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From the Fall, 2024 Issue - Highlights on Creative Mental Practice from The Mindful Musician, by Vanessa Cornett
This is a book for flute teachers and the advanced-intermediate through professional flutist, including the adult amateur musician. It would be especially relevant to advanced high school students through collegiate. It is an accessible read that is very broad and deeply rich in content; it’s chock full! A good part of the book is devoted to practical applications and exercises to bring the mindful musician principles to life and into our flute practice. The book has too much content to meaningfully provide highlights for the entire book. Therefore, here we focus on giving you highlights from one section within the chapter called - “Habits of Successful Performers” the subsection on “Creative Mental Practice.” Please read on for these highlights.
Link to Article: We Read The Minful Musician and Creative Mental Practice.pdf
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The Portland Piper Front Page Spring, 2025 News & Knowledge Sharing from the Greater Portland Flute Society |
To read the prior issue, click here: Winter 2025 Portland Piper |
Navigation Links for The Portland Piper |
The entire issue is below, simply scroll down. Use the navigation links below to go to the "column" webpages which have the current issue's articles on this frontpage as well as an archive of some past articles for that column. |
| Meet Our Commercial Members & Sponsors Please support GPFS sponsors and commercial members. These partners helpt to keep GPFS and the region's musical community going! A FEW COMMERCIAL SPONSORS NOW HAVE A VIDEO YOU CAN WATCH. Fun and informative! |
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GPFS News & Events
Congratulations to the 2025 Young Artist Competition Winners! Junior Division: First place : Owen Williams - Sonatine for flute and piano by Sancan. Teacher – Dr. Emily Stanek. $400 Prize Sponsor Hear No Evil. Second place: Sophie Chuang - Morceau de Concours by Gabriel Fauré. Teacher – Corrie Cook. $200 Prize Sponsor Canter Flute Repair Third Place: Addison McDonald - Variations and Theme by Anne McGinty. Teacher – Sandy Duffy Norman. $100 Prize Sponsor Hear No Evil Senior Division: First place: Emily Wen - Sonata for Flute and Piano, Robert Muczynski. Teacher – Denise Westby. $500 Prize Sponsor Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company. Second place: Lilia Niebuhr - Sonatine, Henri Deutilleux. Teacher – Dr. Sydney Carlson. $300 Prize Sponsor GPFS Board of Directors. Third place: Julia Shih - Valse from Suite de Trois Morceaux, No. 3, Benjamin Godard. Teacher – Adam Eccleston. $150 Prize Sponsor GPFS Members Learn more about the competition and all participants here: 2025 YAC Program
How to Stay Tuned with GPFS
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Call for Artists for the 2025-26 First Tuesdays Online with GPFS We are pleased to announce a fifth year of this online series! There will be four sessions – December through April. We are now calling for artists who are interested in volunteering for this series. We are also seeking ideas and suggestions for topics or artists you would like to see. Please email donnamaebori@gpfs.org to express your interest in providing a session or to share your ideas or suggestions by 6/30/25. Click here to learn more about the series and past presentations: GPFS 2025 FT Call for Proposals.pdf
New Commercial Member Please welcome Hear No Evil, our newest commercial member. We are grateful for their sponsorship of the first and third cash prizes for the 2025 Young Artist Competition Junior Division. Website: www.hifimonkeys.com Instagram: @hearnoevil1978 Facebook: www.facebook.com/hearnoevil1978 |
Meet Your 2025-26 GPFS Board Members Please meet our board members for the 25-26 GPFS season - Greater Portland Flute Society Board Members 25-26.pdf We welcome our newest board member Bruce Tabb. Bruce Tabb holds music degrees from Yale University, having studied flute performance with Thomas Nyfenger. Other teachers include Jean Pierre Rampal and Julius Baker. He placed in several national and international competitions and played in a number of orchestras throughout New York and Connecticut before joining the UO faculty as Rare Book Curator. Amy Norton is stepping down from the board but will continue her support serving as our Web Administrator. Cheryl Thompson Merrill is stepping down from the board but will continue her appointment as the C-flutes Rental Coordinator. Donna Maebori will be the new Secretary replacing Rebecca Olson Towers who will continue on this year as a Member-At-Large. Gabriela Gimenes will serve as Vice President/Artistic Director.
