International Low Flutes Festival

Welcome

10:30am Eastern

Welcome to the 2026 International Low Flutes Festival. Join us for the Opening of the Festival including the opening choir play along.

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Program

Performance: Music for Alto Flute with English Horn, Bass Flute, C flute and Piano

11:00am

Chamber music performance with music from: Jenny Cline, Karen Large, Mary Matthews & Jocelyn Crosby.

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Workshop: From the Conductor’s Point of View with Christina Steffen

11:45am

Join Christina Steffen for this workshop. Topics to be covered: placing low flutes in an ensemble and working on intonation.

Performance: Lower Michigan Low Flutes Ensemble

12:15pm

Lower Michigan Low Flutes Ensemble Dir. Debbie Ash, plays music by McMichael and Ash.

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Performance: Alto and Bass Solos with Flute Choir

12:45pm

Enjoy a performance of Flute Choir Music with featured soloists Chris Potter, Ellen Burr & Debbie Ash.

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Performance: Unseen/Unheard Duo and Alto with Mezzo-soprano

1:30pm

Chamber music performance with performances from: Rose Bishop, Heather Neuenschwander & Kelly Mollnow Wilson.

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Sight-Reading with Paige Dashner Long

2:00pm

Bring your instruments for a Play Along with Paige Dashner Long.

Music Links

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Workshop: Recording Low Flutes with Jocelyn Crosby

2:45pm

Join Jocelyn Crosby as she discusses strategies to record low flutes, including accompanied selections where it can be difficult to capture the low flutes.

Performance: Animals, Roller Coasters and an Echo

3:15pm

Solo Performances from Mariana Gariazzo, Karen Large & Corrine Mona.

Program

Workshop: Fondant Forward Play Along with Gareth McLearnon

3:45pm

Gareth will present a guide in his uniquely engaging way to the playing of his low flutes piece Fondant Forward, followed by a play-a-long. He will answer our questions;  what’s a fondant, and why is it forward? He throws in some tips for setting up a curved headjoint. Fondant, though a high calorie item, is available from his website garethmclearnon.com

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Workshop: iFlute: Replacing Printed Music with an iPad with Stephen Clark

4:15pm

This workshop introduces flutists to effective, practical strategies for playing from digital scores on an iPad. Participants will learn how to organize and annotate sheet music, set up page turns and pedals, and create a screen layout that supports confident, distraction-free performance.

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Performance: Clocks, Flowers, Swans and a Crystal

4:45pm

Chamber music performance featuring performances from: Lily Bayles, Rowan Rodriguez, Jocelyn Crosby & Faith Wasson.

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Composer Spotlight: Amanda Harberg

5:15pm

Join us for a concert featuring the work of composer Amanda Harberg. And a live interview with Amanda Harberg by Mariana Gariazzo.

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Friday Night Gala Concert: Impromptu Encounters!

6:00pm

Our first gala concert with performances from featured guest artists Ali Ryerson and Matthias Ziegler.

Will include a live duo improvisation Ali and Matthias recorded telematically for the online 2021 NFA con-vention. They will talk about their “story” as a duo, which began over 10 years ago, and touch on all of their collaborations, plus a talk about how they approach their duo improvisations. They will also share some fun photos from their performances.

Matthias Ziegler is sponsored by Eva Kingma Flute Maker

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Performance: Istanbul Flute Ensemble

10:00am Eastern

Flute choir performance from the Istanbul Flute Ensemble, Dir. Ece Karşal. Featuring music from Turkish Composers.

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Workshop: Amplifying the Bass Flute with Matthias Ziegler

10:30am

Find out how Matthias finds all those unique sounds.

Matthias Ziegler is sponsored by Eva Kingma Flute Maker.

Performance: Alicia and Anders Take the Stage

11:00am

Join us for performances by Alicia Kosack and Anders Hagberg.

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Performance: Les Flûtistes de Montréal and Mystic Journey

11:30am

Chamber music from Les Flûtistes de Montréal: Judy Diez d’Aux, Catherine Audet, Billy Kerr & Nancy Newman. And Suzanne Teng’s chamber group Mystic Journey.

