Hello friends! I survived the NFA convention and even got almost enough sleep. Everything went well. I am working on getting “Origins Overture” published on SheetMusicPlus.com (where all my published music lives). It should be out there by the time you read this. I have videos of each of my pieces that was performed and am working on cleaning those up for you. They will be on my YouTube channel soon.
For me this year, the convention brought a lot of connecting and re-connecting with new and old friends. I think because it was here in Portland, some locals attended who I don’t usually see at the NFA conventions. We had the largest turnout since before COVID, over 3000 flutists all running around the Oregon Convention Center together. Concert after concert after concert, lectures, presentations, competitions, panels, meet-ups. Falling into bed each night exhausted and happy and full of new ideas and inspiration.
The NFA is such a special community. We come together once a year for a few days and create a space that welcomes ALL flutists, all skill levels, all genres of music, all identities, all nationalities, all types of flutes. Modern, primitive, Eastern, Western; you name it, it was there. If you are a flutist and you are not a member of the NFA, check it out!
And let us not forget the vendor hall, where you can find anything and everything related to flutes and flute playing for sale. This year I came home with a new baby – an E-flat flute. I have recently been composing for E-flat so I decided it was time I got better acquainted with it. The E-flat is a third higher than the regular C flute. To my ear, it is more similar in sound to the piccolo than to the C flute, so I am fond of calling it an “alto piccolo.” My recent works that feature the E-flat flute are: “Origins Overture”, “Playing in the Currents”, “Variations for Solo E-flat Flute”, and “First Flight”.
Next year in Minneapolis! See you there!
Adrian Dee, flutist, composer 