GPFS Applies for Another Sustaining Arts Grant for Small Arts Non-Profits In addition to being a proud, grateful, and third time recipient of an Oregon Arts Commission Small Operating grant of $2300 for the 24-25 season, GPFS applied for a similar grant for the 25-26 season. We'll know soon! Cross your fingers. |
Volunteers needed! Do you know of anyone? Are you curious to learn more? GPFS is currently looking for a few volunteers to fill three important positions. GPFS is a very flexible, friendly volunteer organization. Modest amount of time annually. Flexible time.
Training and mentoring as needed is available for all positions. No stress here! If you are curious or know of anyone you would like to recommend we connect with, please contact president@gpfs.org.
National Flute Association Convention in Portland for 2026! NFA will be holding their annual flute convention in Portland in 2026. You can stay informed about the event at their website - NFA Convention 2026 Website. GPFS will also provide you with regular updates. NFA will be relying on our regional flute community to help promote participation in the conference, create enthusiasm for regional performance and workshop proposal submissions, and encouraging area flutists to volunteer. |
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Teaching & Learning Column
(GPFS needs volunteer writers for this and other columns. Contact newsletter@gpfs.org.)
Know How to Assess How Your Flute Is Functioning At Flute Fair 2025, Sharon Floyd presented “Know Your Flute," a workshop on how to assess the working function of your flute. Not to become your own repair person, as bad things easily happen with that, but to assess its condition and have the language when talking to a flute repair person. She gave some good pointers, like wiping out your flute with lint free fabrics such as linen, silk microfiber or ultra suede. From there she showed detailed and specific ways to visually inspect your flute, and to test the qualities of action with working the various keys. Her information was impressive and we need to hear more from her! Link to Handout: Getting to Know Your Flute Handout by Sharon Floyd.pdf |
When It Hurts to Play Flute: Ergonomic Aids That Can Help the Pain By Erik Nugent From our flutist friends at FluteWorks Seattle, this article by Erik Nugent provides perspective on the common causes of hand pain as well as an overview of accessories that are relatively inexpensive and easy to put on and take off of your flute without the help of a technician. He also details some of the remediate steps that can be taken with the help of a technician. Flutists can contact Seattle FluteWorks for a free consultation on ergonomic aids and customizations. Link to Article: When It Hurts |
Snapshot Perspective on Musicianship from Vanessa Cornette With permission from Vanessa Cornette, author of The Mindful Musician: Mental Skills for Peak Performance, we share with you a perspective she shared on her Instagram -a posting she titled “Musicians Aren’t Meant To.” This posting felt like a simple yet powerful reminder worth sharing. You can visit Vanessa’s website and social media for more insights. Musicians Aren’t Meant To…
Instagram - @ mindfulmusician.vanessacornett From the archives, a link to GPFS Article: We Read The Minful Musician and Creative Mental Practice.pdf |
From the Winter 2025 Issue - Performance Anxiety Insights from Anna Congiliari On February 3rd, GPFS member, flutist, coach and educator Anna Conigliari presented and online workshop for GPFS called "Working with Your Performance Anxiety." Anna is an Altus Flutes Artist. This insightful, practical, inspiring, and motivating class was centered on performance anxiety and learning several techniques through live demonstrations. Two volunteers performed for Anna and received coaching and feedback and understanding and managing performance anxiety before, during and after a lesson, practice or performance. Here are a few highlights from her insightful presentation: Teaching and Learning - Performance Anxiety with Anna Conigliari.pdf |
Low to High Notes Column, Specialty Flutes (GPFS needs volunteer writers for this and other columns. Contact newsletter@gpfs.org.) |
