A Journey Through Time:
The Story of the Flute Society of South Australia
Founded on July 26, 1972, the Flute Society of South Australia arose from the vision of the late David Cubbin, whose passion for flute music helped shape our organization. The inaugural meeting took place in the Recital Room at Flinders Street School of Music, where David was elected President and Alison Rosser OAM took on the role of Secretary. The Society officially gained incorporation on October 16, 1975, marking the beginning of a vibrant community dedicated to the art of flute playing.
From the outset, day camps have played a vital role in our Society, with the first gathering held at St Mark's College in November 1973. Over the decades, these camps have evolved into various exciting formats, including Flute Fests, Flute Fun Days, Flute Madness, and the Fabulous Flute & Fife Fun Day. Each event has fostered camaraderie and creativity among flutists of all ages.
In May 1974, we proudly established our Flute Choir, which made its debut at the first Come Out Festival in May 1975, with the invaluable support of David Cubbin. Fast forward to July 1978, our choir grew to an impressive ensemble of over 80 flutists, who captivated audiences at a concert in St Augustine’s Church, Unley, celebrating the centenary of the organ under the direction of Alex Gemmell.
The Society has also been a hub for extraordinary events, such as the Second Australian Flute Convention in April 1976, hosted at Pulteney Grammar School and directed by David Cubbin. This milestone featured a lineup of esteemed Australian flautists, including Vernon Hill, David Cubbin, Margaret Crawford, Zdenek Bruderhans and Owen Fisenden, with Geoffrey Collins emerging as the inaugural winner of the Australian Flute Competition.
Our connection to the wider flute community deepened further in 1988, when Adelaide hosted the Seventh Australian Flute Convention under the direction of Alison Rosser OAM. This event saw distinguished international artists and lecturers, such as Bonita Boyd and Felix Skowronek from the USA and Germany's Andreas Eichhorn, contributing to an inspiring program. The commissioning of Anne Boyd’s *Bali Moods 1 & 2* added a unique flourish to the occasion, performed by Geoffrey Collins.
Celebrating milestones has always been a joyous occasion for the Flute Society. Our 10th anniversary in July 1982 featured a seminar at Goodwood Orphanage with guest artists Vernon Hill and Neil Fisenden, culminating in a special concert at Elder Hall showcasing these artists, past presidents and competition winners. The Flute Choir, conducted by David Cubbin, performed “Synthesis”, a work by Jill Lowe commissioned for the occasion.
This spirit of celebration continued with our 21st birthday in July 1993. Marked by a Flute Fest at Marryatville High School, guest artists Vernon Hill and David Cubbin delighted participants with masterclasses and activities.
The Society turned 30 in 2002 with the aptly named "Celebrate 30!!" weekend. This memorable event included a recital by guest flautist Janet Webb, alongside a day packed with masterclasses, ensemble performances, and, of course, delicious birthday cake!
In recognition of budding talent, we established our scholarship for young flute players (ages 15 and under) in 1987, naming it the Carolyn White Memorial Scholarship in 1996 to honor a respected past president.
Similarly, the David Cubbin Prize was introduced in 1992 to celebrate the contributions of our founder, with the inaugural award going to Monica Fynnaart.
Throughout the years, our Society has proudly hosted an array of recitals, masterclasses, and workshops featuring local, interstate, and international professionals.
Guests have included luminaries such as James Pellerite, Don Burrows, Vernon Hill, Paul-Edmund Davies, Peter Bartels, Mike Mower, Wissam Boustany, Michael Cox and many more, enriching our community with their expertise and artistry.
Since 1979, the South Australian Flute News has kept our members informed and engaged, bridging the gap between our thriving community and the innovative world of flute music.
Join us as we continue to celebrate the joy of flute playing and nurture the next generation of musicians!
