About Sasha Ishov
Singularly devoted to challenging and redefining flute repertoire, Sasha Ishov is a versatile flutist, educator, and researcher dedicated to fostering connections across musical communities and advancing the art of flute playing. His work spans classical and contemporary repertoire, experimental electroacoustic projects, and programming that celebrates the flute’s expressive range and contemporary relevance.
As a Flutist, Sasha Ishov champions flute playing in its fullest capacity, redefining expectations of flute repertoire by cultivating programs that are both demographically and musically diverse. His contributions to flute performance are grounded in two major axes: the co-creation of new acoustic and electroacoustic works and the showcasing of existing repertoire that challenges perceptions of the historical canon.
Praised for his “well-sounded and lucid” artistry (The San Diego Union-Tribune), Sasha has appeared at festivals and venues including the Ojai Music Festival, BBC Proms, June in Buffalo, the National Flute Association, The Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics in Graz, and Neofonía–Festival de Música Nueva de Ensenada. He has performed with ensembles including the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble Signal, Switch~ Ensemble, and the San Diego Symphony. His versatility extends to both contemporary and historical performance practices across the full flute family.
A champion of contemporary music, Sasha has premiered over 100 works and collaborated with composers such as John Luther Adams, Augusta Read Thomas, Matthew Aucoin, and Anthony Davis. He co-leads Offscreen, a duo with percussionist Michael Jones that explores the intersection of acoustic performance and technology. His collaborations span a wide range of aesthetics, including performances alongside Irvine Arditti, Miranda Cuckson, Renée Fleming, Anthony McGill, JACK Quartet, and Steven Schick. Sasha’s piccolo playing, featured on Wilfrido Terrazas’s The Torres Cycle—recognized on Bandcamp’s “Best Contemporary Classical” list—underscores his artistry as a multi-flutist. Listen to Sasha’s recordings.
As an Educator, Sasha prioritizes accessibility, sustainability, and creative exploration. His teaching integrates classical fundamentals with digital tools and embodied practices like Alexander Technique and Body Mapping, ensuring students develop technical fluency while cultivating their artistic voices. He has designed interactive curricula, taught university-level flute and music theory, and mentored students in both solo and chamber settings. His approach balances technical rigor with artistic discovery, emphasizing music’s role in personal expression and cultural dialogue.
Sasha is deeply indebted to his mentors Wilfrido Terrazas, Bonita Boyd, Nancy Stagnitta, Dr. Kristen Stoner, and Christine Alicot, and has also studied with Nadine Asin, Demarre McGill, and Mark Sparks. Their influence has shaped his approach to teaching and performance, instilling a commitment to fostering the next generation of flutists.
As a Researcher, Sasha Ishov explores the intersections of performance, technology, and pedagogy, investigating how these fields shape and transform musical practices. His research initiative, PrismaSonus, co-created with Theocharis Papatrechas, examines how technology influences performer-composer relationships, notation, and instrumental technique. His dissertation, “PrismaSonus: Bridging Acoustic and Digital Worlds in Flute Practice and Performer-Composer Collaboration,” explores how microphone placement inside the flute alters instrumental perception and compositional approaches. He has presented his findings at Harvard University, the Qualcomm Institute, Kunstuniversität Graz, and MOXsonic. Sasha’s research extends beyond theory into live performance with projects like Morphés integrating live spatialization and pre-recorded media to create immersive soundscapes. These works challenge traditional hierarchies in music-making, offering innovative models for performer-composer collaboration.
Sasha holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music from UC San Diego, a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music, and is a Miyazawa Artist.
As a Citizen-Artist, Sasha believes in the power of music to bridge disciplines, inspire dialogue, and reflect the richness of human experience. He advocates for spaces where artistry can thrive—not only in traditional venues but also in unconventional and community-centered settings. Committed to amplifying voices historically underrepresented in classical music, Sasha fosters connections between diverse musical traditions and the communities they emerge from. Through teaching, performance, and research, he champions music as both a societal force and a sanctuary for artistic expression. His work envisions music as a catalyst for exploration, innovation, and connection across artistic, cultural, and intellectual landscapes.
