About the RFA

Our History:  

The Rochester Flute Association was chartered in 1995 and currently has a membership base of 200 students, performers, private teachers, music educators, and adult amateurs in the Rochester, New York area. We received non-profit status in 1998.

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Our Mission:

To promote the enjoyment of the flute; 
To assist members in achieving musical excellence; and 
To facilitate an exchange of ideas among flutists, teachers, and flute enthusiasts.

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Board of Directors:

2015-2017
President
Meghan Knitter
meghan@meghanknitter.com

Program Chair
Emlyn Johnson
emlynjohnson@gmail.com 

Education Director
Kaitlin Schneider
kateschneider2215@gmail.com

Member-at-Large
Paula Sousa
​psousa51@hotmail.com

Membership
Stephanie Bezon
steph.bezon@outlook.com

2016-2018 
Secretary 
Susan Miller
smiller110@gmail.com

Treasurer 
Sandy Lemmon
slemmon@esm.rochester.edu

Publicity Chair 
Katarina Schwarz
kschwarz@wxxi.org

Newsletter Editor 
Elissa May Murphy
elissamaymurphy.network@gmail.com

Corporate Membership Director
Alexandra Barbato
arosebarbato@gmail.com

Website Administrator 
Amy Pribulick
amypribulick@gmail.com

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Appointed Committee Chairs:

Flute Fair Chair
Jackie Cordova-Arrington
jcarringt1@gmail.com

Flute Choir Artistic Directors:
Alex Barbato & Elissa May Murphy
arosebarbato@gmail.com; elissamaymurphy.network@gmail.com
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2018-2020 Nominations

The Nominating Committee of the RFA Board would like to propose the following slate for the Board of Directors for the 2018-2020 term:
Secretary– Susan Miller
Treasurer– Sandy Lemmon
Publicity – Kat Schwarz
Corporate Membership – Alex Barbato
Newsletter- Annette Farrington
Website – Unfilled (contact rochesterfluteassociation@gmail.com)

Votes will be tallied at the Annual Meeting to be held Sunday, June 10, 2018, after the RFA Members’ Recital at 2:00 p.m. at Nazareth College Wilmot Hall, 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618.

Biographies of the Candidates

Corporate Membership.  Alex Barbato is a freelance flutist, pianist, and organist. She is currently a full accompanist in the Webster School District and is the pianist at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Bloomfield, NY. Alexandra earned her M.M. in flute performance from SUNY Fredonia in 2014 and her B.M. in music performance from Nazareth College in 2010. Alexandra has been a board director of the RFA since 2012, has directed the Rochester Flute Association flute ensemble since 2010 and is a co-director and teacher of the RFA/Hochstein Flute Camp. She performs as a flutist and pianist throughout the Western New York area

Treasurer. Sandy Lemmon is Head of Acquisitions and Serials in Sibley Music Library, Eastman School of Music. She holds degrees in business administration from RIT and in music from Nazareth College where she studied with Marjorie Roth and Tabatha Easley Peters. Sandy founded the RIT flute choir in 1983, and served as director for several years. She played with the RIT Concert Band and Timestompers (Dixieland/jazz), and she was founding director of the Four Winds Flute Quartet. She maintained a private studio for several years before the demands of life as a music librarian consumed her. Sandy has been a long time member of the RFA, and has served as Membership Director, Publicity Director, Member at Large, and before that as a member of the Flute Fair Planning Committee.

Newsletter.  Annette Farrington is excited to be returning to the RFA board. She served for 11 years in various offices including President, Newsletter Editor and Corporate Membership Director. Annette teaches applied flute and flute methods at Nazareth College where she is also a member of the Wilmot Wind Quintet. Annette is principal flute in the Penfield Symphony Orchestra, and plays with Cordancia Chamber Orchestra, Greater Rochester Women’s Philharmonic, and collaborates in solo and chamber music recitals. In January 2014, she was selected to participate in the inaugural Community Side-By-Side concert with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and in May of that same year performed as soloist with the Perinton Concert Band. Her flute playing was heard on TCM cable network in 2005 and 2010 with the Flower City Society Orchestra performing the soundtrack for two silent films. She received a Bachelor of Music Education from Arkansas State University (cum laude), and a Master of Music in Flute Performance from Florida State University. Her principal teachers were Charles Delaney and Ann Marie Johnson. She has been a performer in masterclasses with Jean-Pierre Rampal, Thomas Nyfenger, Lorna McGhee, and John Bailey. Annette has presented various papers and workshops for the RFA, NFA, and NYSSMA conferences. In addition to teaching at Nazareth College, Annette maintains a vibrant studio in her home and serves as a NYSSMA adjudicator.

Publicity.  Kat Schwarz has sat as the Publicity Officer for the Rochester Flute Association since 2016. Katarina holds a music performance degree from West Virginia University. She performs with various community groups and regularly enjoys the local music scene. Katarina is the owner of Katboocha, Rochester’s first kombucha brewery established last year (2017)

Secretary.  Susan Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Michigan and a Master of Science in Special Education from Nazareth College of Rochester. She studied with Edwin Lennig in Detroit and played flute throughout college in the University of Michigan bands. During her career she taught high school English in both Michigan and New York including 28 years at Brighton High School. Upon retirement in 2009, she joined the New Horizons Music program for which she is currently Band Council Secretary and a member of the Symphonic Band and the New Horizons Flute Choir. She has enjoyed participating at the Chautauqua and Northern Colorado New Horizons Band Camps. She has served on the RFA Board as secretary since 2014.