The Florida Flute Association
49th Annual Membership Convention
January 31, February 1, and February 2, 2025
LOCATION: Orlando Airport Marriott Lakeside
7499 Augusta National Drive, Orlando Florida
To attend any part of the convention, including exhibits, all flute players of any age or level, active or retired, must register as a 2025 FFA member and pay the convention fee.
SEPARATE FEES AND SEPARATE FORMS REQUIRED TO ATTEND:
2025 Adult Annual Membership Fee $40, Convention Fee $85
2025 Student Annual Membership Fee $20, Convention Fee $55
***Early Bird Discount On Convention Fees if you pre-register by the deadline of January 6th, 2025!
Adult Discount Convention Fee $60, Student Discount Convention Fee $30
( Convention pre-registration available at a later date)
2025 Guest Artist
Sarah Jackson
We are pleased to announce Sarah Jackson as our 2025 Guest Artist!
Sarah Jackson has held the position of Piccolo for the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 2003. Prior to this, in 1993, she joined the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (British Columbia, Canada) as Second Flute. She then moved on to take the position of Assistant Principal Flute and Piccolo with the VSO and has also taught flute and piccolo at the University of British Columbia. Sarah Jackson is a much sought after piccolo and flute teacher, and she attracts students from around the world. She is currently teaching piccolo at USC in California. She has taught, led masterclasses, and performed recitals in Italy, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Belgium, Netherlands, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Canada, and the United States. Sarah is also an active chamber musician, soloist, clinician, and freelance artist, and has played for numerous films, CD recordings, and TV and radio broadcasts.
Sarah received her Bachelor of Music Degree in Flute Performance from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. In addition to taking private voice lessons, she specialized in flute, studying with Camille Churchfield, former Principal Flute with the Vancouver Symphony. Sarah attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec for Graduate Studies with Timothy Hutchins, Principal Flute of the Montreal Symphony. While studying there, she auditioned for and won her first professional position as 2nd Flute with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Sarah is proudly a Keefe Piccolo Artist.
Our 2025 Florida Guest Artists
A dynamic and versatile performer, Mary Matthews is a flute professor at Florida State University’s College of Music. She enjoys an active career as an international soloist, chamber musician, orchestral flutist, session musician, author, and pedagogue. She has performed on four continents in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Severance Hall, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Fundação Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina, Festival Goethe Institut Música Nueva, and Cité Internationale des Arts. She currently serves as second flutist of the Tallahassee Symphony, and she performs regularly with orchestras such as the Nashville Symphony, Knoxville Symphony, and Chattanooga Symphony, among others. An active studio musician and recording artist, Mary can be heard on soundtracks for film, TV, and video games on Netflix, HBO, and Disney.
Mary is the flutist of Khemia Ensemble, a chamber ensemble dedicated to reflecting broader perspectives in contemporary classical chamber music. With its dynamic instrumentation, Khemia’s unique sound world encompasses the presentation of new classical music with a mix of acoustic chamber works, multimedia, and multi-genre influences. In addition to her work with Khemia, she is a member of the Newfound Chamber Winds, Duo Rossignol (flute and soprano), Duo Elektra (flute and clarinet), and Aviary Quartet (flute quartet). With these ensembles, she has performed in Dublin, Ireland, Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, the College Music Society’s National Conference, the New Music Gathering, the Dairy Arts Center’s Soundscape series, and the multiple National Flute Association conventions.
A sought-after performer of new music, Mary has premiered over 50 new works. She is known for her command of extended techniques and her adventurous programming. In June of 2021, she released her first method book, co-authored by Nicole Chamberlain, titled Beatboxing and Beyond, which introduces the most common types of extended techniques for flute. The book was reviewed as “a revelation – it’s a worthy addition to all our libraries.” (Flutist Quarterly). The second volume, Into the Beyond, was released in October of 2023.
A Rochester, NY native, Mary began her formal flute studies at the Eastman School of Music’s Preparatory Program. She holds a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from The Hartt School, a Master of Music Degree from the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Music Degree from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music. She lives in Tallahassee, FL, with her husband, trumpeter Brandon Norton, and their four-legged family members, Avery, Chipper, Nala, and Ariel. www.MaryMatthewsFlute.com
Emilio Miguel Rutllant is a professional flutist and pedagogue currently based in Vero Beach, Florida. His passion for music extends
beyond the concert hall into his everyday life. He enjoys playing and collaborating with his beloved Samoyed, Figaro, exploring nature
through cycling and kayaking, and embarking on long drives to new destinations, all opportunities for artistic inspiration.
A wealth of skills and achievements marks Emilio’s musical journey. Currently serving as the principal flutist for the Symphony of the Americas and the Northern Lights Music Festival, he has recently held positions, including flute/piccolo with the Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and as the first woodwind fellow in the history of the Minnesota Orchestra, where he was able to record Mahler’s Seventh Symphony with Osmo Vanska. Emilio’s performances in various roles, from principal flute to piccolo, have earned him recognition and respect in the industry as an orchestral performer, recitalist, and pedagogue.
During his earlier period in Florida, Emilio has performed as principal flute with the Miami City Ballet, Nu Deco Ensemble, Symphonia Boca Raton, South Florida Symphony, Orchestra Miami, Palm Beach Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, and New World Symphony. He has also performed as a Substitute flute/piccolo with the Richmond Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, Palm Beach Opera, and Atlantic
Classical Orchestra.
In addition to his orchestral roles, Emilio has made notable contributions as an educator. Since 2020, he has served as an adjunct Music Theory and Flute professor at Indian River State College in Ft.Pierce, FL. He is also the Music Angels Education Fund’s Music Director, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing music lessons and instruments to underprivileged students. Emilio’s commitment to education extends to his work as a masterclass teacher, sharing his expertise with students across the US and Chile.
Emilio’s musical journey has taken him across the globe with chamber music and solo recitals in countries such as the US, Italy, Spain, France, Austria, and Chile. He has performed at prestigious events, including the National Flute Association Convention, the Florida Flute Association Convention, the Midwest Clinic, and the Encuentro Internacional de Flautas del Sur del Mundo. Emilio has had the privilege of collaborating with renowned artists such as Andrea Bocelli, Gloria Estefan, Ben Folds, Kristen Chenoweth, Emanuel Ax,
Andre Watts and James Galway, under the batons of esteemed Conductors, including Osmo Vanska, Michael Tilson Thomas, Karina Canellakis, Jader Bignamini, David Danzmayr, and Kent Nagano to name a few.
Emilio’s dedication to education, musical accomplishments, and commitment to giving back to the community reflects his generosity, perseverance, and inclusivity values. His desire to create opportunities for aspiring musicians and his unwavering belief in the transformative power of music is evident in his work both on and off the stage.