Flutist and scientist Melissa Requist blends her expertise in flute and engineering to bring a scientific perspective to her musical performances. A native of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Requist is inspired by drawn to music that expresses the lyricism and raggedness of the natural environment. Her recent solo performances and recordings include works by Nielsen, Copland, and Reinecke. She has a special focus on piccolo performance in both solo and orchestral work and has performed and recorded works by Vivaldi, John La Montaine, and Robert Starer. Requist has significant ensemble experience, having performed in the University of Arizona Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, and Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as Flutefinity, the University of Arizona flute choir. She at the 2016 National Flute Association Convention and in the University with Flutefinity and at the 2018 CBDNA regional conference with the University of Arizona Wind Ensemble. She has performed in masterclasses for Susan Milan, Mary Karen Clardy, Amy Porter, Bonita Boyd, and Christina Jennings. Beyond performance, Melissa has experience teaching beginning and intermediate flutists, beginning band, and running high school flute workshops.

Melissa utilizes her scientific training to find a new perspective on musicianship though a focus on body mechanics in performance and pedagogy. She has done research on acoustic mechanisms of sound perception, the theory of the Doctrine of Affections, and the history of flute construction and positioning. A strong believer in the importance of interdisciplinary research, she spearheaded joint projects between the Colleges of Medicine and Fine Arts to study flutist biomechanics and injury prevalence and prevention in musicians. She further incorporates these two fields by performing flute as a hospice volunteer, bringing music and humanity into end-of-life care.

Melissa graduated from the University of Arizona with dual degrees in Flute Performance and Biomedical Engineering.  She is now in the MD-PhD program at the University of Utah pursuing joint doctorates in medicine and biomedical engineering and to continue her musical career as a performer and teacher. She is also the principal flute and Chair of Musical Operations for the Utah Medical Orchestra. During her time at the University of Arizona, Melissa was awarded the College of Fine Arts Creative Achievement Award in 2019 and was featured in the University’s Wonder campaign for her creative combination of studies. She is passionate about utilizing movement for musical expression and for injury prevention, and hopes to continue research in these areas throughout her career.