Kaitlyn Burns

Kaitlyn Burns is a flutist and educator with a multifaceted career centered on inspiring others through teaching and performance. Although originally from Purcellville, Virginia, she currently lives in Amherst, Massachusetts where she teaches at the University of Massachusetts Amherst as the Interim Lecturer of Flute. She is also the newly appointed Membership Director and Social Media Coordinator for the Flute Society of Washington. 

Kaitlyn maintains a successful private studio in Massachusetts and virtually where she teaches students of all ages. Her students have received Distinction on ABRSM performance exams, are seated in their school’s top ensembles, and actively audition for All-District Band and Honor Band. Also, Kaitlyn frequently teaches orchestral flute sectionals at Amherst College, Smith College, as well as local high schools in Western Massachusetts. 

Additionally, Kaitlyn will make her debut this fall as the Guest Flutist of Bandwidth, a professional woodwind quintet comprised of UMass Woodwind Faculty. Previously, she has performed as the second flutist at the Bach Festival & Symposium, Bass flutist for the World Premier performance of Amanda Harberg’s This!, and has performed at the International Low Flutes Festival and Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention. She has also performed in masterclasses with world-renowned artists such as Alberto Almarza, Jennifer Grim, Alice Kogan Weinreb, Chris Chaffee, Beatrix Macias, and Alice Jones. 

In May of 2025 she received her Masters of Music in Flute Performance at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in addition to a Graduate Certificate in Wind Conducting. During her time as graduate student at UMass, she served as the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the UMass Flute Studio, instructor of the Flute Technique course for undergraduate music education students, Teaching Assistant for the Minuteman Marching Band, flutist of the Graduate Wind Quintet, principal flute of the University of Massachusetts Symphony Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and Graduate Assistant Conductor of the Wind Ensemble.

Kaitlyn has previously served as a Guest Conductor with the Florence Community Band, Amherst Community Band, and the University of Massachusetts Concert Band where she led the ensemble through successful rehearsals and performances.

In addition to her Masters Degree and Graduate Certificate from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, she received her Bachelors of Music Education at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. Her primary teachers include Dr. Cobus du Toit and Professor Julianna Nickel.