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.

By-Laws of the Rochester Flute Association.pdf
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Board of Directors:

2017-2019
President
Meghan Phelps
meghan@meghanknitter.com

Program Chair, Interim
Alexandra Barbato
arosebarbato@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 
VACANT
*Please let us know if you are interested in this position!

Newsletter Editor 
Annette Farrington
abfflute@gmail.com

Corporate Membership Director
Alexandra Barbato
arosebarbato@gmail.com

Website Administrator 
Amy Redmond
amyredmond25@gmail.com

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Appointed Committee Chairs:

Flute Fair Chair
Marjorie Roth
mroth1@naz.edu

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Candidates for the 2019-2021 Board of Directors:

The Nominating Committee of the RFA Board would like to propose the following slate for the Board of Directors 2019-2021:
President - Marjorie Roth
Program Director - Alexandra Barbato
Education Director - Kaitlin Schneider
Membership Director - Jen Ford
Member-at-Large - Paula Sousa

BIOGRAPHIES:
For President, Marjorie Roth. Marjorie Roth is a Full Professor of Studio Flute & Music History at Nazareth College in Rochester, NY, where she has taught since 1985. She earned her MM and DMA degrees in Performance & Literature at the Eastman School of Music where she studied with Bonita Boyd. Her PhD in Musicology is also from Eastman.  Marjorie has been a member of the RFA since 1997. She has served as board member at large, as Flute Fair committee chair (2007 – 2010 and 2018-2019), as Flute Camp faculty (2017-2018), and she has hosted flute fair competitions and flute choir rehearsals at Nazareth College for many years. She has adjudicated local performance competitions (RFA, Hochstein, Penfield Symphony, Nazareth) and performs as an ad hoc ensemble member around town whenever time allows.  Marjorie is an enthusiastic supporter of the RFA as one of Rochester’s most valuable and long-standing community musical organizations.  She looks forward to continued involvement as the RFA approaches its 25th anniversary.

For Program Director, Alexandra Barbato. Alexandra Barbato is a freelance flutist, pianist, and organist.  She is currently a full accompanist in Webster Central Schools and is the organist aT West Henrietta Baptist Church.  She plays piano for the Victor Community Chorus and the Eastside Swingtet. 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.

For Membership Director, Jen Ford. Jen Trimble Ford (BM Ithaca College, MM Peabody Conservatory, MS Nazareth College) has previously served the RFA as Member-at-Large, Flute Fair Co-chair, and Competition Coordinator. She frequently performs in ensembles such as the Penfield Symphony, Cordancia, and Ad Hoc. Previously, Jen held the piccolo position with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic and Baltimore’s Largely Ludwig ensemble. She has been an active teacher in the Rochester area, and has served on the faculty at the RFA’s Flute Camp, maintained a private studio, and taught early childhood music classes at Hochstein. In 2013, Jen joined the active and nationally recognized music therapy program at Mary Cariola Children’s Center, where in her role as a music therapist she works with students ages 3-21 with a variety of complex disabilities.

For Education Director, Kaitlin Schneider Kaitlin Schneider is excited to be running for her second term as Education Director for the RFA! She has really enjoyed her last two years serving the Rochester flute community, and hopes to continue serving over the next two years. She holds a BM in Music Education from Ithaca College and a MS in Music Education from Nazareth College. She has studied flute performance and education in the studios of Rita George Simmons, Kelly Covert, Dr. Wendy Mehne, and Annette Farrington. When she is not organizing events for young flute players, she is substitute teaching in the Fairport and Rush Henrietta School Districts, or coaching and playing Ultimate Frisbee.


For Member-At-Large, Paula Sousa. Paula is a retired early education teacher. She has been a member of the RFA for about nine years and has served as Member at Large for four years. She has been playing mainly flute since fourth grade. During her years of playing an instrument, she played clarinet for two years  in elementary school and oboe for two years in high school as well as two more years with the Kodak Concert Band. She is also a member in the Eastman Rochester New Horizons program, where she plays in the Symphonic Band and the flute ensemble. She just took over the job of chairperson of the New Horizons Program Council. Paula also plays in the Kodak Concert Band and the Flower City Pride Band.Paula resides in Gates with her husband, Jim. She has two adult daughters and three grandchildren.