2024 Festival Proposal Guidelines

People will be notified about the status of their proposals by January 15th.

Proposal Deadline: Friday, November 17th 2023 at 11:59pm Eastern Time (US).

By submitting a proposal, you agree to appear at the Festival at your own expense.

Low Flutes Festival: April 12-14th 2024. Hilton Washington Dulles Airport Hilton’s Website. 

U.S. and Canada Residents

Individuals and groups can submit their proposals and pay the membership fee ($45) after their proposal is accepted. People will be notified about the status of their proposals by January 15th. The person who submitted the proposal will have two weeks after the acceptance of their proposal to pay the Society membership fee ($45). If the Society membership fee is not paid within two weeks, the event will not be included in the Festival. Other members of a group can join at a later date.

If your proposal is accepted and you attend, you and all low flutes players in your group will be required to join the Society ($45) and pay the Festival registration fee ($150). Festival registration will be open starting Dec 1st. https://lowflutessociety.org/become-a-member/  

For those needing financial help paying these fees, send an email to lowflutessociety@gmail.com, with “requesting assistance” in the subject line. Explain the circumstances that require you to ask for financial assistance and describe what events you will be involved in at the Festival. Priority will be given to those attending the entire Festival. Maximum request currently $75.

International Proposals

International proposals outside the US and Canada, can be submitted anytime between September 15th and November 3rd. For such proposals, a decision will be made within two weeks of the receipt of the proposal or, the end of September at the earliest. Individuals and groups can submit their proposals and pay the membership fee ($45US) after their proposal is accepted. Once people have been notified of the acceptance of their proposal, the person who submitted the proposal will have two weeks to pay the Society membership fee ($45US). If the Society membership fee is not paid within two weeks, the event will not be included in the Festival. Other low flutes members of a group can pay to join the Society at a later date.

If your proposal is accepted and you attend the Festival, you and all low flutes players in your group will be required to join the Society ($45US) and pay the Festival registration fee ($150US). Festival registration will be open starting Dec 1st.

For those needing financial help paying these fees, send an email to lowflutessociety@gmail.com, with “requesting assistance” in the subject line. Explain the circumstances that require you to ask for financial assistance and describe what events you will be involved in at the Festival. Priority will be given to those attending the entire Festival. Maximum request currently $75.

We will accept international proposals anytime between September 15th and November 3rd. They will be evaluated by a selection committee and a decision made within two weeks of the receipt of the proposal. The sooner a proposal is submitted, the better the chances are of getting any needed visa applications approved in time for the April Festival.  

International proposals received between November 3rd and November 17th will be evaluated with all the U.S. and Canada proposals. You will be notified by January 15th if your proposals have been accepted.

The Festival fee ($150US) is a separate fee and payable in the spring. If you would prefer to pay the society membership and the Festival registration fee at the same time (within two weeks of your proposal being accepted) contact us at lowflutessociety@gmail.com

C Flute Players, Non-Flutist Performers, Non-flutist Guests

C Flute Players in a choir and non-flutist performers (for example: piano, guitar, clarinet) who come only for their performance and leave immediately afterwards, will not be required to join the Society or pay to register for the Festival.

Unregistered performers will not have access to any other events or the exhibit hall.

C flute players wanting to attend festival events can either pay $75 for a one-day pass, $150 for two days, or $150 plus the $45 Society membership (total $195) to attend the full Festival.

Non-flutist guests/performers wanting to attend Festival events, can either pay $75 for the one-day pass, or $150 for a full Festival pass.

The Society Membership Fee and Festival Fee are non-refundable.

Proposal Categories

We will be considering proposals in six categories:

  1. Solo performance
  2. Chamber music performance, (5 or fewer players)
  3. Low flutes choir (6 or more players)
  4. Workshops
  5. Lecture/demo
  6. Panel discussion

One person may submit a proposal in up to four categories with a limit of one submission per category.

Proposal Materials

Please have the following items on hand when you go to submit the proposal form. The form is short answer entry with the option to upload PDFs. If you prefer to submit your proposal in PDF form, please put “see PDF” in the corresponding short answer boxes.

Performances

  • Title(s), movements if any, performer(s), composer/arranger and their dates, publisher, timing.
  • An audio or video recording (for example: YouTube link, sound file) of you or your group, preferably playing the piece(s) you would like to perform at the Festival or, a comparable work.

