Flute Academy

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Our winter concert is this Saturday Dec 13th at 11:00am at First Trinity Lutheran Church! Join us in person, or here on our page for the live stream!!

There are several Summer 2025 opportunities for flute playing and listening! YAY!

World premier of "Ode to Pittsburgh Urbanism" June 19th at 8:00pm at the government center in the North shore. Original composition by Vicky Davide featuring Andre Solomon - flute, Caleb Smith - flute/piano, trē - electronics, Steve Haines - chair/film canister.

Katie Miller and Olivia Reva are presenting another flute-focused movement and music event for the summer solstice at Aither Yoga on June 21! At 1:00pm. https://app.fitdegree.com/t/dashboard/registrables/3444571%5C

Parasky Studios Summer Flute Workshop, has a deadline for playing in the flute choir--you need to register by June 1 !! Here's the info for that one: Workshop will be held on Saturday, June 21, 9:30 - 6:00, in Murrysville,PA
https://www.paraskyflutestudios.com/summer-flute-workshop

On Sunday, June 22, Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich (the newest member of the Beta Quartet) will perform with them in Harrisville, PA (not too far from Slippery Rock) from 2:00 - 3:00 for Blackwood Arts Festival. Map included!
https://www.betaquartet.com/events/2025/6/22/blackwood-arts

On Sunday, June 29, the City Flutes member, Evonne Henry will be presenting a flute recital at 2:00 at the Edgewood Presbyterian Church, special guest: Tracyleigh Rice, flute; piano, Matt Klumpp; Mike Henry, piano; Bill Henry, Drums; and Jay Henry, Bass. FREE!

On Friday, July 11, Washington (PA) Symphony Orchestra is participating in the annual Whiskey Rebellion celebration (food, entertainment), right in the downtown (Washingtion). They are looking for PICCOLO players to come up and play Stars and Stripes (orchestra key--G major!) with them. Also, if there is any interest, you may be able to have a small flute choir play before the concert. Interested? Contact me and I'll send your info on to Tracyleigh. FUN! Rehearsal that same day--early evening, concert is at 8:00.

Any interest in having a few flute choir summer reading sessions email me!

So excited for you to join us for our Spring Concert this Saturday! Can't join us in person? We will be live streaming here and on our instagram . See yinz there!

Join us Saturday December 14, 2024 at First Trinity Lutheran Church for our Winter Concert. Come early, 10:30am, to hear our Flute Loops. See you there! Catch our live stream here on Facebook or also on Instagram .

Our next flutist of the week is long time member and lover of all flutes: .mcanallen

Here's our interview with her.

Share a fun fact
I also do improv comedy, improv and flute choir are tied for my favorite thing.

How long have you been playing flute?
I started in fourth grade, so about 23 years.

What's your favorite flute (c, picc, etc)?
Honestly penny whistle, I've been playing that the longest.

What's your favorite piece you've played (choir or not)?
Hungarian Pastoral Fantasy by Franz Doppler. I played it for my senior recital in college and it's been stuck in my head ever since.

What advice you would give to people who are interested in starting flute?
Try all sorts of different kinds of flutes! You might find something you really love like pan flutes, penny whistles, or Native American flutes.

Any news or excitement you want to share?
The International Low Flutes Fest in DC in April! I've never been before and am super excited!

Please join us this Saturday, March 23 at 11:00am for our 2024 Spring concert! Our live stream link will be TBD. Free reception to follow.

This week's flutist is Sarah!
Read below our interview with her:

Share a fun fact.
I started flute as an adult because my daughter invited me to. It took forever to figure out a “C scale.” After that, I decided to put it away and give it up! Then, after a year of not touching the flute, I thought to try again. I was surprised: I discovered that the C scale fingerings magically unfolded in my hands, and I’ve been playing ever since.

How long have you been playing flute?
Since 2011
What's your favorite flute (c, picc, etc)?
Just C flute, I can get the nicest sound out of it. I’ve tried low tin whistle, but it’s not so easy!!. Low flutes sound so beautiful, but they take A LOT of air, and are thus hard for me to play to and get a nice sound.

What's your favorite piece you've played? I really love slow melodic pieces. Right now my favorites are Irish tunes arranged by Kerry Franzke. She & her husband put together lovely flute and piano pieces based on Irish folk tunes, and they aren’t too technically challenging.

What advice you would give to people who are interested in starting flute.
Be patient with yourself and surround yourself with positive people, like here in flute choir. Sometimes you’ll feel like you’re the worst player in the room, but even if it's, you can have fun because you’ll make friends and the challenges will help you: you always discover you made progess!

Any news or excitement you want to share?
I'm very happy that my daughter has moved back to Pittsburgh and has joined flute choir too for this season!
She's one of those positive attitude and great players it's so great to be around!

We are so excited to present our next flutist of the week who has some exciting preformances coming up. Here is our interview with her!

Share a fun fact
I am an avid cross sticher. I am currently working on a tapestry from the video game Breath of Wild.

How long have you been playing flute?
Since I was 10

What's your favorite flute (c, picc, etc)?
Piccolo! I don't get to play very often, but i love it.

Favorite piece
Right now I'm loving my arragement of the Novagrad set, a cover of the Witcher 3 and the Elementals. I will be performing them at Mid-atlantic. It's also used as tiktok sound clip.

What advice you would give to people who are interested in starting flute?
Find music that you love, for me its covers of viedogame and anime music. It's okay if clasical doesn't call to you. Find what you love and add flute.

Any news or excitement you want to share?
I will be presenting my covers of video game and anime music at Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention. Saturday Feb 17th at 12:30pm in the Sully Room. Follow me on youtube on instagram . I will also be performing at Scotty Con in March, VGMcon in April, and Colossalcon in May.

We are so excited for this incredible flute workshop hosted by Dan Parasky this Saturday.

Our flutist of the week is Gay Kahkonen, our very own composer in residence! Here is our interview with her.
Share a fun fact:
My current dog, Fennec, doesn't mind flute playing. She is the only dog I've owned who doesn't mind!
How long have you been playing flute?
Since I was 5 years old.
What's your favorite flute (c, picc, etc)?
All of them! I usually play Bass in choir, I normally play C for practicing, but I also like Alto. I'm not a big fan of playing picc, but I love writing for it.
What's your favorite piece you've played (choir or not)?
Of my own pieces, I liked playing Romanian Dance the best.
What advice you would give to people who are interested in starting flute?
Flute is the most beautiful instrument. It sounds like the voices of angels. Also, the Pittsburgh flute community is very friendly and welcoming. There is room for players of all levels of experience.
Any news or excitement you want to share?
One of my pieces will be premiered at the International Low Flutes festival in DC this April by a group from Michigan.

We are so excited to see you tomorrow for our first rehearsal of the new year!