Michelle Brophy Wooden Flutes
I make flutes in the Pratten style from ethically-sourced exotic hardwoods (typically African Blackwood and Mopane) and Sterling silver keys and rings. Unless requested, my flutes are three piece (single piece body) with a tuning slide.
The key mounts on my flutes are wooden (intrinsic to the flute body) and you can choose the number and type of keys desired. If you’re not quite ready for keys, I can make you a keyless with the mounts and add keys later. Keyless models with no mounts are also available.
The most common pitch is “concert D” but I can make flutes in other pitches. If you need a left-handed model or would prefer a different grip style (e.g. piper’s grip), just ask.
Some pricing info…
Keyless in D: $1,200
6 Key in D Key: $3,600 (i.e. keyless price + $400 per key)
Case cost is extra - I am currently trying out a number of different case styles and, as such, don’t have a huge stock of different options. This will change over the coming months. Currently your options are Gator, Consort and soft-shell. I am looking at the feasibility of producing my own design made from local hardwoods. Email me about pricing and options.
All prices are in Canadian Dollars (Oct 2022: $1CAD = £0.63 = $0.73USD = €0.74)
Send me an email if you would like to know more!
Some audio samples of my flutes
Recorded by Billy Sutton at PipeTrack Productions - www.billysutton.net
About me
For more than 25 years, I’ve been playing traditional Newfoundland and Irish music on the wooden flute. In the mid 1990s, I started wood turning for local uillean pipe maker, Neil O’Grady, who taught me how to make parts for the pipes. Then in the mid 2000s, I began learning how to make flutes with Hammy Hamilton, which was interrupted when my second child arrived and family life took over. Over the past few years, I’ve been very happy to get back in the workshop making flutes again. I’ll be forever indebted to Hammy whose huge influence as maker, player and overall human being I can’t begin to measure, and whose endless support and guidance through the years can’t possibly be repaid. I’m based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada where I live with my two children and husband who plays the uilleann pipes. I’m also a member of the committee that organizes Feile Seamus Creagh in early September every year.