West Michigan Flute Association
Festival
Great Lakes Flute Festival
We envision this event as an annual celebration of artistic expression, creativity, and connection—an opportunity to foster vibrant community spirit. Over 100 presenters, performers, students, and attendees engaged in meaningful networking as well as immersive hands-on classes and workshops that explored performance, pedagogy, and creativity. Participants were inspired by world-class performances from the region’s finest flutists, culminating in a heartwarming finale where most registrants united to form a grand flute orchestra.
Students embraced the opportunity to challenge themselves by showcasing their talents in youth competitions and receiving valuable feedback from adjudicators. More than 100 concert-goers enjoyed a fantastic free final concert featuring excellent flute ensembles from Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, the WMFA Orchestra, and all our festival participants. The Great Lakes Festival became a transformative experience, allowing flutists to grow musically, emotionally, and interpersonally while forming lasting connections throughout the day. Ultimately, enriching their lives through the day’s inspiring events.
“Flutists and flute enthusiasts had an opportunity to connect and grow as a community. We know from the study of world music that community-based music culture correlates with non-violence and happier societies that can more easily cope with the human condition, In ethnomusicologist, Turino’s book, Music as Social Life: Turino (2008) conceives of music not as a single art form but as a term that refers to various activities essential to modern human life that foster social integration. One aspect of music’s importance is the link it provides between the Actual of our day-to-day lives and the Possible, which includes dreams, hopes, and ideals; and he finds that the perception of the Possible is most often manifested through communal musical acts. The event aimed to be a participatory learning opportunity for students and an enriching and inspiring experience for all levels of flute players and enthusiasts and was successful.
Abigail Walsh, Program Chair
Our Vision for GLFF
“Our vision for the festival and what it provides in the broader and more practical levels: An opportunity to engage the flute community of West Michigan: to inspire and educate teachers, community members and students which will in turn create a more robust, inspired flute/music community, and a happier society that can more easily cope with the human condition. From the study of World Music, we know that more community-based music culture correlates with non-violence.
To provide prospective flutists and flute teachers the opportunity to associate the Great Lakes Flute Festival as an inspiring place to study music, and where building community is valued. To provide current middle school, high school, and college flute students with the opportunity to learn from flutists and musicians about a variety of relevant topics, who have various strengths, perspectives, and playing styles. In addition to showing them by example that when you have an idea, you can make it happen through hard work.”
Abigail Walsh, Program Chair.
