Musical Biography of Cornell Kinderknecht - Cornell Kinderknecht Music

Cornell Kinderknecht is an award-winning recording artist, world flutes virtuoso, pianist and keyboardist. He is an Indian Summer Music Awards winner. He has been twice nominated for “Musician of the Year” in the Texas Music Awards and his song “Mother’s Hands” from Nightfall was named as a Top 5 Winner in the Instrumental Category of the Great American Song Contest. His music has charted on Billboard Magazine’s New Age Albums chart. Venues Cornell has performed include the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City, the magnificent amphitheater built into the 2000 foot red rock cliffs of Zion Canyon, the underground “Cave Without A Name,” Meyerson Symphony Center, and the AT&T Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

His music can be heard in film, television soundtracks and advertising. He and his music were featured in the nationally aired television series, “The Art of Living Gallery.” He has debuted works for choir and Native American flute with the Texas Voices. He is a regular presenter and performer at music workshops and festivals around the US.

Cornell’s original contemporary instrumental music is a unique style combining his experience in the genres of symphonic, chamber, pop, jazz, folk, and world music. His recordings reflect this wide range of influences. In addition to his solo recordings, Cornell’s music can be heard on numerous other artists’ recordings in multiple genres. Cornell grew up in a large musical family. His first public performance was at age ten and by age fourteen he was “gigging” regularly. Today, he continues to perform in many musical styles, his main focus being Contemporary World Music and Early Music (Baroque and Renaissance). He performs regularly at concert venues, workshops, festivals, coffee houses, and churches. As an instructor, Cornell teaches online group classes and individual private sessions. He also has a private studio in the Dallas, Texas area where he teaches in-person lessons. He is frequently an instructor at music workshops and festivals.

Cornell holds a music degree in woodwind performance from Kansas State University where he studied modern oboe, bassoon, and historic woodwinds with Sara Funkhouser. He has extended study of early music and recorder with Saska Coolen of The Netherlands. He has studied in workshop and masterclass settings with Han Tol, Joris von Goethe and Frances Blaker.

He is a member of Impending Bloom Floating Ensemble (world music), Sound Oasis (world music) and Trio Giocoso (Baroque/Renaissance/Classical). He serves as music director of the Dallas Recorder Society. He is director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering on Vashon Island and director and founder of the Winter Flute Gathering. He has served on the board of directors of the United States Ocarina Association and of Earth Rhythms (music and art festivals).

Cornell regularly performs as a solo artist, playing original works on woodwind instruments from cultures around the world. Instruments that Cornell performs on include recorder, Native American style flute, Indian bansuri, bamboo flute, ocarina, Irish flute and whistle, oboe, and English horn.

Awards & Nominations:

2019 – Into Stillness: Piano and Keyboard Improvisations for Heart and Mind debuted at #7 on Billboard New Age Albums chart for the week ending July 13, 2019.
2015 – “Orion” from Dreamtime nominated New Age Song – 14th Independent Music Awards.
2015 – Dreamtime nominated for Best World Album – One World Music Awards.
2014 – “Big Sky” from Dreamtime WINNER for Native Spirit Best Song Award – 2014 Indian Summer Music Awards.
2014 – “Big Sky” from Dreamtime nominated for Native Heart Award – 2014 Native American Music Awards (NAMMYs).
2014 – “Solitude” from Dreamtime nominated New Age Song – 13th Independent Music Awards.
2014 – Dreamtime nominated New Age Album – 13th Independent Music Awards.
2014 – “Mother’s Hands” from Nightfall named a Top 5 WINNER in the Instrumental Category – 15th Annual Great American Song Contest.
2013 – Dreamtime named “Best New Age Album of 2013” – Phil Maq, Producer, Host and Blogger at WHFR-FM.
2013 – “Orion from Dreamtime named in the “Top Songs of 2013” – Phil Maq, Producer, Host and Blogger at WHFR-FM.
2009 – Finalist for “Musician of the Year” for Nightfall – 2009 Texas Music Awards.
2006 – Finalist for “Musician of the Year” for Returning Home – 2006 Texas Music Awards.

