Touring with the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra has presented several European concert tours, including France in 2001, Ireland in 2008, Germany, Austria and Slovakia in 2012, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic in 2014, England and Scotland in 2016, Iceland in 2018, Belgium and Luxembourg in 2022 and Switzerland in 2024. In addition to these European concert tours, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra was selected and performed during the National Flute Association Conventions in 2000 (Columbus, OH), 2006 (Pittsburgh, PA), 2009 (New York City, NY) 2011 (Charlotte, NC) and 2015 (Washington DC).

Switzerland 2024

Celebrating the 20th anniversary season of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra Festival, the mighty MET presented four amazing concerts –  the first in Groton, Massachusetts and then in Basel, Lens and Weggis, Switzerland.  With a theme of Metropolitan Mountain Top Celebration, the MET performed a wide variety of beautiful music, representing many different mountaintop musical experiences.

Opening with the exciting “Dance Nègre from African Suite” by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, the audience was transported to the mountains of Sierra Leone.  Each concert featured many mountain and Swiss references such as Phyllis Avidan’s Louke’s beautiful “Mountain Prayer from Of Mountains, Lakes and Mischief”,  “Dance of the Dryads” by Swiss composer Joachim Raff, well known Swiss folk song “Lueget vo Bärg und Tal -Look from the Mountains and Vales” by Ferdinand Huber and Leonard LeBow’s energetic “Ride the Matterhorn”.  After the MET’s visit to the Matterhorn, we referred to this thrilling piece as Rode the Matterhorn. The audience was also treated to Jonathan Cohen’s stately “Usonia” and Antonin Dvorak’s ”Allegro con fuoco” from his New World Symphony.   Amanda Harberg’s stunning “Prayer” touched the hearts of both performers and audience alike.   Concerts also included two original compositions by director Paige Dashner Long.  With a jammin’ blues line “ContraJam!” had the audience tapping to the beat. In commemoration of the 20th anniversary MET Flute Festival, the orchestra premiered Long’s “Metropolitan Flute Fantasy”, including many Boston musical references, concluding with a mash-up with snippets of “Stars and Stripes” and “Yankee Doodle.” It was very gratifying to perform for a highly appreciative audience of over 650 people at the impressive Groton Hill Music Center in Groton, Massachusetts. We received two standing ovations and the audience kept clapping for more encores.

For the MET’s first Swiss concert, we were joined by two well-known Swiss flutists, Matthias Ebner and Stefan Keller.  The ensemble enjoyed performing for a full house at the Don Bosco Music and Cultural Center in Basel. Our second concert was at the Paroisse in Lens, a beautiful venue with amazing, but challenging acoustics.  Our music swelled through the high ceilings of the church and filled every corner.

For our final concert in Weggis, the MET was thrilled to have the internationally renowned flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway in our audience!  They were highly appreciative of our performance and graciously agreed to having their picture taken with us.  Overlooking the breathtaking shores of Lake Lucerne and the surrounding mountains, this was a spectacular experience for all!

Sightseeing included the beautiful Swiss cities of Zurich, Basel, Bern, Interlaken and Lucerne, plus mountain top visits to the Matterhorn and Mount Pilatus. We enjoyed a day trip to the medieval village of Colmar, France and explored the idyllic mountain village of Crans Montana, Switzerland. This village offers an impressive view of the chain of mountain peaks from the Matterhorn to Mt Blanc.  Of course no trip to Switzerland would be complete without tasting Swiss chocolate.  At the Lindt Chocolate Museum, we were treated to as many samples and varieties of chocolate as we wanted and saw the amazing 30 foot tall Lindt chocolate fountain. Our final night in Switzerland included a traditional Swiss dinner, yodeling, dancing and some of us even played alpine horns!

Presenting concerts and  traveling with dear flute friends, seeing spectacular scenery, enjoying fabulous culinary treats, and having the incredible experience of performing for Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway made the MET’s Swiss concert tour a once in a lifetime experience.

Belgium and Luxembourg, 2022

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, in summer residence at Groton Hill Music Center in Groton, Massachusetts, presented an exciting concert tour in Belgium and Luxembourg, July 2022.  Directed by Paige Dashner Long, the MET presented concerts in Brussels and Bruges, Belgium, as well as in Koerich, Luxembourg.  With a theme of The Dancing Flute, the MET performed a wide variety of beautiful music, representing many different types of dances.

