March 7 & 18, 2025
Location TBA
We are thrilled to announce that our Miyazawa-Sponsored Guest Artist for this year’s convention is Nicole Esposito –international flutist and Professor of Flute at the University of Iowa!
Schedule
March 7, 2025
4-9pm
Sonata Competition
March 8, 2025
9am-5pm
– See Detailed information on scheduled events below –
9:00 am – Flute Yoga with Sally Humphreys (Concert Hall)
9:30 am – Morning Warm-Ups with Nicole Esposito (Concert Hall)
10:00 am – Masterclass with Nicole Esposito (Concert Hall)
11:00 am – Teacher Networking with Brittni McDonald (Band Room)
12:00 pm – Lunch and Visiting the Vendors (Lobby)
1:00 pm – “Hi Barbie” Recital featuring Dr. Adrienne Read, Dr. Tia Jaynes, and Rachel Christensen (Band Room)
2:00 pm – Artist Performer Competition Finals (Concert Hall)
2:00 pm – Video Game Workshop with Anna Lisa Davidson (Choir Room)
3:00 pm– High School Scholarship Competition Winners Recital (Concert Hall)
3:30 pm– Nicole Esposito Recital (Concert Hall)
4:30 pm – Sonata Competition Winner Announcement (Concert Hall)
MountainWest FluteFest Day
*a sneak peek into our MountainWest FluteFest 4-day festival we hold in the summer!*
This year we will have a second event, designed for our younger flutists, that runs simultaneously with the convention. The MountainWest FluteFest Day is a discounted and shorter convention designed for our younger flutists, grades K-10. Compare the two schedules and see which one works best for you!
11:00-12:00 – Hand Position Class (Theory Classroom)
12:00pm – Lunch and Visiting the Vendors (Lobby)
1:00 – Flute Craft: Paint Your Own Bamboo Flute! (Theory Classroom)
Receive a six-hole bamboo flute to paint, decorate, keep, and play! Led by Katrina Young
2:00 pm – Video Game Workshop with Anna Lisa Davidson (Choir Room)
3:00 pm– High School Scholarship Competition Winners Recital (Concert Hall)
Registration
Pricing
All day member: $20 (Please note if you are also participating in the Sonata Competition, that will be a separate, additional registration and payment.)
Single event member: $8
All day non member: $30
Single event non member: $12
MWFF Day: $15
Lunch is available for Preorder with your registration. All lunches are $5 and are nonrefundable after the sign up deadline. Lunch orders may be made until March 1st.
Schedule Details
Flute Yoga with Sally Humphreys
Come as you are for a half hour of gentle stretches and seated meditation. Flutists already know how to breathe – learn to use that powerful tool to open up the body and prepare for practice, performance, or just everyday living. Come learn the best stretches for flutists, and how to use your breath to calm your body and mind!
Morning Warm-Ups with Nicole Esposito
Masterclass with Nicole Esposito (Performance Spots Available!)
Only 3 spots available! Sign-ups will close once filled. Register for the masterclass as one of the three participants in the member registration page under the convention section, found here!
Teacher Networking with Brittni McDonald
Have unanswered questions about teaching the flute? Feel as though you’ve figured some things out and want to share the love? Come to Networking Hour- Flute Teacher Speed Dating! Take a few minutes to get to know another teacher and exchange your brilliant ideas. Current, former, and prospective teachers.
“Hi Barbie” Recital
Featuring Dr. Adrienne Read, Dr. Tia Jaynes, and Rachel Christensen (Large Music Classroom)
Artist Performer Competition Finals
Watch the three finalists for this year’s Artist Performer competition perform Sonata in F by Amalia of Prussia, and Danza de la Mariposa by Valerie Coleman. The winner will be announced along with all the other winners at the beginning of the final recital with Ms. Esposito.
Video Game Workshop with Anna Lisa Davidson
An interactive workshop for flutists of all levels where they will use basic listening skills to start improvising & composing without needing to know oodles of theory. All video game music in the presentation will be by female composers.
High School Scholarship Winners Recital
Congratulations to our winners of the High School Scholarship Competition, which took place in January!
1st Prize – Madeleine Miller
2nd Prize – Hannah Boster
3rd Prize – Maggie Whitings
Celebrate our three winners of our annual High School Scholarship competition, made possible by the generosity of our Anonymous Donor. All winners are current highschool seniors living in Utah.
Nicole Esposito Recital
See Artist Bios in Featured Artist Section Below!
MountainWest FluteFest Day
11:00-12:00 – Class 1 (Small Rehearsal Room 1) – Hand Position
Banana Fingers, Rolling Flutes, and Wandering Thumbs – Oh My! : Find Your Best Hand Position
Learn how to train your fingers, hands, and wrists to avoid the perilous pitfalls of inefficient movement and tension. Taught by Katrina Young
1:00 – Class 2 (Small Rehearsal Room 1) – Flute Craft
Flute Craft: Paint Your Own Bamboo Flute!
