Sierra Schmeltzer is a professional flutist and teacher in the Los Angeles area. Sierra holds the piccolo/flute III position in Boise Philharmonic in Boise, ID, as well as the principal flute position in the Bozeman Symphony in Bozeman, MT. Sierra has made appearances with orchestras such as the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, San Diego Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Bakersfield Symphony, and the Portland Chamber Orchestra. She has recorded for various television and movie soundtracks, in addition to offering remote recording from her home studio. 

As well as playing professionally, Sierra has a passion for teaching music. She currently provides private flute instruction in Santa Monica, downtown Los Angeles, and online. Her students range from beginners, pre-professional flutists, and adult amateurs. She is a certified MTAC member, offering Certificate of Merit instruction and test preparation.

Her education has completed two degrees specializing in flute performance from the University of Southern California, Graduate Certificate in 2022 and Master of Music 2020. She also competed a Bachelor of Music from the University of Hartford, Hartt school of Music in 2017.

In August 2023, Sierra was awarded semi-finalist for the National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition. In April of 2024, she won first prize in the San Diego Flute Guild’s Young Artist Competition, as well as first place alternate in the California MTNA Young Artist Competition in 2021. She received a fellowship with the Blackburn Music Academy Orchestra at Festival Napa Valley in 2019, and a fellowship with the Festival of Winds in 2024.

Sierra has performed in masterclasses with various principal flutists including Emmanuel Pahud (Principal of Berlin Philharmonic), Gareth Davies (Principal of London Symphony), and Denis Bouriakov (Principal of Los Angeles Philharmonic).

Sierra’s principal teachers have included: Jim Walker, Catherine Ransom Karoly, Sarah Jackson, Diana Morgan, Janet Arms, and Sandy Norman.