Tradition and innovation in flute making

The history of the Powell brand begins in 1910, when Verne Q. Powell, a goldsmith in the USA, made a flute from recycled silver - recovered from coins, watch cases and spoons. The unusual instrument quickly attracted attention, and in 1927 Powell founded his own workshop for the construction of high-quality flutes. Just one year later, he presented his first flute made of 14-carat gold - a milestone in professional flute making.

By the 1930s, Powell flutes were already firmly established in major American orchestras, including those in Boston, Philadelphia, Cleveland and New York. To this day, the name Verne Q. Powell stands for the highest precision craftsmanship, exquisite sound and a consistent focus on the requirements of professional musicians. Powell Flutes has been part of the international Buffet Crampon manufacturing group since 2016. Production continues to take place in Boston, USA - with a clear commitment to “Made in USA” quality. The range includes high-quality flutes made of solid gold, platinum or wood as well as a variety of individually crafted flute heads. Powell flutes are regarded worldwide as the epitome of American flute making.

An outstanding feature of the Powell brand is the specially developed Aurumite material. This is an innovative combination of materials in which 9-carat red gold is applied to sterling silver. A special manufacturing process permanently fuses the two metals together - a process patented by Powell in 1987.

Aurumite gives the flute a warm, darker sound character with a soft response - a sound aesthetic that is particularly appreciated by professional flutists. In addition to the professional instruments made entirely of Aurumite, advanced players also benefit from this technology: the flutes in the Sonaré series, especially the 501 and 601 models, are available with either a sterling silver headjoint or a sterling silver headjoint with an Aurumite embouchure plate.

A remarkable detail underlines the special status of Powell flutes: In 2011, a NASA astronaut took her personal Powell flute with her to the International Space Station. This literally took the characteristic sound of the brand into a new dimension - a sign of the extraordinary significance of Powell instruments even beyond the music scene.