Raleigh Area Flute Association December Newsletter

Newsletter of the Raleigh Area Flute Association

Tune In

December 2008

Banish the January Blues:

Join a RAFA Choir

The RAFA Flute Choir program gears up Sunday, January 4 and has something for everyone! Looking for a laid-back leisure choir to accommodate a hectic schedule? Then the Silver Winds might be just the ticket. Maybe you prefer a more rigorous program? Your best fit might be one of the ensembles requiring an audtion: the Silver Pipes or the Silver Fantasy. Some players participate in more than one!

Check out the rehearsal and performance schedule to find your best fit. Audition time slots are already filling, so be sure to contact the directors soon!

In November the Silver Fantasy entertained a full house at Glenaire Retirement Community with a program
entitled, "Come Dance With Us!" Both the Winds and Pipes shared the program as well as
the Dancing Divas, a community-based, non-profit, dance troupe.

Just a few of the RAFA members who participated in the Chrismon service at
North Raleigh United Methodist Church. Muscians from all three RAFA choirs, the RAFA Second Winds
and even a few other RAFA friends joined together for the evening service.

Laura Gilbert Comes to the Triangle

Using Marcel Moyse's Tone Development Through Interpretation, New York Flutist Laura Gilbert will present a two-hour workshop on Saturday, February 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Umstead Park United Church of Christ.

Free to RAFA members and open to all ages and levels! Flutists should bring selected melodies from Moyse's Tone Development Through Interpretation to play in the class. Ms. Gilbert will address a variety of flute playing issues from the angle of expressive and melodic playing of a line.

Laura Gilbert will also perform a concert, "Who's Afraid of New Music?" in Durham at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 8, as part of the Mallarme Chamber Players "At Home" Series. These unique concerts feature fine music and fabulous food in an intimate setting. Tickets: $50 includes food.
Be in the groove with exciting, approachable new music that includes a world premiere for flute, viola and guitar by Duke's Scott Lindroth, as well as gems by Antonio Molina and Robert Beaser.

Laura Gilbert, flute
Jonathan Bagg, viola
Matthew Slotkin guitar

Flute Fair Highlights

Guest artist Ian Clarke inspired and dazzled flutists of all ages during the November Flute Fair. Additional events included several afternoon workshops, a participatory session with Ian Clarke, and an exhibit hall featuring the latest flutes, music and accessories. Click on the picture at right to view several more Flute Fair photos.

Appreciation for the day's events are best expressed by the following comments sent to RAFA:

Thank you to the (RAFA) board for organizing such a fantastic flute fair. Ian was spectacular on all levels and I am grateful to have gotten to hear him again. As I've now had the opportunity to go around the country and experience other flute organizations, I can tell you for sure that RAFA is one of the best organized anywhere.

~Helen Spielman, Chapel Hill flute instructor and performance anxiety coach

We really enjoyed the flute fair. Seema got her new flute, the flute workshops and the help with the all district solo was great, and the concert was a special treat. Our sincere thanks for the RAFA team for bringing such wonderful programs and great artists.

~Savitha Ravishankar, RAFA parent, donor & volunteer extraordinaire!

I really enjoyed the lecture on Native American flutes and about balance in our lives. Wasn't Ian Clark wonderful! Amazing what he could do with the flute. A really great experience!

~Lillian Maxwell, adult amateur flutist

Solo Fest 2009

RAFA's 5th annual Solo Fest will be held Saturday, March 21 (Please Note Date Change!!) at Meredith College, Wainwright Music Building. Open to students and adults, each participant prepares solos, etudes and scales according to the syllabus. Awards are given based on excellence of performance. Be sure to check the rules for additional information and submit a registration form no later than February 20, 2009.

Anusha Vasudeva Award Presented

At the Contest Winners' Recital on November 14, the 2nd annual Anusha Vasudeva Scholarship Award was presented to James Woodward, a ninth-grade home-schooled student from McLeansville (NC) and student of Linda Cykert. Established by RAFA and Anusha's family after the young flutist's death in April 2007, the award keeps alive Anusha's dreams and love of music. Anusha was a 2006 RAFA Contest winner in division three.

James Woodward (second from right), is honored as the recipient of the 2008 Anusha Vasudeva Memorial Scholarship.
(l to r) Jeff and Deborah Woodward (parents to James), Anusha's mother Lalitha Vasudeva and sister Vaishnavi,
Scholarship Winner James Woodward and Anusha's father Vasudeva Ramachandra