E-Flat Flute Insights and New Repertoire In April, GPFS Flute Fair 2025 participants were treated to a unique and engaging program of pieces including E-Flat flute, curated and commissioned by Dr. Linda Bailey – “Quirky & Delightful E-flat Flute Northwest Premieres, Music for E-flat and C Flutes” performed by flutists Dr. Linda Bailey, Rhonda Bowen, Christina Steffen, and Jim Turner. Read this short article to learn more about the E-flat flute - Low to High Notes Column - E-Flat Flute Insights and New Repertoire Spring 2025.pdf |
From the Winter Issue - I Will Not Be Sad in This World by Eve Beglaria for Alto Flute (or Bass Flute) and Pre-recorded Audio Eve Beglarian – an American composer – composed this beautiful, entry level flute and electronics piece for the solid intermediate to more advanced flutist. It is 6:30 in length. Published by Theodore Presser, the sheet music comes with an audio file. Link: I Will Not Be Sad in This World Sheet Music A few recordings of it by different flutists can be found on YouTube. Here is one option as performed by flutist Lindsey Goodman. Link: Recording by Goodman The recording is adequate, but does not quite fully sound the electronic vocal montage underpinning the electronics. The electronic accompaniment to the flute part is actually very detailed and rich in the moving lines and harmonies. The piece leaves a lot of room for playing along and, ultimately, improvising. It is very relaxing to play. | CONTINUED: Link to Eve Beglarian’s website page on the piece, including links to performances: Eve Beglarian Webpage “Based on an Armenian troubadour song, I WILL NOT BE SAD IN THIS WORLD is a uniquely beautiful work for alto flute (or bass flute) accompanied by a pre-recorded audio track made purely from the composer’s own singing. The result is a fluid interplay between the live flute and the composer’s multi-tracked and processed vocal sonorities. The work was created for Marya Martin’s “Eight Visions” collection (published by Presser), and is now available as a single publication.” (Theodor Presser website for the piece) | Glissando Flute Headjoint & Resource Wow! Fascinating! When did this arrive on the flute scene - the glissando headjoint by Robert Dick? It feels like a "must try!" Maybe there will be some to try at the NFA convention in Portland in 2026!? Link: The Glissando Headjoint Honeyheart Music (2020) presents 'The Glissando Flute: Handbook for Composers and Performers' (2020) by Melissa Keeling with an introduction by Robert Dick. Keeling says about this book, ''The Glissando Flute' is a handbook for composers who wish to explore new possibilities, performers who have a Glissando Headjoint and are ready to get started, and anyone curious about new music." |
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Musician/Ensemble Profiles (GPFS needs volunteer writers for this and other columns. Contact newsletter@gpfs.org.) |
We have no new flutists or ensemble profiles for this issue. Watch for the next issue coming out this summer.
Please enjoy past profiles at: | If you are a flutist or an ensemble in Oregon who would like to have a profile in The Portland Piper please message contact@gpfs.org with your request. |
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Repertoire News & Reviews |
New Librarian Judy Fischbach Reminder Regarding Donations to the GPFS Lending Library Thanks to your generous donations our library is currently at capacity. We do still maintain a wish list of music we could use to significantly improve the GPFS lending library’s modern music selections. If you wish to donate new or lightly used music from this wish list, this document will explain how to do this and a few of the pieces we are hoping to purchase or add to the library. Do you have sheet music you would like to rehome? If you have sheet music you are ready to part with and you want to give it to other members, we can help. We will put you in touch with members interested in free sheet music. Contact the librarian at library@gpfs.org. Would you like to be included on the list of members interested in receiving free sheet music? Contact the librarian at library@gpfs.org. |