Opening with the exciting “Fanfare” by Belgian composer Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens, the large appreciative audience was thrilled to hear music by one of their own composers.  Each concert featured many dances such as Alexandre Luigini’s “Allegro non troppo from Ballet Egyptien”, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s “Danse Negre from African Suite” and Paige Long’s “Dancing Dessert Suite” with Chocolate Truffle Tango, Sacher Torte Waltz and Lemon Merengue Pie.  The audience was also treated to dancing squirrels, performing Herman Beeftink’s “Squirrels”.  Bernhard Henrik Crusell’s “Orchestral Quartetto in D Major” was a delightful addition to the program.   The heart warming performances of “A Love Letter to Sharyn”, Jonathan Cohen’s exquisite musical tribute in memory of MET flutist Sharyn Byer, touched the hearts of both performers and audience alike.   Concerts concluded with Karissa Dennis’ “A Prayer for Peace” and Paige Long’s “Bach to the Fluture” – with movements featuring a theme from a Bach cello suite and an Irish gig, as well as pairing a Bach minuet with American rock n roll.

An amazing Art Nouveau building, the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, was the venue for the first concert. Before the concert, Paige noticed a young Belgian girl who briefly stood in front of the conductor’s podium and was practicing conducting.  So, Paige asked the girl’s mother if her daughter might want to conduct the encore, “March of the Belgian Paratroopers” by Belgian composer Pierre Jules Pieter Leemans.  The eight year old young musician was thrilled to conduct and did a great job.  Audiences also enjoyed clapping to the marching beat as we played. 

In Bruges, the MET performed to an overflowing audience in Pickery Hall, in the famous Belfry Tower in the heart of the medieval old city center. Plus, it was a real treat to have in our audience Matt Johnston and Bill van Steenburg owners of ALRY Publications.  Matt, originally from Florida, arranged two of the pieces we performed on this tour – Lemmens Fanfare and Leemans March of the Belgian Paratroppers.

The historic Chateau de Koerich in Luxembourg was the venue for the MET’s final concert on tour.  With a history dating back to the 12th century, this magnificent chateau was not only a concert venue, it was also where a fabulous post concert reception took place, including delicious sparkling local wines from Luxembourg. In this unique and idyllic setting, the MET performed to a full and enthusiastic audience and Paige gave an interview to a local news program.

Sightseeing in Brussels included the incredible Grand Place, the Royal Palace, Saint Michael and Saint Gudula Cathedral, Manneken Pis, and more. City tours of Antwerp, Ghent and Bruges included charming medieval centers and canal boat rides. Enroute to Luxembourg City, stops were made at Ardennes, the famous Mardasson Memorial and the Bastogne War Museum, learning about the importance of this region during World War II. Luxembourg City had medieval, classical and contemporary architectural styles, with picturesque bridges.  In Beaufort Luxembourg the ensemble visited a renaissance castle and chateau, complete with a tasting of a famous local liquor – Cassero. The American Cemetery, where General Patton is buried, was both educational and sombering.

Due to a European airline strike, the MET enjoyed two extra days in Luxembourg, so unexpected and delightful day trips were made to historic Trier, Germany, on the banks of the Moselle River and Echternacht, Luxembourg.

Fabulous concerts in amazing venues, large, enthusiastic audiences, great friends, delicious food and chocolates all made this an incredible concert tour, with lifelong memories.

Touring members of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra 2022 Concert Tour were Martha Beesley (MA), Sallie Brainard (MA), Claudia Brill (FL), Amy Clark (FL), Jonathan Cohen (MD), Georgianna Crump (FL), Noreen Friedman (MD), Kelly Gallivan (MA), Wendy Gill (FL), Laura Gustavsen (NY), Jay Kast-Tuttle (MA), Cheryl Lionarons (FL), Phyllis Avidan Louke (OR), Townes Osborn Miller (MI), Eve Marie Nezich (MA), Mary Norris (SC), Lisa Norton (CA), Francine Pancost (CA), Carol Peabody (MA), Tammy Roggen (FL), Debra Schild (NY), Martha Uhey (CA) with percussionists Sam Louke (OR) and Claudia Pearce (MD).

