The highly anticipated Finnish Flute Festival 2025 will take place from October 3–5, 2025, welcoming an exceptional roster of internationally acclaimed flutists, educators, and emerging artists. Held in Finland, the festival presents a rich program of masterclasses, concerts, workshops, and ensemble activities for flutists at all levels — from young students to established professionals.
International Guest Artists
This year’s festival features a distinguished lineup of guest artists offering specialized masterclasses, performances, and educational sessions:
- Philippe Bernold (France), winner of the Jean-Pierre Rampal International Flute Competition and professor at the Paris Conservatory, will offer a Free Repertoire Masterclass, a workshop titled How to Play Flute Like a Singer, and a concert appearance on Saturday.
- Hélène Boulègue (France), winner of the 2017 Kobe International Flute Competition, will lead a Jolivet Masterclass and a Free Repertoire Masterclass, and will perform at the Grande Finale Concert on Sunday.
- Ian Clarke (UK), internationally recognized flutist-composer and professor at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, will present both Advanced and Intermediate Masterclasses focused on his own works, as well as two workshops (Within… and Tips and Tricks) and a morning warm-up session. He performs in concert on Saturday evening.
- Wally Hase (Germany), professor at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, will offer a Free Repertoire Masterclass and perform on Sunday afternoon.
- Katlijn Sergeant (Belgium), principal piccolo of the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, will lead two advanced masterclasses — one on Solo Piccolo Repertoire and another on Orchestral Piccolo Excerpts — and perform in the Grande Finale Concert on Sunday.
- Kerttu Aalto-Setälä (Finland), principal flutist of the MDR Leipzig Radio Symphony Orchestra, will lead a masterclass on Orchestral Excerpts for Flute and participate in the Finnish Flutes – New Generation discussion panel. She performs in concert on Sunday.
- Pauliina Fred (Finland), a specialist in historical flutes, will lead a course focused on Telemann Fantasias, open to both modern flute and traverso players.
- Kaisa Kortelainen (Finland), solo flutist of the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra and co-artistic director of the Nurmes Summer Music Festival, will present a Free Repertoire Masterclass and perform on Saturday afternoon.
Junior Masterclasses
Masterclasses for young flutists will be led by faculty members of the Sibelius Academy:
- Hanna Juutilainen, Hanna Kinnunen, Yuki Koyama, and Elina Raijas
These sessions are aimed at enthusiastic students in vocational training or pre-professional studies and are part of the Sibelius Academy’s Junior Academy national cooperation program. Selected participants will each receive a 45-minute private lesson with a designated instructor.
Flute Orchestras and Ensemble Projects
Flutists of all levels are invited to join the festival’s vibrant flute orchestras:
- The Advanced Flutes Orchestra, led in English by Gareth McLearnon, is open to advanced music school students, professional trainees, and professional flutists.
- The Junior Flutes Orchestra, led in Finnish by Heli Talvitie, is intended for students in basic-level music education.
Both ensembles will rehearse over the weekend and perform in the Grande Finale Concert on Sunday, October 5 at 17:00 in Sonore Hall.
Concert Highlights
- Friday, October 3 at 19:00 – Young Generation Concert: Janette Leván and Saara Lehtinen, pianist Naoko Ichihashi
- Saturday, October 4 at 13:00 – Concert: Kaisa Kortelainen and Philippe Bernold
- Saturday, October 4 at 19:30 – Concert: Gareth McLearnon and Ian Clarke
- Sunday, October 5 at 13:00 – Concert: Kerttu Aalto-Setälä and Wally Hase
- Sunday, October 5 at 17:00 – Grande Finale Concert: Featuring Hélène Boulègue, Katlijn Sergeant, Gareth McLearnon, and flute ensembles
Participation and Application
All masterclasses are designed for professional flutists and advanced students. Active participants will be selected through a video application process. Festival Pass holders are welcome to attend as listeners. Participants may bring their own pianists, as none will be provided by the festival.
A detailed schedule of all masterclasses, workshops, and concerts will be announced in autumn 2025.
Whether you are a performer, teacher, student, or enthusiast, this festival offers a rare opportunity to connect with the global flute community in an inspiring and supportive environment.
For all updates visit the official website
Please note: The organizers reserve the right to make changes to the program.
