Zach's "irresistible energy, appealing tone, and dazzling technique" (The Oregonian) have made him a fixture in the Portland music community. Serving as Solo Piccolo of the Oregon Symphony since 2012, he also frequently appears with 45th Parallel as both flutist and vocalist.
Zach has played as guest piccoloist with numerous orchestras around the country, including the Symphonies of Baltimore, Detroit, and Seattle, and has appeared as Guest Principal Flutist with the Buffalo Philharmonic, including on their 2018 international tour to Poland. He has also performed at various summer festivals, serving as Principal Flute of the Astoria Music Festival in Astoria, Oregon, and playing flute and piccolo with the Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, Oregon.
In 2012, Zach was the first-place winner of the highly prestigious Piccolo Artist Competition of the National Flute Association, and acted as coordinator of the NFA Piccolo Competitions from 2015-19. In 2009, Zach won first place in the Mid-Atlantic Young Artist Piccolo Competition, and was a winner of the National Flute Association's 2009 Piccolo Masterclass Competition. Zach was a fellow at the National Orchestral Institute in the summers of 2010 and 2012, and was awarded the Piccolo Fellowship at the Aspen Music Festival in 2011.
In addition to performing, Zach is a passionate teacher and sought-after clinician, having given various masterclasses and seminars on piccolo techniques. He gave masterclasses at the 2012 Hampton Roads Flute Faire as a member of the Virginia Symphony flute section, the 2012 International Flute Symposium in West Virginia, and the 2013 Iowa Piccolo Intensive Workshop. In addition, Zach has been invited back to both of his alma maters to give masterclasses since graduating. For the 2014-15 school year, Zach was interim Instructor of Flute at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. He holds a private teaching studio in Portland for students of all ages, and is currently the Instructor of Flute at the University of Portland.
For the 2011-12 season, Zach played Piccolo/Third Flute in the Virginia Symphony Orchestra under music director JoAnn Falletta, and starting with the 2012-13 season, he was appointed Solo Piccolo of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra by music director Carlos Kalmar. During his tenure with the Oregon Symphony, Zach has been featured as soloist with the orchestra on both flute and piccolo, served as Principal Flute, and, stepping outside of his flute-playing responsibilities, has had the thrill of singing with the orchestra along with China Forbes of Pink Martini.
Zach can be heard on multiple Oregon Symphony recordings including the Grammy-nominated album "Spirit of the American Range." You can also hear him on the Virginia Symphony's 2012 recording of Mahler's 8th Symphony, and on Pink Martini's collaborative album with the Von Trapps, "Dream A Little Dream."
A native of LaGrange, NY, Zach graduated summa cum laude with performance honors from the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, studying with Kenneth Andrews, former Assistant Principal Flute with the Montreal Symphony. In 2014, Zach was the recipient of SUNY Potsdam's "Rising Star Award" for his "outstanding professional achievement in the first decade following graduation." Zach received his Master of Music degree from Peabody Conservatory, studying with the Baltimore Symphony's Solo Piccolo, Laurie Sokoloff. Doctoral studies (ABD) were done at Peabody under the tutelage of world renowned soloist Marina Piccinini.
