About the Flute Atelier

My name is Harrison Whelan and I founded the Flute Atelier in April 2025. The idea came about as a result of a growing desire to better understand the workings of a flute. After experiencing issues with my own instrument leading up to an important audition, I became increasingly curious about how flutes actually work, and how their design and wear affect response and tone quality. What started as a practical investigation quickly grew into a deeper interest in flute mechanics, materials, and acoustics.
 

Meanwhile, I developed a strong interest in historical performance, which I now study at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music with the intonationally renowned Traverso (baroque flute) specialist, Greg Dikmans. This interest expanded beyond repertoire when I stumbled across a flute by William Henry Potter that is now viewable in my collection. From that point on, my focus shifted not only to historical music, but to the instruments themselves; how they were made, how they were intended to function, and how they can best be understood and preserved today.
 

The founding of the Flute Atelier brought these interests together. My own involvement in the business consists of refurbishment of modern flutes, conservation and restoration of historical flutes and flute lessons. I am assisted in this by a few valued helpers. In particular, the historical research on flutes and piccolos is undertaken by my father, Rohan Whelan.
 

Our philosophical approach to the preservation of historical instruments is to always prioritise history over playability. Our aim is to firstly, preserve the history and provenance of an instrument where notable and secondly, to resurrect and/or prolong it's life as a functioning tool for musical performance.
 

We also source and refurbish quality second-hand Yamaha flutes, giving them a second life, and providing a more affordable way for young and beginner flautists to acquire their own instrument. We are very happy to provide free advice on what instrument is most suitable for you, even if it's not one of ours.
 

Whether you are booking a service, looking for a quality refurbished flute, or exploring a historically significant instrument, we aim to carefully address the needs of each client.