Allison DeFrancesco

Allison DeFrancesco was born and raised in Arlington Heights, IL, where she began playing flute at age 10. Her unique interest in piccolo began early on in her musical studies during middle school, where she would use any excuse to take home her school’s piccolo to tinker around on, though she didn’t develop any actual skills on the instrument until many years later! She first began taking private flute lessons in high school with teacher Marcia Rudin, then later with Hideko Amano. She continued studying music at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with Jonathan Keeble, the University of Texas at Austin with Marianne Gedigian, and finally Rice University with Leone Buyse. Allison is deeply grateful for the guidance and mentorship of her teachers, all of whom helped launch her into her musical career.

Prior to joining the Sarasota Orchestra in 2024, Allison was performing with the Sarasota Opera under Victor DeRenzi as piccolo and second flute, and she later became principal flute in 2025. Allison has also appeared as a guest on both flute and piccolo with orchestras across the U.S., including the Houston Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, The Florida Orchestra, Jacksonville Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, and Houston Ballet. She performed for two seasons in long-term engagements with the New World Symphony, where her playing was highlighted by the South Florida Classical Review as both “vibrant” and “a tower of strength.”

As a soloist, Allison has been the top prize winner in several national competitions, including the Young Artist Competitions of the San Diego Flute Guild, Houston Flute Club, Florida Flute Association, and the Flute Society of Washington. She has also placed in competitions for the Seattle Flute Society, South Carolina Flute Society, Austin Flute Society, Arizona Flute Society, Flute Society of Kentucky, and Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia. Additionally, she and her ensemble, the Houston Trio, received Third Prize in the 19th International Friedrich Kuhlau Flute Competition.

Allison has toured twice internationally with the Orchestra of the Americas in both Europe and Mexico, and can be heard playing piccolo on two albums recorded with Carlos Miguel Prieto and Linn Records, featuring Aaron Copland’s Third Symphony and Manuel de Falla’s Three Cornered Hat. She has also spent summers at the Lakes Area Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, Brevard Music Center, National Orchestral Institute, and the Eastern Music Festival.

Since moving to Sarasota, Allison has enjoyed staying active in the Florida sunshine, exploring Sarasota’s beautiful beaches, and growing her seashell collection!