual Young Artist Recital for 10 consecutive years. I started the recital because I wanted to do more than simply teach my students in the studio. I wanted to create opportunities for exceptionally talented young musicians to perform in Dallas, while also giving my own students the chance to hear inspiring performances and experience great musicianship firsthand.

Each year required a great deal of time, planning, and coordination, but it was always incredibly rewarding. I wanted my students to hear different artists, styles, and interpretations and, most importantly, to be inspired by what they could achieve as young musicians.

The 10th anniversary recital was especially meaningful. Shortly after the young Korean flutist Yubeen Kim won the prestigious ARD International Music Competition, I had the honor of hosting a special ARD Competition Winner Celebration Recital for him in Dallas. It was a wonderful way to celebrate his achievement and to bring his artistry to our local community.

Looking back, I am very proud of what the recital series became. It was not only a performance opportunity for young artists, but also an educational and inspirational experience for my students and the Dallas music community. That was the purpose from the very beginning to share great music, create opportunities, and inspire the next generation of musicians.”

What is the most exciting thing in your life right now?

One of the most exciting and rewarding things in my life is staying in touch with my former students and hearing about their successes. Whether they continue in music or pursue a completely different career, it makes me so happy to see them doing well and becoming successful is one of the greatest rewards of being a teacher. No matter what path they choose, they will always be my students, and I will always be cheering them on.

If you had a super power, what would it be?

If I could have a superpower, I would want the ability to travel anywhere instantly. Korea is about 15 hour flight from Texas, so it’s not easy to visit as often as I would like. I would love to be able to travel there instantly and see my family and friends whenever I want!