2025-2026 Season Events

Mark your calendar and plan to join us for another exciting season of flute events!

Sept 13-14, 2025   FLUTE FEMS Music for multiple flutes by or about women
Oct 26, 2025   Review and Contest
Nov 7-8, 2025   RAFA Artist Competition
Nov 8, 2025   RAFA Flute Fair
March 2026   Flute Choir Day
April 2026   Solo and Ensemble Fest
May 2026   RAFA Members’ Recital
Aug 2025 – May 2026   Flute choirs


FLUTE FEMS Music for multiple flutes by or about women

You are invited to attend some fun events at Duke University’s Nelson Music Room on September 13 and 14. In collaboration with Mallarmé Music, NC-based Flute4 and guest artist Trudy Kane will perform “FLUTE FEMS Music for multiple flutes by or about women.” In addition to coming to the concert, you can also participate as a player or attend Trudy’s masterclass. We hope to see you there.
— Carla Copeland-Burns and Emma Morris

SCHEDULE
September 13, 3:00 p.m.: Rehearsal with Trudy for the Bizet Community Play Along and Puccini 10 parts.
September 14, 12:30 p.m.: Masterclass with Trudy Kane. Attendance is free and open to the public.
September 14, 3:00 p.m.: Flute Fems with Flute4 and Trudy Kane.

ARTISTS
Trudy Kane, former principal flutist with the Metropolitan Opera, professor at the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, and recipient of the 2024 National Flute Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, will conduct three of her arrangements of opera music for multiple flutes:

  • Georges Bizet/Trudy Kane: Carmen Suite (Community Play Along)
  • Giacomo Puccini/Trudy Kane: Intermezzo from Manon Lescaut for 10 flutes
  • Richard Strauss/Trudy Kane: Finale from Der Rosenkavalier
Flute4, featuring Carla Copeland-Burns, Erin Frechette, Amy Orsinger-Whitehead, and our wonderful guest flutist Laura Dangerfield Stevens, will perform selected works by Jessie Montgomery, Elizabeth Brown, Jennifer Higdon, Catherine McMichael, and Valerie Coleman.

Members of the Duke University Flute Studio and the Raleigh Area Flute Association will perform in the larger ensembles, and intermediate through professional players are welcome to join the Community Play Along (see FAQ for details).

FAQ
I want to play in the Bizet Carmen Suite/Community Play Along. Whom do I contact?
Go to the Mallarmé Music website to read about the event, and follow the link to the participant form.
Where can I buy concert tickets?
At the Mallarmé Music website or at the door.
Where is the Nelson Music Room?
See the Duke campus map showing the location of the Nelson Music Room. You can search “duke maps” for directions. Parking is free on weekends and is available on the East Campus, where the Nelson Music Room is located.

These events are presented through Mallarmé Music, Yamaha, the Raleigh Area Flute Association, and the Duke Music Department.

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Review and Contest (41st annual)

Sunday, October 26, 2025
1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
Ravenscroft School
7409 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh, NC

Flutists of all ages perform solos for judges’ comments. Contest winners receive scholarships and participate in the Student Showcase recital at the RAFA Flute Fair on Saturday, November 8.

See Review and Contest for the guidelines, repertoire lists, and registration.

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RAFA Artist Competition (10th annual)

Friday-Saturday, November 7-8, 2025
Highland United Methodist Church
1901 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC

National-level competition for advanced flutists age 17 and above; $1750 in prizes. Friday evening’s Semi-final round is open to the public. The Final round will be held during the Flute Fair on Saturday, November 8.

See RAFA Artist Competition for details.

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RAFA Flute Fair (36th annual) with guest artist Megan Torti

Saturday, November 8, 2025
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Highland United Methodist Church

1901 Ridge Road, Raleigh, NC

The day’s offerings will include the Final round of the 10th annual RAFA Artist Competition and the Student Showcase recitals featuring winners of the 2025 Review and Contest. Vendors will be on site with flutes and accessories for sale.

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Flute Choir Day

March 2026
Details TBD
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Solo and Ensemble Fest (22nd annual)

April 12, 2026
Details TBD
Graded repertoire examinations for all ages; participants can choose to enter the solo and/or ensemble category. Each solo participant prepares a solo and etude from their chosen division, as well as specific required scales. Ensemble participants prepare one ensemble piece; no etude or scales are required for ensembles.

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RAFA Members’ Recital

May 2026
Details TBD
This end-of-year recital features RAFA members performing in solos, small ensembles, and flute choirs. Invite family and friends, and enjoy an afternoon of music. Bring light snacks to share for a celebration after.

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Flute choirs

August 2025 – May 2026

RAFA offers six flute choirs in the Triangle:

Carolina Flute Choir (beginner/all levels, all ages)
Triangle Flute Orchestra (intermediate level, all ages)
Durham Flute Choir (intermediate level, all ages)
Flutastix (intermediate level, high school junior through adult)
Synchronicity (intermediate level and above, all ages)
City of Oaks Flute Ensemble (advanced level, all ages)

See Flute Choirs for information.

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