The Second Winds' meeting on Sunday, December 5th, proved to be a grand one, with ten people attending, one of whom is a new member from Durham. We hope Bob will become a regular!

Also, our beloved Twila Kelly and Ami Allgeier added fun and festivity to the meeting; we do so appreciate their being with us.

After a fun social time, we enjoyed playing Christmas carols as a group. Then those who had prepared solos/duets performed their pieces. Support for one another has never been greater!

Thanks to all who came to the meeting.

The next meeting of Second Winds has been scheduled for Sunday, February 13th. Come one and all! For more information, call or e-mail Mary Croghan (919-835-4378; croghanm@gmail.com) or consult the RAFA website(www.raleighflutes.org).

The date for Solo/Ensemble Fest is now set for Saturday, April 2. The event will be held in the afternoon (2:00 - 6:00 pm) at Meredith College's Wainwright Music Building.

Open to all ages and levels, this event has two options. Participants can choose to enter the solo category and/or can choose to enter as a small ensemble (duet, trio or quartet). Awards are given based on performance, and each participant also receives a written review.

The music list is divided into six levels: Grades A through F. The solo category requires flutists to play scales, etudes, and solos from the music list, while the ensemble category requires only the performance of the duet, trio or quartet selected from the music list. Grade levels should be assigned according to the performer's ability and determined by the teacher. Questions can be directed to coordinator Anne Dyke at 919-755-2267 or annedyke@aol.com

Music list, rules, and registration form will be available soon at www.RaleighFlutes.org.

 
(front row L to R) Sarah Fox, Jane Zhao, Ana Solana, Lindsey Trounson, Christine Chen;

(2nd row) Lauren Robbins-Pollack (Contest coordinator), Moira Conley, Andrea McKerlie,

               Laura Arevalo-Gallego, Katie Moore, Adam Eydelson;

(3rd row) Catie Lucas, Katherine Gora Combs, Margaret Sloyer, Christy Van Nostrand, Emma Xu;

(back row): Helen Kim, Paige Breen, Jake Beerel, Koya Osada, Yusheng Zhang, Taryn Fulkerson.

Not pictured: Rachel McIrvine, Christopher Raiche, Nicola McIrvine, Perry Dubow, Michelle Liu

As a winner of Review & Contest division 3, Christopher Raiche was selected by the judges to be this year's recipient of the Anusha Vasudeva Scholarship Award. Chris is a seventh grader at Carroll Middle School in Raleigh and studies flute with Susan Fritts. Established by RAFA and Anusha's family after 12-year-old Anusha's death in April 2007, the award keeps alive the young musician's dreams and love of music. Anusha was a 2006 RAFA Contest winner in division three and was also an enthusiastic participant in many other RAFA programs, including Silver Pipes Flute Choir and the annual springtime Solo Fest.

RAFA's Flute Fair on November 13 brought more than 125 flutists of all ages
together for a rich and inspiring day filled with learning, listening, and
exploring! Here are just a few of the day's highlights. . .

The day included a celebration of RAFA's 25th anniversary! Sharing in the festivities were three of RAFA's co-founders, pictured left to right: Ginny Zehr, Ann Pearce, and Rosene Rohrer. Note the shiny new flute Ginny is proudly holding--a flute she had just purchased that day from one of the exhibitors!

Flutists of all ages and levels crammed into one of the afternoon workshop sessions, unpacked their instruments and music stands and made beautiful music together in the flute choir session conducted by Sonja Noykos. Pictured left to right are Jake Beerel (partially hidden), Vicki High, Annette Rogers, Sarah Fox, and Sarah's mother/teacher Missy Fox.

The day culminated in a delightful recital of orchestral transcriptions for flute and piano performed by (left to right) pianist Deborah Hollis and flutists Aralee Dorough and Catherine LeGrand.

The concert included the haunting melody of Barber's Canzone performed on this fascinating instrument, an UpRite flute designed by flutemaker Sanford Drelinger especially for guest artist Aralee Dorough. Audience members were invited to test it out after the concert!

As part of RAFA's 25th anniversary celebration, we invited members and former guest artists to share their thoughts about RAFA. Here's a sample of the responses we received.

First, from our members. . .

I travel around the U.S. to many different flute associations to teach performance confidence, and I feel that we at RAFA work together in a more friendly and efficient manner than most other clubs. I'm grateful for the enrichment I receive from RAFA and for all my dear RAFA friends and colleagues!  

--Helen Spielman

I would never have had lunch with a famous flute performer (we talked about marching band) without your master classes. There are just so many opportunities with RAFA. Thanks!

--Samantha

Returning to the flute as an adult gave me joy and that joy was enhanced threefold through my membership and active involvement in RAFA. I found connections with others who shared my passion and enthusiasm, not only on the RAFA Board and activity with the choirs, but especially the Second Winds. Here, among mature musicians, in a nurturing, supportive environment, I found associations that will last a lifetime. This I know, because when lung disease forced me to give up my beloved instrument, the friendships continue. I am forever thankful.

--Twila Kelly

Lotsa flutes, lotsa fun!

--UNCG Flutists

After moving to Raleigh from Boston in 1988, I received a phone call from a Rosene Rohrer, who introduced me to the existence of the Raleigh Area Flute Association. Since then, this wonderful organization has helped me and my students connect with flutists from the Raleigh area, the state of North Carolina, the USA, and the world. Over the years, RAFA has provided its members numerous offerings and opportunities such as student and professional flute choirs, contest/review events, master classes, concerts, and more recently a way to connect unused flutes to needy flute students. I want to thank the founding members, especially Rosene Rohrer and Ann Pearce, for creating such a positive and enlightening organization. Congratulations, RAFA, for 25 years of being the heart of our flute world here in Central North Carolina!