Recordings:

2024 – Devotion digital single by Cornell Kinderknecht. Solo Native flute.
2021 – Season of Peace by Cornell Kinderknecht. Instrumental Christmas and holiday music featuring world flutes.
2020 – Solace Blooming digital single by Cornell Kinderknecht. Solo piano.
2019 – Into Stillness: Piano and Keyboard Improvisations for Heart and Mind by Cornell Kinderknecht. Solo piano and keyboard music from Cornell’s “Goodnight Improv” online video broadcast series.
2019 – Quiet Space digital single by Cornell Kinderknecht. Solo keyboard.
2014 – Coventry Carol digital single of a contemporary arrangement by Cornell Kinderknecht of this traditional Christmas carol.
2013 – Dreamtime by Cornell Kinderknecht and percussionist Martin McCall. A collection of instrumental music that is equally poignant as it is bold.
2011 – Helicoid, A Suite for Mankind digital single by Cornell Kinderknecht. A short contemporary classical orhcestral dance suite premiered at the 2011 Winter SolstiCelebration.
2008 – Nightfall by Cornell Kinderknecht. Solo album featuring World Flutes in beautiful arrangements that touch the heart and soul.
2005 – Returning Home by Cornell Kinderknecht. Solo album featuring flutes from around the world.

Collaborations:

2015 – Spring’s Hope Live, Impending Bloom (Floating Ensemble). Quiet anticipation contrasted with exciting energy bursting forth… just as each Spring day offers potential for new life, new beginnings and new opportunities, this live instrumental world music blend captures that transformative essence.
2013 – Overture to the Ethers, Sound Oasis. Soothing, soaring, haunting, whimsical… these are the combined flavors of Sound Oasis, whose magic springs from an apothecary of woodwinds, keyboard and drums. Cornell Kinderknecht, Martin McCall and Cynthia Stuart.
2012 – Meanderings, Sound Oasis. Music that feeds the soul — mixing world music with jazz with new age with pop with a bit of humor thrown in. Cornell Kinderknecht, Martin McCall and Cynthia Stuart.
2011 – Live at House of Poets, Impending Bloom (Floating Ensemble). CD and DVD. Live recording, Cornell on flutes and saxophone.
2008 – Equilibrium, Cornell Kinderknecht, Jodi Roberts, Bill Protzman. Combines keyboards in a trance beat, with Tibetan bowl undertones, punctuated by World Flutes. Perfect for movement, dancing, meditation, and energizing the body.
2008 – Ziba, Cornell Kinderknecht and Jodi Roberts. Meditations of beauty and joy. Tibetan Bowls and World Flutes. Live recording in the “Cave Without a Name” (Boerne, Texas).

Film & TV:

2011 – Take Me to the Water: The Story of Pin Point. Cornell provided flutes in the soundtrack.
2007 – The Art of Living Gallery. Cornell and his music were featured in an episode of this series airing nationally in the US.

Features:

2023 – Contributed Native flute to Bill Nash’s song Puff of Smoke on his album Looking Out a Picture Window.
2022 – Contributed recorder to Sylvia Herold’s single Billy Boy.
2022 – Contributed recorder to Sylvia Herold’s single Lady Franklin’s Lament.
2014 – Contributed bansuri flute to Bhakti House Band’s album Akasha Blue Sky.
2014 – Contributed flute and saxophone to Lainey Bernstein’s album Living the Light.
2014 – Contributed bansuri flute to Ayaz Ismail’s album Is This Love.
2012 – Contributed English horn to Tom Prasada-Rao’s album Adagio.
2012 – Contributed bansuri flute to Ayaz Ismail’s single Intezaar Mein.
2012 – Contributed flute to Brother ChiSing’s album Buddha Is My Refuge: New Dharma Songs for the Contemporary Sangha.
2012 – Contributed bansuri flute to Prema Shakti’s album Pulse of Love.
2011 – Contributed flute to Debbie Martin’s single My Prayer Chant.
2011 – Contributed flute and piano to Michael Raphael’s album The Mystic Hours.
2010 – Contributed flute to Kerri Arista’s solo album 50 Different Ways.
2010 – Contributed flute to Gary Floyd’s solo album The Gospel of Zen.
2009 – One Heart: Music for an Awakening World, multi-artist compilation CD.
2008 – Contributed flute to Charity Lankford’s solo album You Are Love.
2007 – The Sounds of Earth Rhythms, multi-artist compilation CD.
2005 – Contributed flutes and keyboard to Shelly Niebuhr’s solo album, Believe.
2004 – Composed and recorded music for a multi-media promotion of The 25th International Lettering Arts Conference.
2003 – Contributed flutes for documentary pilot soundtrack (PBS).

