Kristen Halay is principal flute of the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, the Eugene Opera and Oregon Festival of American Music. Halay began playing the flute at the age of 8. At 16 she was invited to attend the University of Massachusetts as a Chancellor's Scholar recipient, studying flute with Joanne Tanner. She later attended the University of Oregon where she was awarded the prestigious Ruth Lorraire-Close award for four years. While at the University of Oregon, Halay studied flute with Richard Trombley. She was the 1994 winner of the Lillian and Paul Petri Competition and was also the concerto competition winner at both the University of Massachusetts and the University of Oregon. She attended the Aspen Music School in 1994 and 1995 as a fellowship, recipient where she studied with Dave Shostac and Nadine Asin. She has played in master classes with James Galway, Jeanne Pierre-Rampal, Leone Buyse, Donal Peck, Timothy Underwood and Jeanne Baxtresser. Halay has appeared as soloist with the Eugene Symphony, Oregon Mozart Players, Springfield (Mass.) Symphony, University of Oregon Symphony, University of Massachusetts Symphony and the North Hampton Symphony.