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Workshop: Reading Music Using a Tablet with Ronda Sprague & Edie Rice

12:15pm

This workshop will explore how tablets (Apple and Android platforms) are transforming the way musicians read and manage music, offering practical advantages over traditional paper sheet music. Digital scores are easy to organize, search, and annotate, making rehearsal preparation and performance more efficient. We will highlight performance benefits, such as hands-free page turning with pedals, adjustable screen brightness, quick edits and real-time annotations, which can be saved without marking up permanent copies. Tablets enable instant sharing of scores, faster updates, and reduced printing expenses, making them both economical and environmentally friendly.

Lecture: The Influence of Low Flutes on C Flute Tone with Mikayla Farmer

12:45pm

In this lecture, we will discover how low flute technique influences the production and quality of tone on the ‘standard’ C flute. Exploration in relaxation, openness, and deep breathing will provide techniques for flutists of all kinds to add to their practice and warm up sessions. Participants will be encouraged, but not required, to use their flutes to get hands-on experience in improving their tone.

Sight-Reading with Judy Diez d’Aux

1:15pm

Bring your instruments for Saturday’s Sight Reading Session with Judy Diez d’Aux.

Music Links

Program

Performance: Sestina Quattro and Flute//Shift

2:00pm

Chamber performances from Erin Grim, Anne Stevens, Lenee Stevens, Deborah Venezia, Shari Shaw, Mallory Harrison, Brittney Patterson & Diane Boyd Schultz

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Workshop: Circular Breathing with Alexa Still

2:30pm

Alexa Still explains what it is, where it is useful, the steps required to learn this skill and will provide a few very brief demos including the flute-world premiere of video looking down Alexa’s mouth. This isn’t a magic trick! But it does require knowledge and a lot of persistence. Please have your flute and a water bottle and a bowl or basin to spit water into.

Performance: The Gentle Giant and Bach Revisited

3:00pm

Performances by Francis Jacquette, Holly Oswald Clemans & Deborah Rebeck Ash.

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Workshop: Tips and Tricks for Playing and Traveling with Low Flutes with Phyllis Louke

3:30pm

Support options for bass flute; traveling with low flutes, placement of low flute section in a flute choir; tips for clearer articulation on contra, bass, or alto flutes; a list of regular flute choir pieces with fun low parts, airline travel with a low flute, are B keys necessary on bass flutes.

Performance: Lisa Times Two

4:00pm

Solo performances from Lisa Cella & Lisa Goethe-McGinn.

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Workshop: Getting Your Groove On with Ali Ryerson

4:30pm

Join Ali for an All Blues Jazz Play-Along! Get your groove on playing some cool blues tunes with backing tracks! It’s a great chance to try out some bluesy jazz licks! (C and alto parts will be available for download the week of the festival – any advance preparation is elective, NOT required!)

Workshop: Transform Pain and Anxiety through Movement with Charity Haney

5:00pm

Do you have pain, anxiety, physical frustrations, fear, grief, sadness, nervousness in your life? Pain of any kind keeps our emotional light dimmed, our heart hidden and creates disconnection between ourselves and others. Music is connection so being detached from your center can limit you in authentically showing up for yourself and your audience. Join me for an all-accessible, gentle movement-based class that will use your pain as fuel to create more joy, love, connection, and fun in your playing and life! Use a yoga mat, chair, or a combination of the two. I will offer the class in both. Dress comfortably.

Performance: Desert Echoes Flute Project Low Flutes Choir

5:30pm

Flute Choir Performance from Desert Echoes Flute Project Dir. Christina Steffen.

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Composer Spotlight: Daniel Dorff

6:00pm

Join us for a concert featuring the work of composer Daniel Dorff. And a live interview with Daniel Dorff by Mariana Gariazzo.

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Workshop: Tone Development through Interpretation with Mariana Gariazzo & Marie Bennett

6:45pm

This workshop explores how expressive playing and thoughtful interpretation can unlock richer, more resonant tone production on the low flutes. Using a curated collection of classical and well-known melodies, participants will work through repertoire that gradually expands both the technical and expressive demands of instruments such as the alto flute, bass flute, and contrabass flute. The session will address breath control strategies tailored to larger flutes, refined embouchure setup for each instrument, articulation that supports clarity without force, and techniques for maximizing resonance across the full range. Through guided musical exploration, flutists will deepen their understanding of tone color, phrasing, and sound projection while building confidence and artistry on the low flutes.

Workshop: Method for ContraBass Flute with Patricia Garcia

7:15pm

Patricia will tell us about her process writing her Method for ContraBass flute. She will explain the choices she made deciding what the Method should contain. Translator Mariana Gariazzo.

