Natalie Haworth-Liu is a multifaceted artist, educator, and coach who blends almost three decades of performance, teaching, and mentorship into a career rooted in artistry, purpose, and connection.

A sought-after flutist in the Bay Area, Natalie performs regularly as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral principal. Since 2004, she has served as Principal Flute of the Palo Alto Philharmonic and appears frequently in their chamber and Baroque series. She was featured as a soloist in Carl Nielsen's Flute Concerto in 2017 and co-premiered Lee Actor’s Concerto for Two Flutes in 2022 with Ray Furuta. Her advocacy for new music includes premiering numerous works over the years, and commissioning Wings to Air by Andrea Reinkemeyer in 2013.

For over 28 years, Natalie has cultivated one of Silicon Valley’s most respected private flute studios. Her students consistently earn top honors, scholarships, and principal chairs in elite youth ensembles—but beyond accolades, she is most proud of the lifelong relationships, personal growth, and artistic legacy her students carry forward.

In 2010, Natalie became Director of Music at Monticello Academy, where she built an inspiring K–8 music program known for its joyous atmosphere and exceptional outcomes. Her leadership has influenced thousands of students, many of whom have continued their musical journeys in high school, college, and beyond. She also offers teaching opportunities for local talent and frequently advises and mentors new educators.

For the past three years, Natalie has served on the faculty of the San Jose State Summer Flute Institute, where she works with top-level flutists and has lead mindset classes that support both artistic and personal development. She is also a regular adjudicator, coach, and clinician for organizations such as California Youth Symphony, El Camino Youth Symphony, MTAC branches, Areon Flute Summer Institute, San Jose Youth Symphony, the Santa Clara County Band Directors’ Association, and numerous schools and universities. Her background in arts administration includes work with Ballet San Jose, Symphony San Jose, sjDANCEco, and The Ives Quartet. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Palo Alto Philharmonic.

In 2020, Natalie became a certified life coach, specializing in helping musicians and creative professionals cultivate resilience, clarity, and confidence through times of transition. Her coaching blends mindset work with the intuitive wisdom of a lifelong artist and educator.

Natalie holds a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from the University of Oregon, where she was a scholarship student, graduated with top honors, and received the Outstanding Woodwind Performance Award. A native of Eugene, she studied under Dr. Richard Trombley and performed widely as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player before relocating to the Bay Area in 1999. Her advanced training includes mentorship with Isabelle Chapuis and master classes with Robert Stallman, Patrick Gallois, Michael Hasel, Alexa Still, and Susan Milan.

She lives in San Jose with her husband, Paul. Together, they enjoy travel, biking, eating hot pot and hunting down the perfect cup of coffee. Their older son is a UC Berkeley graduate from the EECS program and software engineer; their younger son is currently studying Electical Engineering at UC Santa Cruz.