New Edition of the Twelve Telemann Fantasias, by Dr. Leonard Garrison This year GPFS had the privilege of Dr. Garrison’s performance of a selection of the Telemann Fantasias, twice - for the evening concert and on flute fair day. His edition of Telemann’s 12 Fantasias for solo flute published by Theodore Presser is a Winner in the Solo Flute category of the National Flute Association’s Newly Published Music Competition. “This unique edition from Leonard Garrison is a remarkable compendium of resources, including Garrison's suggested ornaments based on Telemann’s own ornamentation style as documented in Telemann's Methodical Sonatas, enlightening prefatory sections on style elements, performance practice, and specifics of each Fantasia, and the complete authentic Telemann manuscript. A fascinating deep dive into authentic historical performance practice, this edition is a must for students and professionals alike.” (Publisher’s website) | TELEMANN FANTASIAS CONTINUED: You can listen to his performance of all twelve of the Fantasias on streaming services such as Apple, Spotify and YouTube. There is also a worthwhile YouTube by the New York Flute Club with Leonard on playing the Fantasias. With permission from NFA, we have included below a link to an article he wrote for the Fall 2020 issue of The Flutist Quarterly, journal of the NFA, in which he “explores a spectrum of the printed and recorded versions available today.” Link: To Purchase Edition About: Leonard Garrison
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Flute Repertoire from Regional Composers For Flute Fair 2025, GPFS coordinated a table in the exhibit hall featuring flute repertoire by regional composers. Eight composers provided a list of their repertoire for flute - Adrian Dee, Deena T. Grossman, Lisa Neher, Nicole Buetti, Paul Safar, Phyllis Avidan Louke, Sarah Bassingwaite, and Lisa Ann Marsh. If you missed the table at Flute Fair you can find the lists in this issue of The Portland Piper. We hope to repeat this representation of regional composers at next year’s flute fair, possibly expanding our outreach. If you have composers of flute music in the general region you would like to see included please share this with Donna Maebori, who led this project for the Fair, at donna.maebori@gpfs.org. |
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News from GPFS Members and Flutist Friends Around the World Column
Folias Duo at U&I Event Center in Tigard Join Folias Duo for one of two special concerts in the Portland area. This event, sponsored by CDZ Collegium Musica and Mary’s Woods Chapel, will showcase Folias Duo’s favorite original pieces, including music from Andrew’s Great Lakes Suite. Folias Duo at U&I Event Center
Folias Duo at Mary's Woods Chapel
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World Class Flutists Featured in Chamber Music Northwest's Summer Festival - June & July Flutists Tara Helen O'Conner and Emi Ferguson are coming to Portland this summer as part of Chamber Music Northwest's 2025 Summer Festival!
You Are Invited to Sofia Peck’s Senior Flute Recital Sofia Peck is an extraordinary young flutist who studies with Jessica Bartlett. Sofia is performing a recital to celebrate her graduation from high school! It will be on Saturday, June 7th at 1:30 at the Multnomah Arts Center in Multnomah Village. She will be performing the Borne Fantaisie Brillante on themes from Carmen, movements from the Bach Partita, Doppler’s Fantasie Pastorale and others. The community is welcome, no charge. |
LAST REMINDER! FLUTE BOOT CAMP 2025 Celebrating Year #18 as the premier flute camp in the PNW July 7-11 9:30-3:00 The Rise Church, Tigard, Oregon For flute fun, friends & fundamentals! It’s fantastic! For Intermediates-Advanced Players (HS Senior grads included) Large Ensembles, Small Ensembles, Games & Gala Recital!! SPECIAL GUEST MASTERCLASS: Zach Galatis, Asst. Professor of Flute, Portland State University, Solo Piccolo/Flutes, Oregon Symphony! GREAT COACHES! Sydney Carlson, Professor of Flute (Emerita), PSU, Portland Opera Adam Eccleston, Principal Flute, Orchestra Nova, MYS winds coach Denise Westby, Adjunct faculty PSU, Founder of Flute Alliance. For registration: flutealliance@gmail.com , or 503-764-8027, www.flutealliance.com, or find Flute Alliance on Facebook Discount if registered by May 7th. |
Recorded Premiere of Trio Version of 2020: The Year We Could Not Breathe A trio version of 2020: The Year We Could Not Breathe by Adrian Dee received its premiere April 5, 2025 at the Greater Portland Flute Society annual Flute Fair. Here is that performance by Alexis Evers, Savannah Gentry and Robert Wakeley.
