ABOUT
Janet Axelrod enjoys a multifaceted career as a professional flutist: solo and collaborative artist, educator, entrepreneur and cultural ambassador.
She will soon release the debut album of a multi-recording project she commissioned, and is excited to be a newly endorsed Yamaha Artist! Janet was solo flute and piccoloist for the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra for over 20 years, is currently performing on Broadway. Her Broadway credits are numerous, including "The Lion King," "Wicked," "Phantom of the Opera," “Finding Neverland," and dozens more. She works with the New York City Opera, New Jersey Symphony, American Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, School of American Ballet and New York area recording studios.
Janet has performed with Brian Wilson for Pet Sounds on Stage and toured with a variety of amazing artists from Deep Purple to Andrea Bocelli. She regularly records for film, video games and tv (including Sesame Street, Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, the Super Bowl and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade) and for live NBC Broadcasts. Axelrod is also a passionate world flute artist, performing on native flutes from various cultures across all continents. This reflects her dedication to
learning from and including diverse musical traditions in her performances and teaching.
In addition to her performance career, Janet is a committed community leader. She is an Advisory Board member for Maestra Music, a collective supporting women and non-binary creatives in theater, is active in DEI initiatives including MUSE (Musicians United for Social Equity) and strives to expand the music culture and support young artists. In November 2024, Janet was elected to the Trial Board of AFM Local 802, the largest musician’s union in the world.
Janet teaches at the prestigious Trinity School in NYC and includes The Juilliard School and Manhattan School in the list of masterclass and clinics she has taught throughout the U.S. She formerly served as Professor of Flute at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.
A major proponent of advancing the music of our time, Janet co-founded a new music ensemble which made its Carnegie Hall debut and won the ASCAP/Chamber Music America First Prize for Adventurous Programming as well as Meet the Composer and NEA grants.
Janet Axelrod has toured the Far East and Europe as a flute and piccolo recitalist, chamber musician and educator.
"Many thanks to Ms. Janet Axelrod for her very beautiful performance of my “Idyll for the Misbegotten." It is always a great pleasure for a composer to hear his music played with such great musical sensitivity and technical excellence. I feel that Ms. Axelrod is emerging as one of our finest flutists and wish her all best success in her ongoing career."
- George Crumb