Australian Flute Conventions -

Australian Flute Conventions are held every three years at Easter in an Australian Capital City. Each state flute society or guild can bid for right to host a convention. The main objectives of the Flute Conventions are to promote an interest in and appreciation of the flute and flute playing. Leading flautists from Australia and overseas give performances, masterclasses, lectures and demonstrations. There are also displays of instruments, accessories and sheet music.

The 1st Australian Flute Convention, held in Sydney at Easter 1973, was the first flute convention held anywhere in the world. The National Flute Association (USA) was founded in Elkhart on November 18th, 1972 by Mark Thomas; their 1st Annual Convention was held in California at Anaheim in 1974. The British Flute Society was founded in January 1983 by Trevor Wye.

Australian Flute Conventions have been held in:

• Sydney, 1973 (Director - Linda Vogt, A.M.)
• Adelaide, 1976 (Director - David Cubbin)
• Melbourne, 1978 (Director - Leslie Barklamb)
• Canberra, 1980 (Director - David Cubbin)
• Sydney, 1983 (Director - Linda Vogt, A.M.)
• Brisbane, 1986 (Director - Jeanette Manricks)
• Adelaide, 1988 (Director - Alison Rosser)
• Perth, 1991 (Director - Neil Fisenden)
• Canberra, 1995 (Directors - Simone Yemm and Virginia Taylor)
• Brisbane, 1999 (Directors - Patrick Nolan and Frances Farmer)
• Melbourne, 2002 (Directors - Michael Smith and Annette Sloan)
• Coffs Harbour NSW, 2005 (Director Melissa Philp)
  
  
  Overseas visitors at Australian Flute Conventions have included
• James Pellerite (USA) in 1973
• William Bennett (UK) in 1983
• Alain Marion (France) and Soichi Minegishi (Japan) in 1986
• Bonita Boyd (USA) and Felix Skowronek (USA) in 1988
• Michel Debost (France) in 1991
• Pierre-André Valade (France) in 1991
• Simon Hunt (England) in 1991
• Jazz flautist Holly Hoffmann (USA) in 1991
• Paula Robison (USA) in 1995
• Petri Alanko (Finland), Robert Dick (USA), Paul Edmund-Davies (England), Barthold Kuijken (Belgium), Andrea Leiberknecht (Germany), Alexa Still (New Zealand), Glennis Stout (USA), Liz Goodwin (UK) in 1999.
• Paul Edmund-Davies (England), Catherine Cantin (France) and Flute Force (American Flute Quartet) in 2002.
• Tadeo Coehlo (USA)

  Leading Australian flautists who have performed or lectured at Flute Conventions have included:

  • late James Carson (QLD)
  • late Leslie Barklamb (VIC)
  • late Owen Fisenden (WA)
  • late Prof. David Cubbin (NSW)
  • late Victor McMahon (NSW)
  • Alison Mitchell (NSW)
  • Christine Draeger (NSW)
  • Danielle Eden (NSW)
  • Geoffrey Collins (NSW)
  • Gordon Yemm (NSW)
  • James Kortum (NSW)
  • Janet Webb (NSW)
  • Karen North (NSW)
  • Kathleen Gallagher (NSW)
  • Linda Vogt, A.M. (NSW)
  • Margaret Crawford (NSW)
  • Nicola-Snekker Seymour (NSW)
  • Paul Curtis (NSW)
  • Rosamund Plummer (NSW)
  • Tucana Flute Quartet (NSW)
  • Vernon Hill (ACT)
  • Virginia Taylor (ACT)
  • Annette Sloan (VIC)
  • Frederick Shade (VIC)
  • Greg Dikmans (VIC)
  • Joannes Roose (VIC)
  • Mardi McSullea (VIC)
  • Michael Smith (VIC)
  • Prudence Davis (VIC)
  • Thomas Pinschof (VIC)
  • Wendy Clarke (VIC)
  • Nariida Coleman (VIC)
  • Gerhard Mallon (QLD)
  • Jeanette Manricks (QLD)
  • Ron Edwards (QLD)
  • Alison Rosser (SA)
  • Angela Retchford (SA)
  • Elizabeth Koch (SA)
  • Zdenek Bruderhans (SA)
  • Neil Fisenden (WA)
  • Emily Gunson (WA)