Neil Fisenden was born in Perth and began flute studies with his father Owen at the age of nine.

In 1974 he joined the West Australian Symphony Orchestra as Second Flute and in 1978 was appointed Principal Piccolo.

He was a founding member of the Perth Woodwind Quintet performing often in concerts and recordings for the ABC. He also appeared regularly as soloist with the WASO.

In 1979 he was appointed to the position of Principal Flute of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and in the same year awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship to study flute in London with Peter Lloyd, Principal Flute of the London Symphony Orchestra.

 

During his four year stay in Adelaide he frequently performed as a soloist with both the Adelaide Symphony and Adelaide Chamber Orchestras.

 

Neil returned to Perth in 1983 as Principal Flute of the West Australian Symphony and continued to appear regularly as a soloist, notably for the1983 tour to Singapore and as a Master Series soloist in the 1993 season.

 

Neil lectured in flute at the University of Western Australia’s School of Music and The West Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He was chief flute examiner and woodwind specialist advisor to the Australian Music Examinations Board and was a member of the advisory selection panel for the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust.      (1983-2013)

 

Neil is patron of the West Australian Flute Society and in 1991 was Director of the Eighth Australian Flute Convention.

 

In 2004 Neil was elected as a Director of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

 

Throughout his career Neil has been a very active teacher, believing strongly in the mandate to pass on a firm base of knowledge and experience to the next generation. This is the driving force which has led him, in collaboration with his wife Rae-Helen, to set up “Fisenden Music” dedicated to excellence in the areas of Tuition, Performance and Flute Sales and Service.

 

Neil was the founder and director of the Fisenden Flute Ensemble. (2006-2013)

 

 Since moving to Melbourne in 2014, Neil has continued his musical career, releasing a CD entitled “The Iridescent Flute”,  (showcasing exclusively Australian composers), joining the teaching staff at The Melbourne Conservatorium and joining the AMEB (Victoria), as a woodwind examiner and the position of Chair of Woodwind.