About

David Straubinger received his musical training at the Juilliard School and the Butler University Jordan School of Music. He played for six years with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. In 1969, he started a business rebuilding and repairing woodwind instruments for professional musicians and their students. The problems encountered in rebuilding and repairing flutes led him to develop a new concept in pad design. After four years of extensive research, David was awarded a patent on that concept and design. This pad design and the precision repair techniques developed with it would ultimately revolutionize the flute industry worldwide. The Straubinger™ Pad has become an icon that has raised the bar of expectations and possibilities for all flutists and wind players. This search for excellence led ultimately to the development of the Straubinger Flute. David has been honored to receive two Lifetime Achievement Awards: first from the Chicago Flute Club in 2015, and more recently from the National Flute Association in 2024.

Listen to David interviewed by Heidi Kay Begay on her Flute360 podcast.

Read more about David in David Straubinger: Flutemaker and Pad Innovator".

Joel Straubinger has worked at his father's side in repair since the age of eight. He started working full time with his father in 1993, repairing flutes and is now manufacturing the pads. Since then Joel has become a master repair technician and has completed repair work for some of the finest flutists in the world. In addition to his superior repair knowledge, Joel has become a talented flutemaker, contributing to the design of the flute and building many flutes from start to finish. All of these talents and skills were acquired early in his career thanks to the enthusiasm of a father and son team.