Workshops/lecture demos/panel discussion

  • Title, requested length
  • Brief description of content
  • Brief description of previous similar presentations
  • Names of any other people involved in your event

Detailed Proposal Requirements

  1. Solo Performance – this includes one low flutes performer with or without piano, harp or guitar. Duets with all other instruments – submit as chamber music.
    • Performances with 40 minutes of music will be considered for people traveling from outside North America, but most approved proposals will be limited to 20 minutes of music.
    • We will provide contact info for piano accompanists. You make all arrangements, including payment.
    • Include ACCURATE timings with your submission, as well as title, individual movements if any, composer and composer’s dates, arranger if applicable, and publisher.
    • Performances or arrangements of pieces originally for c flute or other instruments are allowed.
    • Pieces that include short c flute sections (<20% of the piece) are allowed.
    • Include a sound file or link to a video made within the last year of the pieces you want to perform or otherwise accurately represent your abilities.
    • We have three microphones and a sound system available. No other Audio/Visual equipment will be provided. Please specify if you need mics.
  1. Chamber Music Performance – at least 50% of the flutes in the group must be low flutes. For example, one alto, one c flute and harp would be acceptable.
    • What is the name of your group? What are the names of the people in your group?
    • Performances with 40 minutes of music will be considered for people traveling from outside North America, but most approved proposals will be limited to 20 minutes of music.
    • We will provide contact info for piano accompanists. You make all arrangements, including payment.
    • Include ACCURATE timings with your submission, as well as title, individual movements if any, composer and composer’s dates, arranger if applicable, and publisher.
    • Arrangements of pieces originally for c flute or other instruments are allowed.
    • Include a sound file or link to a video made within the last year of the pieces you want to perform or otherwise accurately represent your abilities.
    • We have three microphones and a sound system available. No other Audio/Visual equipment will be provided. Please specify if you need mics.
  1. Low Flutes Choir – 50% or more of the flutes in the group must be low flutes.
    • What is the name of your group? Who is the conductor?
    • Performances with up to 50 minutes of music will be considered for people traveling from outside North America, but most approved proposals will be limited to 25 minutes of music.
    • Rehearsal times will be available on Thursday, April 11th.
    • Include ACCURATE timings with your submission, as well as title, individual movements if any, composer and composer’s dates, arranger if applicable and, publisher.
    • Include a sound file or link to a video made within the last year of the pieces you want to perform or otherwise accurately represent the abilities of the group.
    • C flute players involved in the performance who perform and leave immediately afterwards are not required to join the ILFS or pay the Festival fee. Unregistered performers will not have access to other Festival events or the exhibit room. A One Day fee will be available.
    • A list of performers in the choir will be required at a later date.
    • Arrangements of pieces originally for c flute or other instruments are allowed.
    • We have three microphones and a sound system available. No other Audio/Visual equipment will be provided. Please specify if you need mics.
    • For a suggested list of pieces for low flutes ensemble, go to https://chrispotterflute.com/selected-low-flutes-repertoire/
  1. Workshops – these events can cover any topic related to low flutes and involve significant audience participation.
    • What is your workshop topic?
    • Workshops may be 25 or 50 minutes in length – specify which length.
    • Describe your workshop in four sentences or less.
    • Include a brief description of previous workshops you have led.
    • You will need to provide copies of any handouts to the attendees.
    • There will be no Audio/Visual equipment available in the workshop rooms.
  1. Lecture/demo – these events can cover any topic related to low flutes.
    • What is your lecture topic?
    • Workshops may be 25 or 50 minutes in length – specify which length.
    • Describe your lecture/demo in four sentences or less.
    • Include a brief description of previous lecture/demos you have led.
    • The presenter will provide copies of any handouts for the attendees and will be demonstrating any musical concepts.
    • There is no Audio/Visual equipment available.
  1. Panel Discussion – A moderator can propose a discussion related to low flutes.
    • What is your topic?
    • List the two to four invited guests who will be participating.
    • Describe the focus of your workshop in four sentences or less.
    • The moderator will provide copies of any handouts to the attendees.
    • These panels will be 50 minutes long unless requested to be shorter.
    • There will be no Audio/Visual equipment available.

Proposal Submission Form (external link)