Iceland, 2018

In July of 2018, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, in summer residence at New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, presented an amazing concert tour in Iceland.  Directed by Paige Dashner Long, the MET presented concerts in Reykjavik, Skalholt and Akureyri. The ensemble performed beautiful music representing Iceland, as well as music inspired by nature. In addition, prior to heading to Iceland, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented a concert in New England Conservatory’s renowned Jordan Hall as part of the 17th Annual New England Conservatory Summer Metropolitan Flute Festival.

The internationally acclaimed Harpa Concert Hall in Reykjavik was the venue for the first performance on tour.  In the amazing main concert hall, Eldborg Hall, of the famous Harpa, a joint concert was presented with the outstanding Icelandic Flute Ensemble.  The concert opened with the Icelandic Flute Ensemble, directed by Hallfriour Olafsdottir,  performing two pieces by Icelandic composers - Bara Grimsdottir and Kolbeinn Bjarnason.  Next, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra performed Mendelssohn’s Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Louke’s Canyon Dreams, and Dresner’s Transgressions and Permutations. Then the audience was treated to an unusual piece scored for contrabass flutes, Cohen’s Metropolitan Contrarians, composed for and dedicated to the mighty contrabass flute section of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra.  Grieg’s In the Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt Suite No 1 concluded the MET’s portion of the program.  Then the two ensembles joined together to perform three beautiful Icelandic folk songs, Long’s newest composition, Flutenado – A Flutistic Meteorological Musical Wonder, and ended the program with Sibelius Lemminkainen’s Return.  The enthusiastic audience insisted on an encore, which was Strauss Thunder and Lightning Polka.

In addition, the ensembles dined together, enjoying exquisite Icelandic cuisine with panoramic views of Reykjavik.  In appreciation, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented some American music to our new Icelandic friends, only to be surprised by their generous gift of Icelandic music to us.

Concerts in Skalholt and Akureyri included additional compositions, inspired by nature such as Anderson’s Fire, Ice and Other Miracles, de Falla’s Ritual Fire Dance, and Grieg’s complete Peer Gynt Suite No 1.  In Akureyri, flutists were treated to a tour of the Tonlistarskolinn (music school) located at the Hof Cultural Center, where the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented their final concert on the Icelandic tour. 

Sightseeing included erupting geysirs, massive waterfalls, famous bubbling mud pots, towering lava formations, towering mountains, idyllic valleys, purebred Icelandic horses, whales, puffins, and geothermal spas. Wonderful music, great new musical friendships, delicious Icelandic culinary treats, in an incredibly scenic country, made the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra’s Icelandic Concert Tour an unforgettable and amazing experience.

England and Scotland, 2016

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, in summer residence at New England Conservatory in Boston, Massachusetts, presented an exciting concert tour in England and Scotland, July 2016.  Directed by Paige Dashner Long, the MET presented concerts in London and York, England, as well as in Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scotland.  The ensemble performed beautiful music representing England and Scotland – Flute Fling! with some American Flute Bling! In addition, prior to heading across the “pond,” the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented a concert in New England Conservatory’s renowned Jordan Hall as part of the 15th Annual New England Conservatory Summer Metropolitan Flute Festival.

Each concert included a little “knight music” such as Sir Edward Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No 4, Sir Edward German’s Three Dances from Henry VIII and Jonathan Cohen’s lyrical new work The Legend of Llyn Llech Owain, a tone poem depicting Sir Owain, a knight of King Arthur’s court.  In addition, audiences were treated to American music with Peter Senchuk’s jazzy piece Lower Wacker Drive and Eventide Soliloquy composed by director Paige Long.  Well known classic, Felix Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides Overture, delighted audiences throughout the UK. Concerts concluded with two energetic Celtic pieces, Peter Martin’s Mixing the Malt and Doreen Carwithen’s Suffolk Morris. 

The magnificent Hampton Court Palace, a 1,000 room tudor palace on the banks of the Thames River just outside of London, was the venue for the first concert of this tour. The audience was treated to an original work for flute ensemble by British composer Keith Amos entitled Hampton Court Palace.  Each of the movements tells a musical story of the palace, including a movement dedicated to the statesman for whom the palace was built – Cardinal Wolsey, as well as a movement about the famous Astronomical Clock. It was an amazing musical experience for all to perform this work in the palace that was the inspiration for the music.

Next the ensemble traveled to the quaint old city of York, England to perform at the historic St. Helen’s Stonegate Church, located right in the heart of the old city center.  The over flowing audience kept asking for more encores. The final concert piece, Mixing the Malt, was a favorite and the composer, Peter Martin, was in the audience.