Receive a six-hole bamboo flute to paint, decorate, keep, and play! Led by Katrina Young
OR attend “Hi Barbie” Recital happening at the same time
2:00 pm – Class 3 – Video Game Workshop with Anna Lisa Davidson(Large Music Classroom)
3:00 pm– High School Scholarship Competition Winners Recital (Concert Hall)
Featured Artists
Nicole Esposito
A charismatic and versatile flutist, Nicole Esposito is the flute professor and head of the woodwind area at The University of Iowa School of Music, where she is the recipient of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Collegiate Teaching Award and International Teaching Engagement Award, and also serves as a Permanent Visiting Professor at the University of Chile.
She has achieved a career as a soloist, chamber and orchestral musician on an international level having been featured across the United States, Europe, Central and South America and Asia and is a sought-after master teacher at festivals, universities and conservatories around the world. Professor Esposito holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Michigan.
She has published articles on Banddirector.com, The Flutist Quarterly, Flute Focus and Flute Talk Magazines and can be heard on the Albany Records, MSR Classics and Con Brio Recordings labels. Esposito’s most recent recordings include “Dancing in Dreams” and “Intersections” with Turkish harpist Çagatay Akyol, both released on MSR Classics. Her primary flute teachers include Jeanne Baxtresser, Amy Porter, Marianne Gedigian, Jennifer Steele, and Catherine Payne, with additional study with Mark Sparks, Alberto Almarza, and Doriot Anthony Dwyer. Nicole Esposito is Miyazawa Flutes, Burkart Piccolo, and LefreQue Performing Artist.
Mitchell Giambalvo
Dr. Mitchell Giambalvo moved to Salt Lake City on a whim right before the pandemic. Originally from Pennsylvania, he received his doctorate from Florida State University in piano performance. He went back to complete a second Masters degree in collaborative piano before teaching piano at Troy University in Alabama. After moving to SLC in 2019, Giambalvo is highly active in collaborating.
On staff at the University of Utah where he is a vocal diction coach for singers and works with instrumentalists, Giambalvo is also a pianist with the Utah Symphony, works with faculty at UVU, BYU, and U of U, as well as performs on the NOVA Chamber Series.
Sponsors & Vendors
Sponsors
- We are grateful for the generous support of our Anonymous Donor, committed to creating meaningful opportunities for Utah flutists of all ages.
- The Zoo, Arts, and Parks Foundation. The mission of the Zoo, Arts & Parks (ZAP) Program is to enhance Salt Lake County resident and visitor experiences through art, cultural, and recreational offerings. ZAP currently provides support for 233 arts and cultural nonprofits.
- Special thanks to Summerhays Music for donating to our Convention lunch!
Booths
MountainWest FluteFest
The Utah Flute Association’s 3rd annual summer festival is perfect for students ages 6-18. It will be held June 26-29, 2024 at the Waterford School in Sandy. Come check out our booth to learn more!
Riverton Music
We have been servicing local music communities for over 50 years! Our reputation and convenient store locations have earned us the title of “Utah’s Community Driven Music Store”. We offer Band & Orchestra Rentals, Professional Instrument Lessons, Step-Up Instruments, Sheet Music, Pianos, Guitars, Recital Halls, Repair Services and more.
Together we can Keep Music Strong within our community!
Miyazawa Flutes
Makers of the revolutionary Brögger System and exclusive Cresta Series. Quality handmade flutes and headjoints available in precious metal combinations. Welcome to the Colors of Sound. Welcome to Miyazawa.
Pro Flutes
Dealer of Professional and Intermediate Flutes. Brands include: Miyazawa, Powell, Muramatsu, Altus, Sankyo, Haynes, Burkart, Azumi, Resona, Sonare, and many more.
Burkart Flutes
For over four decades, Burkart Flutes and Piccolos has crafted instruments that define excellence and set a standard for unparalleled quality. Our commitment to innovation is fueled by the desire to make beautiful instruments that stand the test of time and unleash the artists’ inner voice. As a 100% employee-owned company, every instrument is crafted with care and each individual involved in the process has a direct stake in the instruments they create.
Brannen Flutes
Carolyn Nussbaum Flutes
Haynes Flutes
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, the Wm. S. Haynes Company is the oldest, continually manufacturing flute company in the world. For over 130 years, the legendary Haynes sound has been sought after by flutists everywhere. Today, we are proud to offer this iconic sound to every level of player. Stop by, say hi, and allow us to welcome you the Haynes family.
Sankyo Flutes
Exquisitely crafted flutes handmade in silver, gold, and wood. Explore a tradition of artistry through the richness, beauty, and sound of Sankyo Flutes