Forty-five years ago, flutists from the professional orchestras in the Twin Cities plus students, teachers, freelancers and people who just love the flute got together. Their aim was simple: to create a meeting place for flute-related activities and enrich the community. 

Today, UMFA, the Upper Midwest Flute Association, presents an annual festival, commissions new music, holds competitions, passes out scholarships and puts on concerts with local talent often playing one of the cool instruments the organization owns from the flute family – alto, bass, even contrabass flute. 

Each year at the Mall of America, hundreds of flutists gather for a marathon concert to help raise money for scholarships and to collect gently-used instruments. For eight hours it’s one flute solo, duo, ensemble and band after another, the only rules that you’re ready to play and you'll chip in twenty-five bucks for the cause. 

In January of 1979 a small group of motivated flutists from the Twin Cities formed an association which would bring flutists of all levels together for concerts, workshops and educational programs. The ‘Upper Midwest Flute Association’ – or UMFA – is entirely volunteer-run and is set up so flutists can  get to know each other, work together, network, share ideas and build life-long friendships. 

They do this through a very active schedule of concerts, flute choir showcases, lectures, competitions, as well as masterclasses given by world renown artists at the annual flute fest. As well, each year at the Mall of America, hundreds of flutists gather for a marathon concert to help raise money for scholarships and to collect gently-used instruments. 

Open to all ages and abilities, UMFA is a Minnesota organization that prides itself on supporting each other and sharing knowledge – as well as a well appointed music library and set of instruments from the flute family. KFAI reporter Alison Young shares this story.

So, 100 flutists walk into a room...

MinneCulture is KFAI’s award-winning audio storytelling program. We produce audio documentaries exploring Minnesota’s art, culture, and history — stories about musical sensations, small town heroes, cultural icons, local lore, and everything in between.

New tracks tagged #Upper Midwest Flute Association