From York, the ensemble visited the scenic Lake District of England, following the footsteps of poets, taking a leisurely boat ride and sampling the world famous Grasmere gingerbread.

Heading into Scotland, the next stop was Glasgow where the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented a joint concert with Flute Phonics, directed by Aisling Agnew.  At Renfield St Stephen’s Church in the old city center, each ensemble performed separately and then joined forces to perform Oriss’s Towards the Blue Horizon.  Commissioned for The Big Flute Challenge in Belfast 2014, Towards the Blue Horizon is a setting of five folk songs from the British Isles. The two ensembles spent a wonderful day together, rehearsing, performing and enjoying the musical exchange. The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra looks forward to future collaborations with their new Scottish friends!

The final concert of the 2016 tour was held in the amazing Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle, perched high on Castle Rock, at the top of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.  Serving as the chief place for royal ceremonies and banquets throughout centuries, the Great Hall is steeped in historic events and now is home to an impressive collection of armory. One might have mistaken the contrabass flutes of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra for part of the massive collection of armor.  Our enthusiastic audience filled the hall and swelled beyond. Performing in this Great Hall was a rare treat and a thrilling end to the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra 2016 Concert Tour to England and Scotland!

Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic, 2014

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra concert tour to Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic was a resounding success, with concerts in Budapest, Hungary; Krakow, Poland; and Kromeriz and Prague in the Czech Rebuplic.  With a theme of “A Bohemian Flute Rhapsody”, the ensemble performed beautiful music representing the countries we visited, including von Suppe’s Pique Dame Overture, Liszt’s ethereal Angelus! Prayer to the Guardian Angels, and the exciting Danse Slav by Chabrier.  Two well known and loved classics, Dvorak’s final movement from the “New World” Symphony and Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No 2, captivated audiences everywhere.  In addition, audiences were treated to American music with a jazzy rendition of two spirituals, Eventide Soliloquy by director Paige Long and Cohen’s L’Esprit des Petits Enfants.  Each concert venue was filled to capacity, with some concerts having standing room only.

To an enthusiastic audience of over 1,100 in the historic St. Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra’s opening concert was a benefit concert, raising money for a Hungarian children’s charity.  To be selected to perform in such a magnificent venue, with an overflowing audience, was an incredible start to the concert tour. 

Next the ensemble headed to Krakow where we performed with Polish flutists in the Renaissance Room of the Polonia House, in the old city center.   There is a permanent exhibition of posters, photographs and memorabilia connected with Frederic Chopin in the Polonia House.  It was great fun meeting and performing with Polish flute professor Renata Guzik from the Academy of Music in Krakow. 

The Palace of the Archbishop’s in Kromeriz, Czech Republic, the third concert venue, is a majestic palace steeped in history.  In this palace Emperor Franz Joseph 1 took over the throne, Russian tsars and Austrian emperors held strategic conferences, and visiting dignitaries have stayed, including Pope John Paul II.  The large, ornate concert hall, where the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra performed, was used in the filming of the movie Amadeus.  In addition to the incredible rooms of the palace, the sculptured lawns and gardens were beautiful. 

In Prague’s Old Town Square, just steps away from the famous astronomical clock, is the beautiful St. Nicholas Church, where the ensemble played the final concert of the 2014 concert tour.  With resounding standing ovations at the end of every concert, audiences keep asking to hear more music.  The sound of this spontaneous applause is music to the ears of the flutists in the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra.  This truly was an incredible “Bohemian Flute Rhapsody”!

Germany, Austria, and Slovakia, 2012

In July of 2012, flutists from the select ensemble of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented an exciting concert tour, performing concerts in Munich, Germany; Hallstatt Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia and Vienna, Austria. Musical selections included works from German, Austrian and Slovakian composers, as well as American composers. The music was a wide variety of classics such as the Scherzo from Beethoven’s Symphony No 6, the first movement of Mozart’s Symphony No 41, “Jupiter”, Brahms Hungarian Dance No 5, Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance No 7, as well as Coleman’s Pontchartrain, ending in New Orleans jazz and traditional American shaker tune, Simple Gifts, sung by percussionist Elizabeth MacDonald. The crowd pleasing encores were eBow’s Ride the Matterhorn and Strauss II Tritsch-Tratsch Polka.