Workshop: Makin’ the Switch: Picc to Bass with Debbie MacMurray

7:45pm

Debbie will share her secrets how to prepare for playing multiple flutes in one concert.

Performance: Bass Flute Duos: As Close as Sisters

8:15pm

Performance by the Bass Flute Competition winner Ikuko Ioka and Ota Ai.

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Concerto Night: Concertos for Low Flutes

8:45pm

Join us for Saturday Night’s Gala featuring concertos for low flutes.

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Performance: Ahir Zaman Concerto for Flute Ensemble and Orchestra by Ozge Gulbey

10:30am

Join us for a replay of the Concerto for Flute Ensemble and Orchestra with live comments by the composer.

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Performance: Marmara Flute Orchestra

11:00am

The Marmara Flute Orchestra, Dir. Ece Karsal performs.

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Workshop: Counting Balkan Aksak Rhythms with Ece Karsal

11:30am

Using Chase by Oya Çınar Kanık and and Bayram by Orçun Orçunsel, Ece will explain how to feel comfortable counting rhythms common in Turkish music but unusual in the US.

Performance: Carla Rees Goes Low

12:00pm

Join us for a solo performance from Carla Rees.

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Composer Spotlight: Alyssa Mena & Katrina Emtage

12:30pm

Join us for a concert featuring the work of composers Alyssa Mena & Katrina Emtage. Hosted by Mariana Gariazzo.

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Sight-Reading with Karen Large

1:15pm

Bring your instruments for our Sight Reading Session with Karen Large.

Music Links

Program

Workshop: And All that Jazz with Ali Ryerson

2:00pm

Join Ali for a Super Fun Jazz Play-Along! Play some of Ali’s jazzy solos from “Ali’s Jazz Solos Vol. 1 & 2 with backing tracks! Get your groove on… and all that jazz! (C and alto parts will be available for download the week of the festival – any advance preparation is elective, NOT required!)

Music Links

Program

Lecture: Adapting Copland’s Fanfare For the Common Man for Flute Choir with David Weiss

2:30pm

A music video and discussion on the considerations and difficulties of adapting this well know piece for Flute Choir.
What performance issues make playing this piece difficult but possible. Some considerations: “To vibrato or not to vibrato?”, Should a flutist emulate brass performance, like “swells” and articulation? How should the low flutes replace the lower brass (French Horn, Trombone, Tuba). Arrangement and performance by Dave Weiss.

Performance: Song of the Angels Flute Orchestra

3:00pm

Flute choir performance from Song of the Angels, Charles Fernandez, conductor.

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Workshop: My Creative Process with Suzanne Teng

3:30pm

I’ve written, recorded and released 29 pieces for alto or bass flute (and one for contra) since I released my first solo album 26 years ago. Some of these were complete improvisations and some were very composed with pencil and staff paper. But most were created through a process that falls somewhere in the middle of these two methods. For example, many of the pieces were created in the recording studio. I use the word create rather than compose because during this process, I will improvise, develop, write and arrange during the actual recording session, and to me, it feels like a creative process more than a compositional one. In this informal chat, I’ll talk through my various processes and save time for Q & A. The piece “Topanga Dreams” was the first piece I wrote for alto flute and will be used as a reference in this discussion.

Featured Guest Artist: Lorna McGhee

4:00pm

Lorna McGhee Shares Her Thoughts and Comments on her recording of Dances with the Wind.

The Rautavaara is a piece that is dear to my heart. I love it and am always happy to talk about it. I can also incorporate some Alexander perspective and thoughts on how the sound of low flutes affects the body. I have used the alto in hospital settings and could do a little improvisation demo. This all ties into why I think the Rautavaara is a magical and deeply powerful piece of music. The alto and bass open up a space. I could start with a guided AT-style seated body scan, then I play an alto improvisation as the audience continues to direct themselves towards spacious ease, then we segue into talking about the Rautavaara and inner and outer landscapes. I could also screen share some photos that evoke the atmosphere of the Rautavaara from Scotland — northern, moody climes!

Lorna McGhee, sponsored by Arista Flutes.

Closing Concert

5:30pm

Join us for the Closing Concert including Valse from Alex Molnar-Suhajda’s Voices from the Deep is our traditional closing piece. Parts will be available for download a few days before the Festival.

Music Link

Program