Bio
Natalie Haworth-Liu is a vibrant teaching artist, flutist, and mindset coach based in the Bay Area, known for her dynamic stage presence, expressive playing, and ability to bring out the very best in her students.
For over 28 years, Natalie has led a highly successful boutique flute studio where young musicians receive not just expert training, but personalized mentorship that shapes who they become—on and off the stage. As a teaching artist who lives what she teaches, she offers more than lessons; she creates a space where students are seen, challenged, and inspired to find their voice.
Her holistic approach blends high-level musical instruction with mindset work, confidence-building, and emotional resilience. Students don't just learn how to play beautifully—they learn how to show up fully. Lessons are built on trust, curiosity, and artistry, and she remains close with her students long after they have graduated, continuing to cheer them on in life.
Natalie’s students have accomplished incredible things: winning concerto competitions, earning top chairs in elite youth orchestras, performing in all-state and county honor bands, receiving command-performance awards, and earning scholarships to prestigious summer festivals and university music programs. Many have gone on to become flutists, teachers, and creators in their own right.
Natalie thrives on stage, where her expressive playing and deep musicality create powerful moments of connection and inspiration. For her, performing is an extension of teaching—another way to communicate soul to soul. Since 2004, she has served as Principal Flute with the Palo Alto Philharmonic, regularly featured as a soloist in their chamber and Baroque series. Notable appearances include Carl Nielsen’s Flute Concerto and the premiere of Lee Actor’s Concerto for Two Flutes with Rayo Furuta. A passionate advocate for new music, she commissioned Andrea Reinkemeyer’s Wings to Air in 2013.
Natalie is also the Director of Music at Monticello Academy in Santa Clara, where she has built a highly respected K–8 music programs. Since 2010, she has taught thousands of students and mentored dozens of young educators. Her curriculum combines excellence with heart, laying the groundwork for students to thrive in high school, college, and beyond.
She also serves as a lead faculty member at the San José State Summer Flute Institute, where for the past three years she has taught and mentored upper-level students in an immersive and supportive environment.
Natalie is a sought-after clinician, adjudicator, and teaching mentor. She has worked with organizations including El Camino Youth Symphony, California Youth Symphony, San Jose Youth Symphony, Areon Flute Institute, MTAC branches, and numerous public schools throughout Silicon Valley.
In 2020, Natalie became a certified life coach with a focus on self-image, confidence, and emotional resilience. She works with musicians, teens, creatives, and professionals—helping them navigate transitions, clarify goals, and live with more joy and alignment.
A native of Eugene, Oregon, Natalie was recognized as a “special and unique talent” by her mentor Dr. Richard Trombley at the University of Oregon, where she earned her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance as a scholarship student. She graduated with top honors, received the Outstanding Woodwind Performance Award, and was granted the rare opportunity to be the first undergraduate flutist to perform four solo recitals. She served as principal flute of the University Symphony, Oregon Wind Ensemble, and Opera Ensemble, and was a frequent soloist at the Music Today Festival. After moving to the Bay Area, she continued her studies with Isabelle Chapuis and performed in masterclasses with Robert Stallman, Michael Hasel, Patrick Gallois, Alexa Still, and Susan Milan.
Natalie lives in San Jose with her husband, Paul, pups Bella and Daisy, and is the proud mother of two sons—both musicians and engineers. One is a graduate of UC Berkeley’s prestigious EECS program and now working as a software engineer in San Francisco, and the other is currently attending UC Santa Cruz and majoring in Electrical Engineering.
