The Flute New Music Consortium New Music Festival was hosted by the UNO School of Music, UNO’s professor of flute, Dr. Christine Beard and UNO’s Music Production Manager, Wyndham Ennaemba from October 11-13, 2024. Approximately 100 performers and composers from across the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Europe participated in the FNMC’s second bi-annual national festival which featured concerts with numerous world-premieres, lectures, clinics, as well as the finals of the FNMC solo artist competition.

UNO’s School of Music was well-represented with numerous outstanding performances given by UNO faculty, current students, and alumni, including: Dr. Josh Kearney and the UNO Symphonic Wind Ensemble; Pete Wilger and the University Band; percussionists Kitty Camero (MM ’25), Alex Crosby, Kyle Paoletti, Dana LeVan (MM ’23), and Dr. Hannah Weaver; Dr. Matthew Storie (saxophone); pianists Stacie Haneline, Dr. Stacey Barelos, and Dr. Kristin Taylor; James Compton (bassoon); oboists/alumni Andrea Smith and Darci Gamerl; clarinetist Myra Covey (BM ’24); and flutists Noah Edwards (BM ’26), Kitty Boese (BM ’23), Sofia Cormack (MM ’23), Claire James (MM ’23), and Dr. Christine Beard, the latter of whom gave the world premiere of the FNMC consortium commission, “Pathways of Desire” (2024) for solo flute by Reina Esmail, this year’s FNMC featured composer.

FNMC is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with the shared mission of promoting new music for the flute by commissioning works, organizing simultaneous premieres, and encouraging repeat performances. ​For more information, visit the FNMC website at www.flutenewmusicconsortium.com.