Trevor Hutton Flutes
New Zealand flute maker: piccolo, concert, alto and bass, in silver and gold.
New Zealand flute maker: piccolo, concert, alto and bass, in silver and gold.
Trevor started by making a new headjoint for his flute in about 1970, and then completed a new body in gold and silver, which he then used in professional flute playing engagements. Without access to tubing from bullion merchants, Trevor made all his own tubing, posts, keys, springs and screws starting from raw materials, even making his own pads from felt and animal intestine skins with the assistance of his father when pads were scarce. Gold and silver were procured from various sources, including recovery from photographic processes, from which Trevor would make gold and silver alloys for flute making. Making a flute would take him about 200 hours. When he visited Powell Flutes in Boston, USA, he was shown their manufacturing equipment and processes. While he could not afford to procure such equipment, he was able to import pre-formed tubing and flute pads, which reduced the time to manufacture a flute.
Trevor was taught to play the flute by his father, eventually gaining his LTCL in about 1940. Following his father, he joined Derry’s Military Band at the age of 10, and the Christchurch Savage Club at the age of 14 (of which he became a life member). Later he joined the public 3YA radio orchestra until 1959, and played pieces for flute and piano (live to air).
Trevor played jazz with Brian Marston, and Doug Caldwell and the Amigos. He also formed the Serendipity Flute group in the late eighties, which had up to 11 players, and played in a woodwind quartet along with Jack Goldsmith on oboe, Michael Shorter on clarinet, Ross McKeitch (father of Hamish, NZSO conductor) on bassoon, and William Turner on French horn. The quintet would often play lunchtime concerts at the Great hall of the Canterbury University, now the Christchurch Arts Centre, where Trevor also performed solo recitals.
Trevor was offered the position of principal flute in the National Orchestra (which became the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra) based in Wellington. He eventually declined, however, because his wife Hazel had become pregnant and they had trouble finding accommodation in Wellington, which was scarce after WWII. He did play with the National Orchestra when they played in Christchurch. Trevor was principal flute for the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for 14 years from 1964, with whom he performed Mozart flute and Brandenburg concertos. In later years he joined the Risingholme Orchestra.
Trevor left school at 15 and was apprenticed as a jeweller to Richards and Henshall, where he worked for 22 years. His jewellery workbench and tools were given to him in his youth by someone retiring from the trade. He later worked for Kennedys Diamond Rings and then Sladen and Son Jewellers for 11 years each before retiring at 60.
Trevor Wyn Albert Hutton was born 25 January 1923 to parents Albert and Doris Hutton, both of whom played the flute. He married Hazel Hutton, née Tolchard on 27 April 1946, with whom he had three children: Judith, Graeme and Andrew. Trevor was raised in Spreydon, Christchurch, attending Christchurch Normal School and West Christchurch High School. He also had a love of motorbikes, starting with his father’s 1923 Harley Davidson complete with sidecar. He owned 6-7 Harley Davidsons during his life.
In 2011, Trevor was interviewed on four occasions for the Christchurch Flute Society.
Trevor also featured in newspaper articles and in an episode of Spot On demonstrating flute manufacture.
If you know any information about the following recording such as date, location, names of other musicians, or the names of the pieces, please add a comment on the video.
If you have any feedback about this webpage, please email [email protected].
The text of this website is released under the Creative Commons Zero Waiver 1.0 (CC0).