Pre Booking Info

Booking is now closed - those who have purchased tickets will be contacted shortly with further information.

This unique festival, hosted by Birmingham Flute Choir, draws flute choirs and players from all over the UK. The day will celebrate all aspects of flute playing and is aimed specifically at flute choirs and their members. The festival will be held on Saturday 2nd March 2024, and held at Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham.

OVERVIEW OF THE DAY

We have brought together a fantastic programme of workshops, performance opportunities and trade stands for you to participate in and attend throughout the day. The current indicative schedule for the day is:

09:30 - 10:00 - Registration

10:00 - 10:40 - Welcome and warm up led by a workshop leader - "Wake-Up Warm-Up"

Meet your fellow players from across the country and play together in a few fun warm ups and a new piece which has been written especially for the Festival, to be performed later in the day.

10:50 - 12:15 - Break Out Session 1 (Morning)

12:15 - 13:15 - Lunch and Trade Stands

13:15 - 14:05 - Lunchtime Concert

14:15 - 15:45 - Break Out Session 2 (Afternoon)

15:50 - 16:50 - Trade stands, clinics with workshop leaders, and afternoon refreshments

17:00 - 19:00 - Evening Concert and Festival Close

Within each Break Out Session, you will have a choice of a number of workshops to attend. Spaces in each workshop are limited, so as part of the booking process we will ask you to advise your preference for which sessions you'd like to attend (you will be asked to select your top three workshops in each session). We will aim to accommodate as many first choice preferences as possible.

More information is provided about each of the workshops, and our leaders, below.

Workshop Leaders

Our workshops will be led by a team of renowned flute players and flute choir experts, and we are delighted that they are able to join us at the festival.

Andrea Kuypers

Andrea is a performer and educator with more than three decades of experience. She studied the flute at RNCM Manchester and has spent most of her working life in Scotland, building her reputation as one of the foremost freelancers in the country, a sought after teacher and coach.

Carla Rees

Carla is a British low flutes specialist who has developed an international reputation for her innovative work encompassing performing, composing, arranging, editing and teaching. She completed her PhD at RCM London and in 2021 was appointed the first Professor of Low Flutes and Contemporary Flutes at Royal Academy of Music in London.

Gareth McLearnon

Gareth is an internationally renowned and multi-award winning flautist, composer, educator and arranger. He currently works as a soloist, recording artist, and chamber and orchestral musician. Gareth studied at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Gareth is the European Artist-in-Resident for Wm. S. Haynes Co.

Helen Benson

Helen is currently the Principal Piccolo of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and teaches at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She studied at Chetham's School of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama and undertook a master's degree at Swedish National Orchestra Academy. Previously, Helen has played with Oslo Philharmonic, and was a founding member of contemporary music group, Ensemble Temporum.

Marie-Christine Zupancic

Marie-Christine is Section Leader Flute of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and teaches at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. She studied in Cologne with Professor Robert Winn, followed by two years at the Karajan Academy where she frequently played with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. Marie-Christine recently recorded Weinberg’s first flute concerto for Deutsche Grammophon.

Mel Orriss

Mel studied flute at Chetham's School of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has had an extensive and successful career as a flautist, and also as an arranger and composer, which led to her co-founding Wonderful Winds in 2010. She teaches flute and coaches several chamber ensembles, and is currently Assistant Conductor and Woodwind Coach of the Devon Youth Orchestras.

Morning break out Sessions

A - fondant forward Fireworks (Gareth McLearnon)

In this session, Gareth will workshop "Fondant Forward Fireworks" with low flute players. This piece was commissioned by Birmingham Flute Choir and will be premiered in July 2024 at their summer concert.

This session is only open to low flute players.

b - take your piccolo playing to the next level (Helen Benson)

During this session, Helen will be focussing on overcoming piccolo specific challenges. Participants are welcomed to bring along aspects of their playing they'd like to focus on.

C - ...and breathe (Andrea Kuypers)

Join Andrea to find out how to get the most from your playing by laying the foundations with stretching and breathing exercises, followed by a delve into Andrea’s Tone Toolkit.

d - Let's play wonderful winds! (Mel Orriss)

Come along and join flute choir director and composer/arranger Mel Orriss for an informal play through of some of the many flute ensemble pieces published by Wonderful Winds…to include old favourites, undiscovered treasures and brand-new music!

e - bass flute tips (Carla Rees)

In this session Carla will share tips for getting the most out of playing bass flute, focussing on how to adjust C flute technique to get closer to a distinctive bass flute sound. Topics covered will include setting up the instrument, posture and hand positions, breathing and air flow, alternative fingerings and finding repertoire. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and to try things out.

There will be a separate session for alto flute in the afternoon break out session.

Afternoon break out sessions

a - demystifying great flute tone (Gareth mclearnon)

Further information be provided in due course.

b - overcoming performance anxiety (marie-christine zupancic)

Further information be provided in due course.

C - take your piccolo playing to the next level (Helen Benson)

During this session, Helen will be focussing on overcoming piccolo specific challenges. Participants are welcomed to bring along aspects of their playing they'd like to focus on.

D - the collective sound (andrea Kuypers)

Learn how we can play better in a group by working as a team and using our collective imagination to create colours within your flute choir

e - Choir Directors chinwag (mel orriss)

Get together for a coffee and piece of cake with Mel, Sandy Hay and other flute choir directors to exchange notes and brainstorm ideas to keep your players engaged and inspired!

e - alto flute tips (Carla Rees)

In this session Carla will share tips for getting the most out of playing alto flute, focussing on how to adjust C flute technique to get closer to a distinctive alto flute sound. Topics covered will include setting up the instrument, posture and hand positions, breathing and air flow, alternative fingerings and finding repertoire. There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions and to try things out.

There will be a separate session for bass flute in the morning break out session.

Trade Stands

Throughout the day we will be joined by All Flutes Plus, Forton Music, Just Flutes, and Wonderful Winds who will both have trade stands for you to purchase from.

All Flutes Plus

All Flutes Plus have been serving the flute community for 40 years, and have a specialist team of friendly, dedicated and knowledgeable individuals to provide expert advice on instrument choice and repertoire.

Forton Music

Forton Music is dedicated to publishing music for all musical groups, across all styles and genres. They work with a large number of composers, and music is played by ensembles worldwide.

Just Flutes

Just Flutes have the largest specialist flute centre in the UK, and are renowned for their repair services, advice and supply of flute music. They have a specialist team of musicians to provide expert advice.

Wonderful Winds

Wonderful Winds offer a distinctive, unique and ever expanding collection of music for wind ensembles. The dynamic and talented team compose music that is guaranteed to be successful and rewarding for every player.

TICKET INFORMATION

Booking for tickets is now closed. Please contact us if you would like to be added to a waiting list.

Those who have purchased tickets will be contacted by us shortly to share further details of the event, and to confirm those who have successfully secured clinic sessions with our workshop leaders.

Venue

The festival will be held at The Ruddock Performing Arts Centre, Birmingham, B15 2UA. It is a collaborative venue between King Edward's School and King Edward VI High School for Girls designed to support high quality arts provision.

You can find out more about the venue here - https://www.ruddockpac.co.uk/about

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