VOLUME XXXII, NO.S3 PRING 2007 THE LUTIST QUARTERLY THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL FLUTE ASSOCIATION, INC Table of CONTENTS THE FLUTIST QUARTERLY VOLUME XXXII, NO. 3 SPRING 2007 DEPARTMENTS 5 From the President/Chair of the 76 From Your Convention Board of Directors Manager 9 From the Editor 77 ¡Viva La Flauta! Planning Your Trip 13 Letters to the Editor to Albuquerque 15 High Notes 78 From the Development Director 19 Across the Miles 79 From the Treasurer 23 NFA News 81 Passing Tones 26 Student Spotlight 84 New Products 29 Notes from Around the World 32 Canadian News 86 Reviews 40 35 The Inner Flute 94 NFA Office, Coordinators, Committee Chairs 71 From the 2007 Convention Program Chair 97 Index of Advertisers FEATURES 40 Felix Skowronek: On Stage with the Soni Ventorum Wind Quintet by Megan Lyden One year after the death of Felix Skowronek, his wide-ranging legacy is recalled— as a flutist and teacher, valued NFA leader, advocate of the wooden flute, and founding member of one of the world’s longest-lived wind ensembles. 48 Commissioned Works from the High School Soloist Competition: A Brief History of the NFA Event by Ronda Benson Ford As the NFA, now in its fourth decade, sits poised on the threshold of the future, this article reflects back, documenting the creation of one of the organization’s many valuable assets: the annual high school soloist competition. 52 Samuel Baron: Artist, Teacher, Mensch 52 by Katherine Fink In this year noting the 10th anniversary of his death, a former student and colleague recalls the talents and temperament of flutist Samuel Baron, whose pedagogy was so legendary that his words of advice have come to be known as “Baronisms.” 58 Summer 2007 Masterclasses compiled by Tony Watson Cover Photo: Courtesy the collection of Felix Skowronek THE NATIONAL FLUTE ASSOCIATION 26951 RUETHER AVENUE,SUITE H SANTA CLARITA, CA 91351 FOUNDED NOVEMBER 18, 1972 IN ELKHART,INDIANA This magazine is published quarterly by the National Flute Association, Inc., a nonprofit organization. The statements of writers and advertisers are not necessarily those of the National Flute Association, Inc., which reserves the right to refuse to print any advertisement. ISSN 8756-8667 2007 National Flute Association, Inc. 48 26 nfaonline.org Spring 2007 The Flutist Quarterly 3 OFFICERS Founder, Honorary Life President Mark Thomas 824 Charter Pl. Charlotte, NC 28211-5660 phone/fax: 704-365-0369 [email protected] President Alexa Still Sydney Conservatorium of Music Macquarie St. Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia 011 61 2 93511266 fax: 011 61 293511287 (attn: Alexa) [email protected] [email protected] Vice President Patti Adams 2840 Coliseum St. New Orleans, LA 70115 504-895-5908 [email protected] Immediate Past President Katherine Borst Jones 4635 Rutherford Rd. Powell, OH 43065 740-881-5008/614-292-4618 fax: 740-881-5252 [email protected] Secretary Carol Dale Department of Music University of Mississippi Scruggs Hall 131 Oxford, MS 38677 662-801-2978 [email protected] Treasurer Teresa Beaman Department of Music CSU, Fresno 2380 E. Keats Ave. Fresno, CA 93740-8024 559-278-3975 [email protected] Assistant Secretary Lori Akins 5113 Glenaire Dr. Dublin, OH 43017-9479 614-766-1838 [email protected] BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Aitken (2006–2008) 14 Maxwell Ave. Toronto, ON M5P 2B5 Canada 416-481-4967 fax: 416-481-0040 Zart Dombourian-Eby (2006–2008) 2515 10th Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98119 206-285-0206 [email protected] Amy Porter (2006–2008) 1647 Broadway Ann Arbor, MI 48105 734-623-4853 [email protected] Joanna Bassett (2007–2009) 85 Maywood Ave. Rochester, NY 14618 585-383-0650 [email protected] Beth Chandler (2007–2009) 626 Sunrise Ave. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 540-574-3772 fax: 540-568-7819 [email protected] Hal Ott (2007–2009) Department of Music Central Washington University Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-963-1103 fax: 509-963-1239 [email protected] From the PRESIDENT Transforming the NFA he NFA has achieved remarkable The most visible decision of our recent success in fostering a myriad of work was the creation of a formal market- Tflute-related activities and provid- ing strategy. Assuming all goes according ing a way for us to share our passion with to plan, we will introduce a new, profes- each other. In fact, the NFA has grown so sional development/marketing director at successfully, it has taken on a life of its the 2007 convention and launch our own. During my NFA service as a board fundraising and membership drive when member, program chair, and now presi- everything is in place. dent, I (and others) have come to realize We also have devised guidelines for that the NFA is impressively busy doing an seeking corporate sponsorship of NFA incredible amount, but without the sense convention events. Hand-in-hand with of direction that could most effectively this is our new policy regarding promo- utilize our collective efforts. tion at NFA events, which will