Within the ensemble on tour, there were three American composers: Jonathan Cohen in the contrabass section; Laurence Dresner in the percussion section and Paige Dashner Long as director and sub contrabass flute in G. The ensemble performed Cohen’s Notes From the Flock; Long’s award winning composition Eventide Soliloquy, as well as a new flute orchestra work by Dresner, Funk and Variations.

In Munich, the ensemble presented a joint concert with the Munchner Flotenensemble. (Munich Flute Ensemble) The ensembles performed separately, as well as joining together to perform the first movement of Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Klengel’s Hymnus, Opus 57. The Mozart was arranged by the directors of the Munich Flute Ensemble Elisabeth Weinzierl and Edmund Wachter and the Klengel was arranged by Paige Long.

Next, the ensemble headed to Salzburg, Austria and the beautiful Salzkammergut district, the lakes region. The enthusiastic audience in the picturesque village of Hallstatt, Austria was one of the many highlights of the tour. Of course while in Salzburg, the MET toured the home where Mozart was born and visited the cathedral where Mozart was baptized, while enjoying the beautiful Austrian scenery.

At the Franciscan Church in the old city center of Bratislava, Slovakia, playing to a standing room only crowd, the ensemble performed a full concert, plus three encores. The audience kept asking for more.

Next the ensemble headed to the Austrian capitol of Vienna, the city known as the music capitol of the world. The final concert of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra tour was presented in the rooftop concert hall of the historic St Stephen’s Cathedral in Vienna.** The concert hall was sold out and the concert raised over $5,000 Euro (approx $6,300) for the restoration of the cathedral. Members of the ensemble were also able to walk outside of the rooftop hall and touch the famous diamond- patterned tile roof of the cathedral. What an incredible way to end a concert tour!

** The Gothic cathedral of St. Stephen’s is an historic and cultural landmark. The young Haydn was a choir boy for St. Stephen’s and both Mozart and Haydn were married at St. Stephen’s. Beethoven realized he was totally deaf when he could not hear the famous bells peal at St. Stephen’s and Mozart’s funeral was held in this historic cathedral.

National Flute Association Conference, Charlotte, NC, 2011

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, in summer residence at New England Conservatory, performed on Saturday, August 13 during the National Flute Association (NFA) Convention in Charlotte, NC. At 7:00pm in the lobby of the Belk Theater in Charlotte, the ensemble, directed by Paige Dashner Long, presented “Goin’ Coastal from Boston to Miami” performing works by Respighi, Long and Beethoven.

During this same concert, The Florida Flute Orchestra, also directed by Long, presented Beach Music by award winning composer Catherine McMichael and then joined the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra to perform the first movement, Poco sostenuto-vivace, from Beethoven’s 7th Symphony in A Major.

Director Paige Dashner Long, coordinator of the newly formed NFA Flute Choir Composition Committee and member of the NFA Low Flutes Committee, also led a low flute technique class, Down Deep with Low Flutes, on Friday, August 12 from 9:30-10:30am in the Convention Center.

METROPOLITAN FLUTE ORCHESTRA

In summer residence at New England Conservatory
Paige Dashner Long, director

Piccolo: Mary Ellen Kregler
Concert Flute: Sallie Brainard, Kathy Craven, Vicki High, Phyllis Howard, Elise Locker, Mariellen Sears, Gretchen Schlier, Lindsey Sherman, April Showers
Alto Flute in G: Hannah Bitterman, Debbie MacMurray, Judith Sammel, Mary Sand, Susan Schueller
Bass Flute: Jeremy Benson, Kelly Gallivan, Serge Paul Emile, Carol Peabody
Contrabass Flute: Earl Grant Lawrence, Jay V. Kast-Tuttle, Sue Blessing, Phyllis Avidan Louke, Martin Melicharek, Paul Scherr
Sub Contrabass Flute in G: Sharyn Byer, Jennifer Kramer
Double Contrabass Flute: Paige Dashner Long
Percussion: Robert McCormick

FLORIDA FLUTE ORCHESTRA

Paige Dashner Long, director

Piccolo: Tereasa Payne
Concert Flute: Cindy Bruce, Nora Lee Garcia Velazquez, Amanda Lyon, Kim McCormick, Tammara K. Phillips, Irene Pruzan, April Showers
Alto Flute in G: Susan Adragna, Amy Clark, Nancy Cobun Clew, Debbie MacMurray, Cathi Marro, Christine Smith
Bass Flute: Carl Adams, Jeremy Benson, Sarah B. Fouse, Lindsay Hager, Martha Oestreich, Virginia Schulze Johnson
Contrabass Flute: Jessey Howard Andris, Phyllis Avidan Louke
Sub Contrabass Flute in G: Karen McLaughlin Large
Double Contrabass Flute: Paige Dashner Long
Percussion: Robert McCormick