Affiliations:

2022 to present – Director of the Winter Flute Gathering.
2018 to present – Dallas Recorder Society Music Director.
2016 to present – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering on Vashon Island.
2016 to present – Dallas Meditation Center Director of Operations.
2014 – 2016 – United States Ocarina Association – Chief Strategy Officer.
2007 – 2015 – Member of the Board of Directors of Earth Rhythms.

Notable Performances / Workshops / Presentations:

March 2024, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.
February 2023, Online – Winter Flute Gathering Online, founder, director, instructor, performer

October 2023, Vashon Island, Washington – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering, event director, instructor, performer.
March 2023, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.
January 2023, Online – Winter Flute Gathering Online, founder, director, instructor, performer

October 2022, Vashon Island, Washington – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering, event director, instructor, performer.
May 2022, Palo Pinto, Texas – Palo Pinto Flute Festival featured performer.
March 2022, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.

October 2021, Online – Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering Online, event director, instructor, performer.

October 2020, Online – Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering Online, event director, instructor, performer.
April-December 2020 – Extensive classes and workshops online during Covid-19 pandemic
April 2020, Online – Solo feature concert.
March 2020, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.

October 2019, Vashon Island, Washington – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
May 2019, Palo Pinto, Texas – Palo Pinto Art – Flute and Music Festival featured performer.
April 2019, Denton, Texas – Performances at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
March 2019, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.
February 2019, online – Goodnight Improv series of live online broadcasts on Facebook.

October 2018, Vashon Island, Washington – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
September 2018, Dallas, Texas – 3rd Annual Declare World Peace Concert.
May 2018, Palo Pinto, Texas – Palo Pinto Art – Flute and Music Festival.
May 2018, Dallas, Texas – Dallas Symphony Orchestra Youth Concert Series.
April 2018, Denton, Texas – Performances at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
April 2018, Dallas, Texas – Oak Cliff Earth Day..
March 2018, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.

October 2017, Vashon Island, Washington – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
October 2017, Dallas, Texas – 2nd Annual Declare World Peace Concert.
April 2017, Fort Worth, Texas – Performances at Main Streat Fort Worth Arts Festival.
April 2017, Denton, Texas – Performances at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
March 2017, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.

October 2016, Denton, Texas – Performance with Denton Bach Society.
October 2016, Allen, Texas – United States Ocarina Festival, gathering of finest performers from Japan and the United States.
October 2016, Vashon Island, Washington – Director of the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
September 2016, Dallas, Texas – Declare World Peace Concert.
May 2016, Dallas, Texas – Noye’s Fludde with Soluna Festival / Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
April 2016, Denton, Texas – Performances at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
March 2016, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.

October 2015, Allen, Texas – United States Ocarina Festival.
October 2015, Vashon Island, Washington – Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering. Instructor and Feature concert with Cornell Kinderknecht, Pamela Mortensen and Joe Young.
September 2015, Hiawatha, Iowa – Sweetgrass Flute and Nature Festival.
September 2015, Dallas & Richardson, Texas – Sacred Geometry Rennaisance International Gathering.
June 2015, Flagstaff, Arizona – The Gathering of the North American Flute.
April 2015, Denton, Texas – Performances at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
March 2015, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.

