Immerse yourself in fall at the second annual North Idaho Flute Festival later this month.

The second annual festival, hosted by the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint, will be held Sept. 27-28 at the conservatory, 110 Main St., Sandpoint.

Aspiring young flutists are invited to join the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint for one or more of the elements of the flute festival taking place Sept. 27 and 28 in Sandpoint. Gosia Szemelak and Alisha Dawson established the festival in 2023 with the mission to educate, nurture and develop aspiring flutists.   

Students can observe or participate in the master class, set for 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. Participants should sign up online and the public is invited to observe. A music master class is an educational workshop where accomplished musicians, often renowned in their field, provide hands-on instruction and feedback to students. The interactive format is focused on performance, allowing students to present their work in front of peers and receive personalized guidance. Students benefit from the expert's insights into technique, interpretation, and expression, gaining valuable perspectives that can enhance their musical skills. The master class will be taught by Gosia Szemelak. 

Participants may also sign up and compete in this year’s festival. Preparing a piece for competition motivates and inspires flutists to be their best. Competition rules are detailed on the website and any questions may be emailed to flutefestival@sandpointconservatory.org.  

A flute competition begins at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. The competition raises the level of artistic education by presenting the most talented young musicians and through experiencing different teaching approaches. This year, Rhonda Bradetich will be a guest judge at the event.

The festival culminates at a 7 p.m. Saturday concert featuring Bradetich and Szemelak on the flute, accompanied by guitarist Paul Grove. Tickets for the concert, as well as festival details, including how to register, can be found online at sandpointconservatory.org/events. 

Information: sandpointconservatory.org

    Bradetich