Great Southwest Flute Fest

February 28-March 1, 2025

We are thrilled to host the 2025 Great Southwest Flute Fest on the University of Arizona Campus! The festival will feature international soloist and Yamaha Performing Artist, Mary Karen Clardy. Dr. Clardy will premiere a new concerto with the U of A Wind Ensemble, perform a solo recital, and teach a masterclass of performers of all levels.

The Flute Performance Studio and Brian Luce invite you to join us for concerts, masterclasses, and much more! Experience the music industry as a flute performer by performing alongside Flutefinity in a recording session and in live concert. Create cutting-edge Virtual Reality media guided by U of A students.

If you are a high school student, you are invited to compete in the 2025 High School Soloist Competition. See the competition rules below.

We look forward to hosting you on the U of A campus for all things flute related!

Mary Karen Clardy's appearance is generously Sponsored by Yamaha Corporation of America.

Festival Events

Concerts

Masterclasses

Workshops

Flute Choirs

High School Soloist Competition

Exhibits

Recording Industry

Get to know other flutists!

Industry and Marketing

Festival Schedule

February 28, 2025

7:30 PM

Mary Karen Clardy in Concert with the U of A Wind Ensemble

March 1, 2025

8:00 AM

Registration begins

8:30 AM

Morning Warm-up: The Scale Game with Brian Luce

9:00 AM

High School Soloist Competition

9:00 AM

Exhibits Open

10:00 AM

Masterclass/Workshop (Stay tuned!)

11:00 AM

Masterclass/Workshop (Stay tuned!)

12:00 PM

Lunchtime Concert

1:00 PM

Mary Karen Clardy Featured Artist Recital

2:00 PM

Guest Artist Reception

2:00 PM

Visit the Exhibits

2:00 PM

Become a Recording Artist!

3:00 PM

Mary Karen Clardy Featured Artist Masterclass

4:00 PM

Masterclass/Workshop (Stay tuned!)

5:00 PM

Flute Choirs Concert

6:00 PM

Dinner

7:00 PM

Festival Closing Concert

Kate Nichols, Miranda DeBretto, and Carol Wincenc

Jim Walker after a master class

Mary Karen Clardy and Miranda

Melissa plays in a Master class with Susan Milan

Julia plays Mozart for Susan Milan

Katelyn plays for Robert Dick

Lauren with Eva Amsler

Mary Karen Clardy and Julia

Alysonn plays for Susan Milan

Lauren and Diane Schultz

Emily, Pablo, Chelsea, Sierra, and Ana Laura with Katherine Hoover

Mary Karen Clardy and Alysonn

High School Soloist Competition

The 2025 High School Soloist Competition is open to students who have yet to graduate high school. The prizes for winning the competition are:

First Prize - Performance Scholarship for the U of A Flute Performance Studies Program, featured performance during the festival closing concert, recording session in the Haskell Recording Studio
Second Prize - Performance Scholarship for the U of A Flute Performance Studies Program, performance during Featured Artist Masterclass, voucher to attend the 2026 Great Southwest Flute Fest
Third Prize - voucher to attend the 2026 Great Southwest Flute Fest

Rules

All entrants must be high school seniors or younger enrolled in a public, private, charter, or home school. All competitors agree to accept the judges' decision as final. Each performer will perform the prescribed music for the competition as no repertoire substitutions are permitted. All three finalists agree to attend the Great Southwest Flute Fest live at their own expense. An accompanist will be provided.

Preliminary Round (Recording) DUE January 24, 2025

Cantabile et Presto…Georges Ensecu (1881-1955)

Recording must be in unedited video format showing the complete performer (landscape or portrait aspects are allowed)
No accompanying piano or virtual instrument is to be recorded
Finalists will be notified by January 31, 2025

Final Round, February 1, 2025, 9:00 AM

Cantabile et Presto…Georges Ensecu (1881-1955)
Achat Sha'alti…Paul Schoenfield (b. 1947)
Tółchíʼíkooh…Brian Luce (b. 1969)

Performers will perform the Ensecu Cantabile et Presto and Schoenfield Achat Sha'alti with the festival collaborative pianist
Performers may perform the works in the order of their choice
Winners will be announced during the Lunchtime Concert at 12:00 PM