Rafael Méndez

Rafael Méndez (born 1998) began his flute studies under the guidance of Alaima González at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He continued his education at the Frost School of Music in Miami, Florida, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2024, studying with Jennifer Grim. He is currently pursuing his Master of Music degree at the Yale School of Music under the mentorship of Tara O'Connor.

Rafael has received numerous awards, including the Burkart Resona Piccolo Award in 2022 and the Gemeinhardt Galway Crusader Silver Flute Award at the Galway Flute Festival in 2019, First Prize in the Young Professional Category at the Young Musician of the Caribbean Award 2022, and First Prize in the Florida Flute Association College Young Artist Competition 2022. He has also been recognized with the Mary Hilem Taylor Competition Scholarship, the President Scholarship at the Frost School of Music, and the Henry & Lucy Moses Fellowship at the Yale School of Music.

Rafael has performed as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist with ensembles such as the Yale Philharmonia, Frost Symphony Orchestra, Opera Naples, Festival Orchestra Napa, and the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional of the Dominican Republic. He has collaborated with renowned musicians, including Pinchas Zukerman, in an all-Mozart concert and performed Debussy’s Trio for Flute, Viola, and Harp with members of the Palm Beach Symphony. He has appeared at prestigious festivals such as the Galway Flute Festival, Festival Napa Valley, Oxford Summer Flute School, and Young Euro Classic Berlin.

Rafael has honed his craft through master classes with leading flutists, including Silvia Careddu, Hélène Boulègue, Nicola Mazzanti, Robert Langevin, Lorna McGhee, and Lady Jeanne Galway.

Rafael plays a Brannen silver flute with a Mancke headjoint, and a Burkart Resona piccolo.