National Flute Association Conference, New York, NY, 2009

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, in summer residence at New England Conservatory, performed on Friday, August 14 during the National Flute Association Convention in New York City.  On a flute choir showcase from 10:30-noon in the Empire Complex of New York’s Marriott Marquis Hotel, the ensemble, directed by Paige Dashner Long, presented works by Awano and Martin. 

On this showcase was also The Florida Flute Orchestra performing works by Mendelssohn, Molnar-Suhajda and Dvorak.  In addition, Flutes Ad Libitum, directed by Martine Charlot from The Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau in Dijon, France performed works by Mussorgsky, Lauf and Khachaturian. 

All three ensembles performing during this showcase have a wonderful performance history together, both here in Boston and Florida, as well as in France.  The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra toured of France in July of 2001, visiting Flutes Ad Libitum in Dijon and hosted Flutes Ad Libitum in Boston in July of 1998.  The Florida Flute Orchestra toured France in March of 2005 and has also hosted Flutes Ad Libitum in Florida in April of 2006. 

While on tour in France in 2001, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra visited the Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau in Dijon, presenting joint concerts with Flutes Ad Libitum.  The majestic and beautiful Palais des Etats, where the States-General of Burgundy have met, was one of the concert venues while in Dijon.  The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra also presented a concert during the prestigious French Festival Musical des Grands Crus de Burgogne in the historic medieval village of Noyers-Sur-Serein.  Concerts in Paris and Roquebrune-Sur-Argens were also very well received. 

While on tour in France in 2005, the Florida Flute Orchestra stayed in the homes of French flutists in Dijon and performed with Flutes Ad Libitum at the Conservatoire Jean-Philippe Rameau.  In addition, the FFO presented a concert tour in Provence sponsored by AICLER France.  AICLER Provence, Association Intercommunale pour la Culture et les Loisirs en Region Provence, is an active arts organization in France.  The purpose of this particular set of concerts was to bring high quality and unusual concerts to the smaller cities and towns in Provence.  A real surprise in this series of concerts was the presence ofJules Massenet’s great-grandson at the concert in Tourettes sur Loup. As part of our concert program, we performed Dances from the Massenet opera Manon.  Massenet’s great-grandson was delighted with our choice of programming music by his great-grandfather, and we were extremely pleased to meet him. In addition to the concert in Tourettes sur Loup, the group also performed in the Provencial towns of St. Tropez, Le Val, and Rognac.

To celebrate the friendships of these three ensembles, award winning composer Phyllis Louke composed and dedicated a piece for the ensembles to premiere during their New York convention performance.  “Oh, The Places We’ll See!”  was premiered during a combined performance of all three ensembles at the beginning of the flute choir showcase on August 14.  This light hearted work begins with “Vive La France!” continues onto “The Emerald Isle” (where the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra presented a concert tour in August 2008 touring Cork, Bantry Bay, Kinsale, Galway, Blarney Castle, Adare and Kylemore Abbey) and concludes with “A Dandy Yankee Doodle.”

Flutists in the select ensemble of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra:

• Piccolo: Mary Ellen Kregler-Guzzio, Stephanie Abend

• Flute: Patricia Anthony, Stephanie Abend, Sallie Brainard, Karen Coleman, Glaicy Kelly dos Santos, Phyllis Howard, Debbie Hyde-Duby, Jay V. Kast-Tuttle, Mary Ellen Kregler-Guzzio, Jennifer Lehman, Aimee LeMay, Elise Locker, Debra Machacek, Betsy Maholchic, Eve- Marie Nezich, Jessica O’Callahan, Hiro Saito, Kathryn Sheehan, Lindsey Sherman, Gretchen Schlier, Cassandra Willette

• Alto Flute: Hannah Bitterman, Lisa Duke, Jay V. Kast-Tuttle, Mary C. Reed, Susan Schueller

• Bass Flute: Jeremy Benson, Laura Finkelstein, Kelly Gallivan, Serge Paul Emile, Carol Peabody, Marty Tentor

