NFA 2016

The National Flute Association convention is always very busy for me as I tend to over-extend myself as well as finding a need for extreme time management.  As the NFA Public RelationsChair, this year I brought in the San Diego Tribune and NBC TV to cover the convention.  I interviewed Denis Bouriakov and Leonard Garrison.  I also performed alongside Alice K. Dade and Fluterscooter as part of the Flutes by the Sea Trio, which originated out of my Flutes by the Sea Masterclasses held with those two great flutists in Half Moon Bay each June or July.  I decided to stay “off campus” for NFA at an oceanfront Airbnb, which turned out to be the best decision ever.  As I can’t stay too far from my beloved ocean, it was such a treat for me to be able to leave the flutes to tend to my ocean.  The best part was finding that amazing vegan restaurant, Plant Power, on the way “home”.  I ended up eating breakfast, lunch and dinner there every day…. it was THAT good.  The NFA itself each year brings home to me just how good the level of flute playing in the United States has become, with each year’s performances by new young talent surpassing the last.

Watch FOX 5 News report on this year’s NFA:

Watch our Impromptu Concert at Ocean Beach in San Diego:

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Viviana & Flutes by the Sea Trio

Viviana in Vegas!

By now, I started calling this year my 2012 World Tour.  The next few months would be on massive revolving door of exciting destinations non-stop, one after the other.  Little did I know that I needed to fasten my seat belt and start getting used to the hugely fast pace of the next few months through the end of the year.  I wouldn’t have thought that I was a Vegas type of Gal as I’m much more of an Earthy Mystic Gypsy rather than a Gamblin’ Glam Puss.  But hey, I guess, for Vegas, for me, I had a smokin’ time!!  Most of all I enjoyed filming these two little videos.  I was there for the National Flute Association Convention.

I performed Thursday night my Las Vegas Style Show and then I focused on filming… have I mentioned how much I love making videos??  I filmed a few more videos for Flute Chats (yes, I know, I’m massively behind with this project…. another reason why I need to stay at home a wee bit more).  I also orchestrated a Flute Flash Mob just outside the Caesar’s Palace Hotel at which 50 flutists showed up to play Stars and Stripes Forever (every piccolo player’s dream).  All in all, I felt so moved by the camaraderie, the sharing, the friends, the exchanges, the good times that were had by all Flutists in Vegas that I decided to compile a little video to commemorate our experience together.

Vegas Flute Flash Mob Video YouTube Preview Image

NFA Find Yours Video YouTube Preview Image

NAMM & Sh!t Flute Players Say

 

I attended the NAMM Convention 2012 where I visited with my wonderful flute maker Altus Handmade Flutes.  I ended up hooking up with Fluterscooter and we filmed “Sh!t Flute Players Say” when those memes were popular in early 2012.  Our video ended up with more than 40,000 views.  We thought it was pretty good considering we whipped it up in less than 48 hours.  This partnership lead us to subsequently film, “Things Nobody Says at NFA” which promoted our appearances at the National Flute Association Convention in Las Vegas.

 

 

Sh!t Flute Players Say YouTube Preview Image

Things Nobody Says at NFA YouTube Preview Image

National Flute Convention

Convention Center in Charlotte

Have you ever woken up in the morning, exhausted?  I knew I had slept enough, yet this morning my feet were still pulsating and my head was slightly throbbing after the sensational weekend at the National Flute Association Convention in Charlotte, NC.   I flew out to perform on Thursday and since I was continuing on to Edinburgh on Monday, I decided to make the best use of my time Thursday through Sunday, by creating a delightful but demanding new project for myself.  I set out to interview the convention’s top flutists!  Initially I didn’t think it would be such a demanding project to embark on, but when you add on rehearsing, performing, catching up with old friends, attending concerts, and looking for the perfect head joint, it turned in to quite an exhaustive venture of 16 hour days and very little sleep.  The end result is that I feel thrilled with all the material I gathered for my new website www.flutechats.com (going live in September) and was especially happy to visit and connect and hear my beautiful fellow flute friends of which a small list would include Rhonda Larson, Paula Robison, Christina Jennings, Greg Pattillo, Jim Walker, Carol Wincenc, Robert Dick, Trevor Wye, etc.  I wanted to take this opportunity to mention a wonderful new resource to find flutists called www.supportflutists.com created by Terri Sanchez.  Off to Edinburgh, Scotland now!  Weeeeeeee!!!!