Cultivating Unity: Highlights from the 2025 NFA Convention in Atlanta

Around 3,000 flutists from around the world were welcomed by our wonderful team of volunteers—thank you to everyone who took the time to make the convention better for everyone!

For most of the Convention, the Exhibit Hall was the place to be...

...where people could try and buy flutes...

...and add some new sheet music to their collections.

The NFA Lounge, featuring this year's artwork by Hal Ide and the new NFA sweatshirt.

This year's Program Chair Mariana Gariazzo (right) and Assistant Program Chair Cristina Ballatori put together four days of remarkable sessions, events, and concerts. NFA Photo.

At Thursday’s Beloved Community Gala, Valerie Coleman and the Atlanta Flute Choirs, conducted by Kelly Via, performed the world premiere of Nicole Chamberlain’s Beloved Community, commissioned by the NFA.

Quatour L'Esquisse—Florencia Jaurena, Esther Tissot Yoon, Elodie Roux-Aragau, and Johanna Sassano—played Ariel Ramírez’s Alfonsina y el mar, arr. by Silvina Wainszelbaum.

With pianist Beilin Han, Tadeu Coelho performed his arrangement of Waldir Azevedo’s Brasileirinho.

Ahmet Türkmenoğlu, Nery Kim, and Burak Besir after their performance of Besir’s Karma for Turkish ney flute and flute, bass, and piano.

Philippe Barnes performed two works—Midnight Accountant and Ali’s Reel—that he co-composed with Tom Phelan.

Tilmann Dehnhard offered a pick-me-up with his Wake Up for piccolo and alarm clock.

Robert Dick after his Sliding Life Blues.

Ramakrishnan Kumaran performed Herman Beeftink’s Blue.

2026 Program Chair Daniel Pardo played a number of works with the United States Air Force Band of the West.

Daniel Pardo and the United States Air Force Band of the West.

Thursday’s Gala wrapped with Wolf: Matt DeVore, Wes Grubbs, Melissa Keeling, Michael Keeling, Sam Lock, and Spencer Woods.

The dramatic interior of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

The message board near registration was always filled to the brim!

Carol Wincenc (center) celebrated her remarkable legacy with us this year. She's photographed here with NFA President Jennifer Grim and Program Chair Mariana Gariazzo. NFA photo.

Composer Lowell Liebermann gave this year's incredibly moving keynote address, which you can read in this issue of Flutist Quarterly.

Joanna Bassett and Ali Ryerson catch up at the Life Member and Donor Appreciation Reception.

NFA President Jennifer Grim, Steven P. Finley, and Zart Dombourian-Eby.

Alice Kogan Weinreb and Elizabeth Buck.

Ann Fairbanks, Terri Sundberg, and Katherine Borst Jones.

Previous Lessons Scholarship Program recipient Dane Frandsen and one of this year’s Frances Blaisdell Convention Scholarship recipients, Nathan Anderson. Both of them spoke eloquently about what the NFA's generosity meant to them.

Frances Blaisdell Convention Scholarship high school recipient Alice Hu also thanked the crowd for their generosity.

Nora Lee Garcia kicked off Friday’s Chamber Music Gala with the world premiere of Mariano Morales’s La ocho de Sylvia with violinists Carolyn Hancock and Michael Heald, violist Yinzi Kong, and cellist David Hancock.

Kim Scott-Strickland and Sonja Giles performed Ian Clarke’s A Winged Brocade.

Kim Scott-Strickland and Sonja Giles.

Matt Smith had introduced his Taken Voice, performed here by piccoloist Sarah Miller, pianist Pieter-Jan Verhoyen, and narrator Lucy Smith (Matt Smith’s daughter).

Applause for composer Matt Smith.

Julin Cheung wowed the audience with André Jolivet’s Chant de Linos.

Alexa Still and Dylan Masariego performed Efraín Amaya’s Pathways.

Wissam Boustany was joined by Carolyn Hancock, Michael Heald, Yinzi Kong, David Hancock, and Daniel Tancredi for David Heath’s Ascension.

Nicola Mazzanti brought the evening to a close with Mike Mower’s Sonata Bravata.

Danielle Breisach, Andra Bohnet, and Brittany Trotter.

The Exhibit Hall remained popular throughout the weekend.

The Performance Health Care Committee's The Doctor is In, with Chip Shelton, DDS.

The Memphis Flute Ensemble.

The Memphis Flute Ensemble.

