April 1, 2025
Meet the Musicians
Blair Francis Paponiu
Associate Principal Flute, Catherine & Russell Clark Chair
Associate Principal Flute, Catherine & Russell Clark Chair
Blair Francis Paponiu joined the San Francisco Symphony at the beginning of the 2023–24 season. She was previously a member of the Naples Philharmonic in Florida and the Austin Symphony. She won second prize in the 2020 National Flute Association’s Young Artist Competition.
How did you begin playing the flute?
I started in middle school band in Columbia, South Carolina. We had to choose if we wanted to play a woodwind or a brass instrument, and I chose woodwind. Then, the band director gave me a flute headjoint and a clarinet mouthpiece, and it came down to which I could make a sound on. I could easily make a sound on the flute headjoint, and not very much at all on the clarinet mouthpiece—and that was that!
Who were your most influential teachers?
All of my band directors in middle and high school, as well as my first private teacher, Cynthia Hopkins. Then I studied with Jennifer Parker-Harley at the University of South Carolina, followed by graduate school with Marianne Gedigian at the University of Texas at Austin, and postgrad with Robert Langevin, who is the principal flutist of the New York Philharmonic.
What type of flute do you play?
I play a Brannen flute with a silver body and a gold Lafin headjoint. I also have a Burkart piccolo, and most recently added a Miyazawa alto flute to the family!
Do you remember your first concert with the Symphony?
I was a guest principal in October 2022 for the complete Firebird ballet with Esa-Pekka Salonen. It was amazing and powerful—the suite is performed most often, so to do the full ballet was a really big treat. Not only is the first flute part full of color and magic, but the writing for every instrument in the orchestra is so intricate and interesting. [The live recording of this performance is available from SFS Media on all major streaming platforms.]
How did you begin playing the flute?
I started in middle school band in Columbia, South Carolina. We had to choose if we wanted to play a woodwind or a brass instrument, and I chose woodwind. Then, the band director gave me a flute headjoint and a clarinet mouthpiece, and it came down to which I could make a sound on. I could easily make a sound on the flute headjoint, and not very much at all on the clarinet mouthpiece—and that was that!
Who were your most influential teachers?
All of my band directors in middle and high school, as well as my first private teacher, Cynthia Hopkins. Then I studied with Jennifer Parker-Harley at the University of South Carolina, followed by graduate school with Marianne Gedigian at the University of Texas at Austin, and postgrad with Robert Langevin, who is the principal flutist of the New York Philharmonic.
What type of flute do you play?
I play a Brannen flute with a silver body and a gold Lafin headjoint. I also have a Burkart piccolo, and most recently added a Miyazawa alto flute to the family!
Do you remember your first concert with the Symphony?
I was a guest principal in October 2022 for the complete Firebird ballet with Esa-Pekka Salonen. It was amazing and powerful—the suite is performed most often, so to do the full ballet was a really big treat. Not only is the first flute part full of color and magic, but the writing for every instrument in the orchestra is so intricate and interesting. [The live recording of this performance is available from SFS Media on all major streaming platforms.]
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Do you have a preconcert routine?
I usually like to take a nap after a good lunch. I’ll do a nice warmup so that I can get into my sound and feel good in the body. Staying calm and focused in the moments before a concert is crucial for me so that I can perform at my best.
Can you tell us about your family?
My husband, Radu Paponiu, was appointed Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra last fall. We met when I was playing in the Naples Philharmonic in Florida and he was associate conductor there. He is also a violinist and we enjoy playing chamber music together. My parents are absolutely amazing and have been the most supportive people I could ever ask for. In South Carolina, I have an older brother who just had a baby with his wife—my niece has been our newest obsession, and she’s already showing a big interest in music.
I usually like to take a nap after a good lunch. I’ll do a nice warmup so that I can get into my sound and feel good in the body. Staying calm and focused in the moments before a concert is crucial for me so that I can perform at my best.
Can you tell us about your family?
My husband, Radu Paponiu, was appointed Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra last fall. We met when I was playing in the Naples Philharmonic in Florida and he was associate conductor there. He is also a violinist and we enjoy playing chamber music together. My parents are absolutely amazing and have been the most supportive people I could ever ask for. In South Carolina, I have an older brother who just had a baby with his wife—my niece has been our newest obsession, and she’s already showing a big interest in music.
What do you find special about a live orchestra?
There is nothing like hearing an orchestra live! The sheer possibility of sounds and colors combined with the visual movement of the musicians makes for a unique and unforgettable experience.