--Julie Frederick

RAFA is one of the reasons I moved to the Triangle!

--Catherine LeGrand

What a fantastic organization! I'm proud to be a part of it - and so appreciative of what it offers!

--Mary Croghan

And from our guest artists (some of whom are also RAFA members!) . . .

RAFA has been an inspiration for me for a quarter century, and an incredible gift to the Triangle area and beyond. My students and past students have been challenged and have grown enormously through the performances, ensembles, competitions, workshops, masterclass and personal interaction with other RAFA members and guest artists. Words cannot fully express my gratitude and appreciation to the entire association, and especially its wonderful leadership over the years. Here's to another 25 years!!!!

--Brooks de Wetter-Smith (UNC-Chapel Hill)

Congratulations on 25 fantastic years! Where to begin? RAFA has been a most marvelous resource, both for me and for my students over the 17 years I have taught at ECU. You have been so supportive, both professionally and personally. You've given my students a wonderful outlet for gaining performance experience and checking out flutes and equipment through the Flute Fair, and many of the enduring relationships I have with other flutists in North Carolina have also come about through RAFA. I have consistently found RAFA to be a positive and inspirational force in the flute world. . .from the competition to the guest artists from absolutely everywhere to the cross-fertilization of ideas and musical styles, your offerings have always been and remain very rich.

--Christine Gustafson (ECU, Greenville)

Congratulations to RAFA for its 25th anniversary! Thank you for promulgating the study and the appreciation of the flute in North Carolina. Go RAFA!

--Tadeu Coelho (UNC School of the Arts, Winston-Salem)

RAFA was the very first flute club to invite me as a guest artist rather early in my career. It was a meaningful experience to me to share in your community for the day, hear the inspired performances of the young flutists, and learn about the depth of flute playing around our country. Best wishes for your next 25 years!

--Marianne Gedigian(Austin, TX)

Flutists in North Carolina are fortunate to have the Raleigh Area Flute Association as an incredibly valuable resource! This group provides wonderful performing and learning opportunities for all age and ability levels! With national and international stars coming in for concerts and masterclasses, regional artists performing for (and learning from) each other, competitions for all ages, and various teaching workshops and other presentations, this flute club is the most effective and helpful one I have ever seen. The professional flute choirs allow students and teachers to hear and experience flute chamber music at its highest level (and see contrabass flutes for the first time!) Many thanks to the organizers and hardworking flutists who have made this organization possible - especially Rosene Rohrer and Ann Pearce and those who have served on the Board. I am personally very grateful to all of you!!

-- Mary Jo White (UNC-Wilmington)

RAFA has been a flute oasis for me and for our students at Appalachian State; we are thankful to have been inspired by so many meaningful flute events over the years. We appreciate the stellar leadership and have the greatest admiration for such a caring, dedicated, and high integrity organization. Happy 25th RAFA!!!

-- Nancy Schneeloch-Bingham (ASU, Boone)

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Raleigh for the Flute Association. I felt genuinely welcomed and very well-treated. I thought the masterclass was full of attentive listeners, and students eager to learn. Congratulations on 25 years; that's a great milestone!! Cheers!
-- Bart Feller (Principal Flute, NYC Opera)

Congratulations to RAFA on 25 years of encouraging and inspiring flutists of all ages with wonderful programs and opportunities!
-- Debra Reuter-Pivetta (Salem College, Winston-Salem)

I remember my RAFA recital and masterclass with great fondness. Rosene Rohrer, Helen Spielman, and other RAFA leaders foster a vibrant, active flute community. Congratulations to RAFA on its first 25 years - here's to many more memorable musical experiences.

-- Mimi Stillman (Yamaha Artist, Philadelphia)

I have very fond memories of being a guest artist of RAFA; wonderful people and hospitality with, of course, great flute enthusiasm. In fact recalling the whole experience gives me a huge grin; lovely people and making music on the flute together ... what more could you ask!? Keep up the great work. Very best wishes!

-- Ian Clarke (London flutist, teacher & composer)

I loved being part of the RAFA Association; it was magical! What a stellar organization!
-- Rhonda Larson (Grammy artist, Michigan & Italy)

Congratulations to the RAFA on its 25th anniversary! I have such happy memories of my visit to Raleigh...Your hospitality was simply the best! And I greatly appreciated the fact that your association was very open to hosting an unusual program involving flute, voice, and piano. This gave me an opportunity to share with all of you the talents of my dear friends and long time collaborators, soprano Mimmi Fulmer of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and pianist Barbara Lister-Sink of Salem College in Winston-Salem. Thank you for creating such a welcoming atmosphere that afternoon. Music-making and teaching in that kind of environment is a true joy!

-- Leone Buyse (Shepherd School of Music, Texas)

Let's be creative for RAFA! Our fundraising committee is proposing we produce an eye-catching bookmark to promote RAFA. We could hand it out at all events and make it available to members to give away to whomever they wish as they are in other settings. It's high time we change the notion that we are one of the "best kept musical secrets" in the area. Let's work to spread the word, build some familiarity of our organization, and therefore generate supportive fans. What we need is a terrific flute graphic with great color, etc. That's where you come in. Are you an artist or do you know of one who'd like to help us out? Once we have a bookmark design, we plan to use an online company to produce high quality bookmarks that would represent us well. The text will be descriptive of RAFA in very simple terms, and our tax exempt status would be clear. Please contact Ann Pearce (787-4142 or ann@pearce.net) with your suggestions about the graphic artist who is our new "best friend"!