• Contra Alto Flute in G: Sue Blessing

• Contrabass Flute: Mary Berk, Earl-Grant Lawrence, Martin Melicharek, Phyllis Louke, Paul Scherr

• Sub Contrabass Flute in G: Sharyn Byer, Jen Kramer

• Double Contrabass Flute: Paige Dashner Long

Flutists in the Florida Flute Orchestra:

• Piccolo: Nora Lee Garcia Velazquez, Troy Paolantonio

• Flute: Cindy Bruce, Anne Cevasco, Stephanie DiMauro, Noralee Garcia-Velazquez, Erin Helgeson-Torres, Debbie Hyde-Duby, Linda Hypes, Kim McCormick, Troy Paolantonio, Tereasa Payne, Irene Pruzan, Julie Troum

• Alto Flute: Susan Adragna, Amy Clark, Nancy Cobun Clew, Cathi Marro, Christine Smith, Jean West

• Bass Flute: Jeremy Benson, Sarah B. Fouse, Lindsay Hager, Martha Oestreich

• Contrabass Flute: Barbara Dinger Jacobson, Phyllis Louke, Allison Rich

• Sub Contrabass Flute in G: David Tagliarini

• Double Contrabass Flute: Paige Dashner Long

• Percussion: Robert McCormick

Metropolitan Flute Orchestra Performs With Sir James Galway For Fox News, Times Square, August 14, 2009

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, in summer residence at New England Conservatory, performed with Sir James Galway for a live FOX News TV shoot in Times Square on Friday, August 14 at approximately 9:00am.  FOX News interviewed Sir James right before the Galway Guinness Record Breaking attempt for the largest flute ensemble, which took place at 10:00am during the National Flute Association Convention in New York City.  Three additional ensembles were also invited to perform with Sir James in Times Square: The Florida Flute Orchestra, The Columbia Flute Choir and The Stanford University Flute Choir.

Sir James asked the Times Square ensemble to memorize an arrangement of a lively Irish folk song, Brian Boru’s March.   Metropolitan Flute Orchestra director Paige Dashner Long was invited to warm-up the combined ensembles prior to the much anticipated arrival of Sir James.  Long also conducted the TV “bump”, a 30-60 video segment aired prior to a news story used to draw attention to an upcoming news feature.

Sir James arrived in Times Square, talking with the ensemble prior to the live news shoot.  He played several famous flute pieces, waiting for the live broadcast, and at one time, members of the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra jumped in playing a bass line for Sir James.

During the interview, Sir James tired to teach the FOX News reporter to play the flute.  Then immediately after the interview, Sir James when into the Marquis Ballroom of New York’s Marriott Hotel and conducted the record breaking ensemble of 1,989 flutists performing “Galway Fantasie”, an 8 minute piece commissioned by Sir James especially for this record breaking attempt.  The previous record of 1,975 flutists was held by a Chinese ensemble.

Ireland, 2008

The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra Irish Tour in 2008 was a huge success, with concerts in Bantry Bay, Kinsale and Kylemore Abbey. In Kinsale, the ensemble joined together with 10 flutists in the Cork area to present the final half of their performance at the historic St. Moltose Church dating back to the 11th century. With a wide and varied concert program, the ensemble performed Lisa LeMay’s beautiful work Innes Glas Mor. This piece, inspired by the composer’s trip to Ireland, consists of three movements. The second movement, entitled Kylemore Abbey, musically describes the beautiful abbey located in Ireland’s rugged Connemara region. Kylemore Abbey is the monastic home of the Benedictine Nuns. Several of the nuns were present for our concert, as we performed LeMay’s Kylemore Abbey in the Neo-Gothic Chapel on the grounds of Kylemore Abbey. Performing to a standing room only audience, it was an amazing musical experience for all to perform this work with the people, chapel and country that inspired the beautiful music.

France 2001

While on tour in France in 2001, the Metropolitan Flute Orchestra visited the Conservatoire National de Region in Dijon, presenting joint concerts with the exceptional French ensemble, Flutes Ad Libitum, directed by Martine Charlot. The majestic and beautiful Palais des Etats, where the States-General of Burgundy have met, was one of the concert venues while in Dijon. The Metropolitan Flute Orchestra also presented a concert in the prestigious French Festival Musical des Grands Crus de Burgogne in the historic medieval village of Noyers-Sur-Serein. Concerts in Paris and Roquebrune-Sur-Argens were also very well received.