Mount Juliet, TN, October 2, 2026...Altus Flutes is pleased to welcome flutist Dr. Julia Barnett as their newest artist ambassador. An active performer and educator based in Southern California, Barnett is dedicated to expanding the classical flute repertoire by championing contemporary Mexican and Latin American composers through performance, research, and collaboration.

As a Mexican American flutist from San Diego, Barnett brings her bicultural experience to her work, with a particular focus on elevating the music of Mexican composers. Her upcoming debut album, featuring contemporary Mexican flute music, will be released on Urtext Digital Classics. A passionate advocate for new music, she has commissioned and premiered numerous works, including Bichito by Diana Syrse for piccolo and piano, and has participated in consortium commissions supporting composers such as Daniel Dorff, Elizabeth Brown, and Samuel Zyman.

“From the first moment I played my Altus flute, the intonation felt natural, and the technical barriers that once held me back simply faded away. I am finally free to explore the flute’s full range of colors, timbre, and expression. My Altus flutes give me the ease and flexibility to bring my voice to life,” says Barnett.

Barnett performs on the Altus 1707PS (PSII), 821SE Alto Flute, and 823 Bass Flute. Her performance career includes appearances with the San Diego Symphony, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, and UCLA Symphony, along with eight-year tenures with both the Midland/Odessa Symphony and Chorale and the Billings Symphony.

In addition to performing, Barnett is committed to music education and community engagement. She maintains a private flute studio in San Diego and directs the Avanti Flute Choir, an adult amateur ensemble that performs throughout the year at community venues and recently appeared at the National Flute Association Convention.

Barnett holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied with Sheridon Stokes. She earned her Master of Music from the University of Colorado Boulder under Christina Jennings and her Bachelor’s degree from Rice University, where she studied with Leone Buyse.

Altus Flutes is proud to welcome Dr. Barnett to their esteemed roster of artists.

For more information on Dr. Julia Barnett, please visit https://www.jbflute.com/.