Marina Piccinini has been described by Gramophone magazine as ‘the Heifetz of the flute.’ She is a much sought after soloist, chamber musician and recording artist and has been credited with helping to expand the repertoire of the instrument, having commissioned works from various composers and recorded the flute concerto written for her by Aaron Jay Kernis. She established the Marina Piccinini International Masterclasses at the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, which has recently moved to the New World Center in Miami. She remains on the faculty of the Peabody Institute and was formerly professor at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien in Hanover. Piccinini is multi-lingual and has a strong interest in the visual arts and is a known exponent of Kung Fu and Buddhist thought.