2024 YAC Winner Sophia Jean accompanied by Greg Hankins.

There were 67 flute choirs at this year's convention...

...and loads of sessions filled with glorious music.

Youth Flute Day participants enjoyed a Saturday full of sessions and events.

A Youth Flute Day session.

More Youth Flute Day fun. NFA staff photo.

Youth Flute Day participants gathered and performed for the day's closing concert. NFA staff photo.

The winner of the 2025 NFA Mary H. Anderson Collegiate Flute Choir Award: the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Flute Ensemble, Erika Boysen, director (front row, third from left).

A performance by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro Flute Ensemble, winner of the 2025 NFA Mary H. Anderson Collegiate Flute Choir Award.

An array of members gathered to celebrate this year's awardees on Saturday evening, including Mary Stolper and Steve Kujala.

Sandy Saathoff and Patti Adams.

Pamela Stahel and Daniel Dorff.

Burkart Flutes’ Matt Howard, Karena Pezzullo, and Jonny Cosner.

Kim Scott-Strickland and Liana Tyson.

Leone Buyse, Wendy Herbener Mehne, and John Tuinstra.

Jonathan Keeble and Rebecca Johnson.

NFA's Executive Director Jennifer Clarke addressed the crowd.

Burkart Flutes’ Daniel Carlo and Ethan Lin-Schwartz gave a gleeful shout-out to their mentor, Lillian Burkhart, one of the two recipients of the 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.

2025 NFA Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Lillian Burkhart.

Sheryl Cohen accepts her 2025 NFA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jeffrey Barker and Jonathan Keeble gave festive presentations honoring Zart Dombourian-Eby, recipient of both a 2025 NFA Lifetime Achievement Awards and the 2025 NFA Distinguished Service Award.

Zart Dombourian-Eby accepts her Lifetime Achievement and Distinguished Service Awards.

The house was packed for Saturday’s Concerto Gala.

Ransom Wilson conducted Silvia Careddu and the orchestra for C.P.E. Bach’s Flute Concerto in D minor.

Ransom Wilson conducted Gaspar Hoyos in the world premiere of Carlos Guastavino’s Introducción y allegro

Conductor Raimundo Piñeda and flutist Julietta Curenton celebrate after performing James Lee III’s Niiji Memories.

Magali Mosnier thanks the audience alongside conductor Ransom Wilson during the bows for Claude Arrieu’s Concerto for Flute in G Major.

Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson wrapped-up the evening with the second-ever performance of Lowell Liebermann’s Concerto No. 2, Op. 142.

Lowell Liebermann applauds Stefán Ragnar Höskuldsson and the orchestra after the NFA Premiere of his Concerto No. 2, Op. 142.

The convention entered its final day—with still more to do!

Silvia Careddu (right) shares insight with Abagail Garner.

Program Chair Mariana Gariazzo with this year's NFA Office and Convention Intern Dante Cariño. NFA photo.

On Sunday afternoon, A Call to Unity Closing Concert & Ceremonies began with performances by Tadeau Coelho and the International Suzuki Flute Ensemble. NFA staff photo.

Zane Heisey-Grove showed off Tilmann Dehnhard’s Nice Shoes. NFA staff photo.

The U.S. Army Wind Quintet joined Amanda Harberg for her Excursions for Wind Quintet and Piano. NFA staff photo.

Sooah Jeon and Melody Shen were next up for Gary Schocker’s Three Dances. NFA staff photo.

Gregory Pritchard conducted the world premiere of Nicole Chamberlain’s Olympus, performed by Chamberlain, Mary Matthews, Karen Large, Jessica Stinson, Tramaine Jones, Tracy Woodard, Cameron Richardson, Clark Carruth, Shadwa Mussad, Sarah Kapps, Alana Bennet-Garcia, and Gabriel Monticello. NFA staff photo.

Matthias Ziegler joined the NFA Professional Flute Choir. NFA staff photo.

Some of the many low flutes performing during the closing ceremonies. NFA staff photo.

Tillman Denhard applauds everyone in the room who took part in the world premiere of his MYCELIUM, commissioned by the NFA and conducted by Ece Karşal. NFA staff photo.

Jonathan Cohen conducts the world premiere of his A Call to Unity. NFA staff photo.

NFA President Jennifer Grim conducts the traditional convention closing performance of Bach’s Air from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068. NFA staff photo.

Everyone with their flute played in the traditional closing performance of the Bach Air. NFA staff photo.