Rik Noyce, a lecturer in the CSUDH Music Department and professional flutist, has been named a 2025 National Finalist for the American Prize in Instrumental Performance, a prestigious national competition recognizing outstanding musicianship in the performing arts.
The American Prize is a national competition that celebrates excellence in performance, composition, and conducting. Being selected as a finalist recognizes Noyce’s significant contributions to the field of classical music.
Born and raised in Boston, Mass., Noyce has been teaching at CSUDH since 2012. Although he’s now known as a world-class flutist, he started his musical journey in a much different direction.
“I started as a percussionist,” says Noyce. “That was cool, but I kind of grew bored with that. I was only dealing with rhythm, while everyone else was learning pitches and fingering and that kind of stuff. So I wanted to switch to something I could play a melody on.”
Noyce then changed his focus to oboe, studying the instrument at the New England Conservatory Extension Division while in high school. It was Noyce’s desire to be part of his high school’s marching band that eventually led him to the flute.
“The oboe is an indoor orchestral instrument,” he says. “ You’re not going outdoors with it—certainly not in Boston in the winter. I needed to play something else for marching band, so I taught myself flute.”
After high school, Noyce studied oboe at the Harrt School of Music at the University of Hartford, earning a bachelor’s degree in performance. He kept up his flute chops, though, playing whenever he got the chance. His double life as an oboist with a secret passion for the flute continued into graduate school.
Noyce was offered a full scholarship to USC, so he moved to California to pursue a master’s degree. Personal issues caused him to pause his studies, though, about a year into the program.
“It was during that pause that I discovered I really wanted to play flute,” he says. “So I started just gigging around town as a flutist.” Noyce ended up returning to school to study the flute, earning a master’s degree at CSU Northridge.
Noyce then became a recipient of the CSU Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program. The program allowed him to pursue a doctorate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas while also serving as a part-time instructor. He earned his DMA in music performance from UNLV in 2011.
“I have degrees in both oboe and flute, which makes me a bit of a unicorn,” he laughs.
In addition to teaching music classes at CSUDH and Loyola Marymount University, Noyce is a sponsored performing artist for the Altus Flute Company, the oldest handmade flute company in Japan. They support him in teaching master classes, playing recitals, and other promotional activities.
“I’m really focused on chamber music,” says Noyce. “I play in several chamber groups, particularly flute, voice, and piano. I’m also a part of an ensemble called The Resonance Flute Consort, and we’ve done several recordings. My world is in recital work and chamber music.”
As for potentially winning the American Prize, Noyce laughs, “Goodness, I hadn’t thought that far ahead!” “Just being nominated is an incredible honor,” he continues. “I’m so grateful for the recognition. I’ve always tried to represent for our students what it is to be a live, working performer—not only someone who’s teaching music. I want students to really see a pathway to a career as a working musician. Hopefully, this recognition will be an inspiration for my students.”