October 2014, Vashon Island, Washington – Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering. Instructor and Feature concert with Cornell Kinderknecht and Pamela Mortensen.
September 2014, Milwaukee, WI – Concert performances at 2014 Indian Summer Festival.
July 2014, Eau Claire, WI – Concert performance at the World Flute Society Convention.
June 2014, Carnegie Hall, New York City, New York – Performance in the USA-Japan Goodwill Concert.
April 2014, Denton, Texas – Performances at Denton Arts and Jazz Festival.
April 2014, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas – Youth Concert Series performances with Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Dallas Recorder Society.
April 2014, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.
February 2014, Washington, DC / Rockville, MA – Featured performer and instructor, Potomac Native American Flute Festival.

October 2013, Vashon Island, Washington – Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering. Instructor and Feature concert with Cornell Kinderknecht and Pamela Mortensen.
June 2013, Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium, Arlington/Dallas, Texas – Guest flute soloist with Bhakti House Band.
June 2013, Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado – Performers John DeCrenza, Sheldon Felich, Kenny Luna & Cornell Kinderknecht.
May 2013, Dallas, Texas, Dallas International Festival.
May 2013, Springdale, Utah – Performer and Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.
March 2013, Meyerson Symphony Center, Dallas, Texas – Performance in conjunction with American Choral Directors Association.
March 2013, Winspear Opera House, Dallas, Texas – Performance in conjunction with American Choral Directors Association.
March 2013, Boerne, Texas – “Concert in the Cave, World Flutes and Tibetan Bowls” with Jodi Roberts.
February 2013, Allen Performing Arts Center, Allen, Texas – Dan Fogelberg Tribute Weekend with Connections Band, Allen Symphony Chorus and members of the Allen Philharmonic Orchestra.

December 2012, Dallas, TX – Music director of Winter SolstiCelebration “Transformation,” a yearly show with nearly 60 cast members with an audience of 1000.
November 2012, Dallas, TX – Memorial Concert with St. Rita Choir, Scola Cantorum and orchestra.
October 2012, Vashon Island, Washington – Instructor and Feature concert with Cornell Kinderknecht, Pamela Mortensen, and Anthony Natividad at the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
September 2012, Flute Haven, Phoenixville, PA.
September 2012, Steel City Coffeehouse, Phoenixville, PA – World music with Cornell Kinderknecht (world flutes), Ron Kravitz (percussion), and Ron Volkman (saxophone, didgeridoo and Native flutes).
July 2012, Eau Claire, WI – Concert performance at the INAFA (International Native American and World Flutes Association) convention.
May 2012, Dallas, TX – Dallas International Festival
May 2012, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah – Featured performance at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater in conjunction with the Zion Flute Festival.
March 2012, Ennis, Texas – Ennis Cultural Music Festival.
March 2012, Boerne, Texas – “Concert in the Cave, World Flutes and Tibetan Bowls” with Jodi Roberts.

December 2011, Dallas, TX – Music director of Winter SolstiCelebration “Our Human Journey,” a yearly show with nearly 60 cast members with an audience of 1000. World premier of Cornell’s Helicoid, A Suite for Mankind in addition to two works co-written by Cornell.
November 2011, Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas, Texas – Performance with Impending Bloom and renowned sitar master, Aloke Dasgupta.
October 2011, Vashon Island, Washington – Instructor and Feature concert with Cornell Kinderknecht, Pamela Mortensen, and Anthony Natividad at the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
May 2011, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah – Featured performance at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater in conjunction with the Zion Flute Festival.
May 2011, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas – World flutes concerts.
April 2011, Fort Worth, Texas – “America the Beautiful: A Celebration of Our National Parks” performance at Sid Richardson Museum.
March 2011, Boerne, Texas – “Concert in the Cave, World Flutes and Tibetan Bowls” with Jodi Roberts.
January 2011, Allen, Texas – “Strings & Things” Allen Philharmonic Casual Classics Series, guest flutist in concert with classical guitarists.