Invitation to Attend the Body Mapping Conference at PSU this Summer - "What Every Musician Needs to Know About the Body" - June 18th, 2025
New Composition by Composer Adrian Dee - Agnus D.E.I. “(March 2025) I am watching the systematic dismantling of our federal government, and all the achievements of the Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, and Gay Rights movements of the past hundred years being erased too easily. I wanted to write something to mourn this. It is full of sadness and dismay. Don’t let the dissonance offend you. Dissonance is rich with texture and expression and longing and hope. I originally wrote it for flute quartet or flute choir. I have also made an arrangement for string quartet. Sheet music is available at SheetMusicPlus.com. Here are links for the flute choir version, and the string quartet version. You can listen to a computer rendition of the flute quartet version on Adrian Dee’s website. Link to Adrian’s Compositions: https://adriandee.com/music/ |
Noteworthy |
Noteworthy - This column for The Portland Piper was conceived and developed by GPFS member Sue Bonfeld. It is a short list of curated videos, interviews, podcasts and performances of interest to musicians of all levels, but outside the scope of GPFS’s curated Flute Resources webpage. Note, this robust webpage is updated regularly and all suggestions are welcome – please just email us at newsletter@gpfs.org. |
NASA astronaut plays 100-year-old Irish flute while floating in outer space
Read in Classic FM, includes a link to video: https://apple.news/AwohNnI5eRO6RSvqj2NLWWQ |
We Read Column
 From the Winter Issue - Beginners Mind, by Yo-Yo Ma, A Free Audio Book Download “I realize, perhaps for the first time that I had to learn the cello to become a musician, and that it was only through decades of musical exploration that I came to understand my responsibility as a human being.” This newsletter editor recently listened to Beginner’s Mind by Yo-Yo Ma, released in April, 2024 by Audible. I highly recommend this short, but deeply rich listen – about two and a half hours. Read by Ma, this is the journey of his life as a person, musician and cellist from his childhood, teenage years, college study, summer music festivals, friendships, collaborations, passions and philosophies, global exploration and so much more. | CONTINUED: Also enjoyable, this audible story is infused with recordings of his playing. The musical selections beautifully illuminate the elements of the story. This book is part of Audible’s ‘Words + Music’ initiative. Learn more about the book and listen to it FREE here or through Audible. Link: The Beginner's Mind. You can also listen to his interview about the book with NPR. Link: Ma Interview with NPR. |
General Information to Know About |
A Baker's Dozen of Opportunities - A request for volunteers for the current and upcoming program year - please take a quick look and consider volunteering in a way that fits best for you! <Read> Writers Needed: Please consider contributing to the content of this publication by writing reviews, articles, sharing your awareness of flute resources and events, photography or anything else you can think of - newsletter@gpfs.org. |  There's a Little Time Left! Can you help GPFS reach our goal of $1500 in donations this year? This year, we are committed to raising money to help support our youth Student Study Grants. Learn More: Student Study Grants It's not too late for you to donate and every little bit counts! GPFS Donation webpage. Thank you! Track our progress below! Goal: $1,500.00
Collected: $765.00
51%
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C-Flute Loan Program for Members - The flute loan program is available to members in good standing for short term and long term rental of flutes. We have beginning, intermediate and advanced flutes available for rent. The cost is nominal at 25$ per three months, with the first three months free. Members interested in checking out a flute short term can contact Cheryl Thompson-Merrill at library@gpfs.org. Interested in donating a flute? If you have a flute in good working order that you would like to donate, contact Cheryl Thompson-Merrill at library@gpfs.org.Flutes - Flute Loans for Students |
| Fred Meyer Community RewardsThis program makes it easy for you to donate to the GPFS with the shopping you do every day! To connect your Fred Meyer Rewards Card to the GPFS, CLICK HERE |