be detailed Decisions—and changes—are initiated in your convention program. This policy through a systematic, twice-a-year will help enhance our convention while process. The full board of directors, con- retaining affordable registration fees. sisting of the executive committee (presi- Other results of our recent reorganiza- dent, immediate past-president, vice pres- tion work will be seen gradually. We are ident, secretary, and treasurer) plus six busy trying to put in place structural Alexa Still board members, takes care of business changes that will require full board during the annual convention, being approval and a revision of the bylaws. sequestered away for meetings early each These include renaming positions to align and a direction for fundraising efforts and morning, plus a day or two beforehand. the organization with terms that for-prof- marketing. This is especially vital when the This is the only time we can gather all of it businesses understand (see my byline full board meets only once a year. these volunteers together in one place. For for an example); slight changes to our Further into the future, more of our many years, the five members of the EC terms of office in the interest of continuity plans from this winter will come to have also held supplementary midwinter (taking effect with new elections); the fruition. Please check the NFA Web site meetings in January to work on interim board’ inner workings; and the nomina- often. I will post updates on our progress business and special issues. tion/election process. there—and, beyond these nuts-and-bolts At the conclusion of the 2006 summer Subject to the full board’s approval, we organizational details, you also will find board meetings, the EC was charged with are making significant changes to the “cul- many other important updates about creating a vision for the NFA’s develop- ture” of how the NFA has been operating. NFA and convention happenings. ment program. In the winter 2007 issue of We needed to recognize that the structure Most immediate among these are the The Flutist Quarterly, I discussed the need was working most unusually, with the biographies and statements of our nomi- for our endowment to grow to make our board managing many aspects of operat- nees for the 2007 elections. This year we dreams possible. We were at that stage ing NFA’s business. This organization also debut our on-line voting process! where it seemed logical to seek out a con- began as a handful of volunteers, and has While we are busy with this work, we sultant but weren’t sure where to begin. In grown through the labor of many more want you to be planning your trip to a remarkable answer to our prayers, we volunteers. Because we have so many Albuquerque, bringing your students, were generously provided with profes- wonderful people contributing so much sional guidance from the Duquesne for this big organization, it is extremely your friends, your fans! This issue contains University Institute for Non Profit important to have lines of communica- enticing information, but you will want to Leadership—for expenses-only cost. At tion and responsibility very clear. On a be in New Mexico this August to fully our midwinter meeting, we held a retreat pragmatic, day-to-day level, the increasing understand how good a convention can with an advisor from this organization. difficulty of achieving that clarity under be. Nancy Andrew has been plotting this This retreat work was inspirational and our current system has resulted in intense with a rare intensity. Her love of the productive. It became apparent that, to micromanagement of the staff, hamper- Southwest will make this convention a dis- develop efficiently and achieve our wish ing their ability to do their jobs. On a more tinctly special one, and her ambition to list, we needed to make the organization big-picture scale, freedom from managing program the best of the best is unstop- much more cohesive and streamlined. We many of the organization’s routine tasks pable. Join me in August, when we can live finished our midwinter meeting full of would allow our board and committees to out the words of our new mission state- hope, energy, and confidence that the NFA work independently toward artistically ment: Enriching the musical lives of flutists. can be a profoundly important institution driven goals within the NFA’s vision. The for even more flutists, and we have a great association needs the board of directors to —Alexa Still plan for heading in the right direction. focus more on the vision, the future plan, President/Chair of the Board of Directors nfaonline.org Spring 2007 The Flutist Quarterly 5 2NC[ YKVJ EQPHKFGPEG <RX·YH SROLVKHG WKH PXVLF WR SHUIHFWLRQ (YHU\ QXDQFH HYHU\ QRWH 7KH FRPSHWLWLRQ LV VWURQJ EXW \RX NQRZ \RX·YH JRW ZKDW LW WDNHV <RXU 0L\D]DZD ZDV EXLOW WR SHUIRUP VR \RX FDQ SOD\ ZLWK FRQILGHQFH³HYHQ XQGHU SUHVVXUH 0L\D]DZD <RXU IOXWH IRU OLIH ZZZPL\D]DZDFRP LQIR#PL\D]DZDFRP Burkart instruments are at once beautifully hand-crafted works of art and ultimate performance tools for the flutist.