Adam W. Sadberry

Named one of The Washington Post’s 23 for ‘23, flutist and educator Adam W. Sadberry is paving a distinctive career with his citizenry, creativity, and vibrancy both on and off stage. As a winner of Concert Artists Guild’s 2021 Victor Elmaleh Competition, his international engagements include appearances with The Phillips Collection, Chamber Music Detroit, Four Seasons Arts, Community Concerts at 2nd, and a residency at the Eastman School of Music. At Merkin Hall in March 2023, Adam gave the world premiere of _NOT RUNNING. (The Life of L. Alex Wilson), a piece by Dameun Strange that was co-commissioned for him by the BMI Foundation and Concert Artists Guild. The piece is about L. Alex Wilson, an unsung hero of the Civil Rights Movement and Adam’s late grandfather.

Adam’s commitment to citizenry is reflected through his educational work and his deeply-rooted pursuits in self-awareness and equity. In spring 2023, Adam completed a term as a flute faculty sabbatical replacement at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), and he has given residencies at Lawrence University, Northern Michigan University, South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, and Wesleyan College (GA). Adam has had performance engagements at Indiana University (Bloomington), Pepperdine University, and Georgia Southwestern State University, and he has given masterclasses at New York University, Oakland University, University of Memphis, Rhodes College, and the Harmony Project (Los Angeles). Adam’s work includes presentations on identity, L. Alex Wilson’s legacy, and mindfulness that is informed by his Alexander Technique training. In addition Adam was a panelist at the 2023 League of American Orchestras Conference where he shared his thoughts on addressing institutional trauma in orchestras.

Along with his solo and educational work, Adam has a strong foundation in orchestral playing. He is the principal flutist of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music in Santa Cruz, CA. He has played both principal and section flute roles with the orchestras of St. Louis, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle, Sphinx, and New World. Adam was previously the principal flutist of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, flutist and piccoloist with the Des Moines Metro Opera, and African-American Orchestra Fellow with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Adam can be heard playing on the soundtrack of Disney’s The Lion King (2019) and in the Hollywood Bowl’s Juneteenth Celebration (2022) that included artists such as Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Billy Porter, Questlove, and Earth, Wind, and Fire.

Adam is 27 years old, from Montgomery, TX, and currently based in Saint Paul, MN. He is working towards an Alexander Technique teaching certificate as a Judith Leibowitz Scholar at the Minnesota Center for The Alexander Technique, and he holds a Bachelor of Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music. Outside of music, Adam finds joy in community, rollerskating, listening to podcasts, reading, spending time with nature, and above all, eating! Adam can be found on Facebook and on Instagram as @adamhappyberry.

FLUTE | MIND-BODY AWARENESS: ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE

Geographic areas served

Adam is available for in home lessons in a 15 mile radius of the West Frogtown neighborhood in St Paul and at the Opus studios in Plymouth, St. Louis Park, and Robbinsdale.

Rates

• $50 / half hour lesson
• $65 / 45-minute lesson
• $80 / 60-minute lesson
• $10 more per in home lesson

Attendance policy

When it is necessary, lessons can be canceled and refunded only if I am given 24 hours notice before a scheduled lesson time. Otherwise, the lesson will not be refunded. If there is an unexpected emergency, please notify me by phone call or email, and we will schedule a make-up lesson. Make-up lessons will only be scheduled in the scenario of an unexpected emergency. In the scenario that I need to cancel a lesson, no charges will be assessed.