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 old and new solo and chamber repertoire, experimental electroacoustic projects, and programming that highlights 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. Sasha’s 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 thrives in diverse performance settings. He has appeared as a substitute musician with the San Diego Symphony, performed with the Ojai Festival Orchestra, featured as a member of the NYO-USA All-Stars, and was a fellow with the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble. His versatility extends to national and international stages, including performances at the National Flute Association, Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics in Graz, BBC Proms, June in Buffalo, and Neofonía–Festival de Música Nueva de Ensenada, among others.
Sasha’s performance repertoire celebrates the flute’s extraordinary range, uplifting works by composers including Javier Álvarez, Morton Feldman, Alba Potes, Kaija Saariaho, Giacinto Scelsi, Alvin Singleton, and Toru Takemitsu. He has premiered over 100 works and collaborated with composers including John Luther Adams, Matthew Aucoin, Anthony Davis, Augusta Read Thomas, among others. His performances celebrate the breadth of the flute’s expressive possibilities while building bridges between composers, performers, and audiences, expanding the flute’s role as a vehicle for storytelling and dialogue. Listen to Sasha’s recordings.
As a Collaborator, Sasha brings a spirit of curiosity, dialogue, and artistry to every musical partnership. Chamber music lies at the heart of his practice, where he thrives in settings emphasizing collaboration and shared creativity.
Sasha co-leads Offscreen, a flute-percussion duo with Michael Jones exploring the intersections of traditional instruments and technology. Their repertoire spans iconic works and premieres that challenge notions of sound and interaction. His collaborations extend across a wide range of musical aesthetics, with performances alongside Irvine Arditti, Miranda Cuckson, Renée Fleming, Anthony McGill, JACK Quartet, Ensemble Signal, Wilfrido Terrazas, and Steven Schick. Recent highlights include the premiere recording of Grete von Zieritz’s Stimmen im Walde and a performance of Morton Feldman’s 4-hour masterwork For Philip Guston. 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.
In addition to his work with established artists, Sasha is deeply committed to amplifying emerging voices, premiering works at music festivals, schools, and academic conferences, demonstrating his engagement with the next generation of musical innovators. Whether performing new concert works, overlooked repertoire, or collaborating on experimental projects, Sasha approaches each partnership with technical rigor and artistic openness.
As an Educator, Sasha Ishov draws on his diverse training to guide the next generation of musicians. He holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Contemporary Music Performance from UC San Diego and degrees from Eastman School of Music and Interlochen Arts Academy. Sasha credits his growth to the mentorship of renowned flute teachers Bonita Boyd, Wilfrido Terrazas, Anne Harrow, Nadine Asin, Nancy Stagnitta, Dr. Kristen Stoner, and Christine Alicot, whose influence shapes his approach to teaching.
Sasha’s teaching experience spans college classrooms, community music schools, and private studios, where he works with students of varying levels and aspirations. His approach combines the rigor of classical training with forward-thinking methods informed by his performance practice. Sasha empowers his students to connect technical mastery with personal artistry and cultural relevance, fostering a holistic approach to music-making. His instrumental training incorporates mindfulness practices like Body Mapping and the Alexander Technique, ensuring students develop healthy, sustainable habits that support their long-term growth.
Beyond flute pedagogy, Sasha is an experienced Music Theory and Musicianship educator. As an Associate Instructor at UC San Diego, he designed and taught courses that engaged both majors and non-majors, using innovative approaches to make music theory accessible and inspiring. Sasha integrates interactive technology, such as browser-based DAWs and collaborative learning tools, to create dynamic, student-centered environments that encourage exploration and creativity.
Now based in Chicago, Sasha offers personalized lessons both in-person and online, equipping students with the skills to thrive in diverse musical contexts. His teaching inspires students to develop their unique artistic voices while connecting their work to broader cultural and intellectual landscapes. Sasha is passionate about making music education a bridge between tradition and innovation, empowering his students to engage deeply with their craft and their communities. Learn more about Sasha’s teaching.
As a Researcher, Sasha Ishov explores the intersections of performance, technology, and pedagogy, investigating how these fields shape and transform musical practices. His work bridges theoretical inquiry and practical application, examining how recording technologies, interaction design, and performer-composer communication reshape musical practices. Sasha has presented his research at leading international conferences and institutions, including Harvard University, the Qualcomm Institute, MOXsonic, and the Kunstuniversität Graz (Institute for Electronic Music and Acoustics).
Together with Theocharis Papatrechas, Sasha co-created PrismaSonus, a creative audio research initiative that explores how microphone placement affects the perception of flute technique. PrismaSonus investigates how recording technology mediates communication between performers and composers, as well as the intricate relationships between technique, notation, and listening in electroacoustic collaborations. This research culminated in Sasha’s doctoral dissertation, “PrismaSonus: Bridging Acoustic and Digital Worlds in Flute Practice and Performer-Composer Collaboration”.
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 integrates insights from technology, pedagogy, and the humanities to explore how cultural contexts shape musical practices. Drawing on tools from acoustics, interaction design, and cognitive studies, he deepens music’s expressive potential and fosters interdisciplinary dialogue. By bridging acoustic and digital worlds, Sasha advances flute performance and empowers musicians, educators, and composers to engage with music in transformative ways.
As a Citizen-Artist, Sasha believes in the power of music to bridge disciplines, inspire dialogue, and reflect the diversity of human experiences. His work advocates for creating spaces where artistry can thrive–not only within traditional venues but also in unconventional settings. Sasha seeks to amplify voices often overlooked in classical music, fostering connections between musical traditions and the communities they serve. Through teaching, performance, and research, he champions music’s role as both a societal force and a sanctuary for artistic expression.