December 2010, Dallas, TX – Music director of Winter SolstiCelebration “Imagine Peace,” a yearly show with nearly 120 cast members with an audience of 1000.
October-November 2010, Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX – Trio Giocoso, recorder music of the 14th and 15th centuries.
October 2010, Vashon Island, Washington – Instructor and Feature concert with Cornell Kinderknecht, Pamela Mortensen, and Anthony Natividad at the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
September 2010, Boerne, Texas – “Concert in the Cave, World Flutes and Tibetan Bowls” with Jodi Roberts.
August 2010, Sedona, Arizona – Featured instructor/performer at the Chautauqua Flute Retreat.
July 2010, Eau Claire, WI – Concert performance at the INAFA (International Native American and World Flutes Association) convention.
April 2010, Dallas, Texas – Bach, Vivaldi and Durufle.
March 2010, Washington, DC / Arlington, VA – Featured performer and instructor, Potomac Native American Flute Festival.
March 2010, Dallas, Texas – DFW Artists Care – Haiti Earthquake Relief Concert.

October 2009, Vashon Island, Washington – Feature concert with R. Carlos Nakai, Cornell Kinderknecht, and Pamela Mortensen at the Pacific Northwest Flute Gathering.
October 2009, Addison, Texas – Performance at “Worldfest” international festival.
September 2009, Dallas, Texas – “Winds of a New Age Concert” featuring Cornell Kinderknecht, Peter Phippen, and Stan Richardson.
August 2009, Taos, New Mexico – Featured instructor/performer at the Chautauqua Flute Retreat.
May 2009, Zion National Park, Springdale, Utah – Performance at the O.C. Tanner Amphitheater.
May 2009, Springdale, Utah – Instructor at the Zion Canyon Native Flute School.
April 2009, Palestine, Texas – Nominee and featured performer at the Texas Music Awards.
March 2009, Boerne, Texas – “Concert in the Cave, World Flutes and Tibetan Bowls” with Jodi Roberts.

October 2008, Tahlequah, Oklahoma – Performer and instructor at Oklahoma Flute Fest.
August 2008, Taos, New Mexico – Featured instructor/performer at the Chautauqua Flute Retreat.
July 2008, Dallas, Texas – CD Release concert, Nightfall.
May 2008, Dallas, Texas – World premier performance with The Texas Voices of two pieces for choir with Native American Flute: SunDancer by Tom Council and Decision by Debra Scroggins.
March 2008, Boerne, Texas – “Concert in the Cave, World Flutes and Tibetan Bowls” with Jodi Roberts.
March 2008, Dallas, Texas – Presenter at the Heart of the Cedar Flute Circle Special Event Day.
Spring 2008, Dallas, Texas – Participation in A Season for Nonviolence: 64 Days Practice.

October 2007, Keys, Oklahoma – Oklahoma Flute Fest, performer.
Spring 2007, Dallas, Texas – Participation in A Season for Nonviolence: 64 Days Practice.
April 2007, Dallas, Texas – Dallas International Festival, “Global Sacred Music Concert.”
December 2006, Crow Collection of Asian Art, Dallas, Texas – Featured world flutes performance.
November 2006, Flower Mound, Texas – Solo world flutes concert, Armadillo Flute Society retreat.
November 2006, Flower Mound, Texas – Featured Performing Artist, Armadillo Flute Society retreat sponosored by Richland College.
April 2006, Dallas Texas – Dallas International Festival, “Best of Dallas” Global Artists concert, Majestic Theater.
November 2005, Flower Mound, Texas – Solo world flutes concert, Armadillo Flute Society retreat.
November 2005, Flower Mound, Texas – Featured Artist, Armadillo Flute Society retreat sponsored by Richland College.
September 2005, Dallas, Texas – Mu Phi Epsilon Concert Series, Dallas Public Library.
July 2005, Dallas, Texas – CD Release concert, Returning Home.
January 2005, Dallas, Texas – DFW International’s Filipino community tsunami relief concert.
November 2004, Flower Mound, Texas – Solo world flutes concert, Armadillo Flute Society retreat.
September 2004, Grapevine, Texas – Grapefest. World flutes performance at House of Colors.