The Australian Flute Festival, a major biennial event for flutists across the region and beyond, will return to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music from 3 to 6 October 2025. Organised by the Australian Flute Festival Committee, Flutes & Flutists, and the Conservatorium Open Academy, the festival will feature an extensive program of concerts, competitions, masterclasses, professional development sessions, and interactive experiences.

Featured Artists

This year’s line-up brings together an impressive roster of international and Australian artists, including:

András Adorján (Munich)
Alena Walentin (Copenhagen)
Eliza Shephard (Melbourne)
Melissa Farrow (Sydney)
Kim Falconer (Adelaide)

They will be joined by numerous esteemed performers, educators, and ensemble leaders throughout the four-day program.

Competitions

The 2025 festival will host a variety of competitions to showcase talent across different age groups and ensemble types:

Open Competition – 32 years and under
Young Artist Competition – 18 years and under
Piccolo Competition – 32 years and under
Flute Trio & Quartet Competition – all ages

Final rounds will be featured in the main festival schedule, giving audiences the opportunity to hear emerging talents at the highest level.

Professional Learning Day – Friday 3 October

The festival opens with a day dedicated to educators and advanced students, offering seminars and workshops such as:

Bringing the Teaching Wisdom of the Past to Today’s Flute Students – Lamorna Nightingale, Jocelyn Fazzone & Christine Draeger
Starting Strong with Beginner Flute – Karen North
The Inner Game of Chance – Keyna Wilkins
Advancing Tone Production – Joanna Sullivan
Learning from William Bennett – Q&A – Alena Walentin
Joachim Andersen Film Screening – presented by Kyle Dzapo, András Adorján & Alena Walentin

The day concludes with a Junior Day Concert, highlighting the achievements of younger participants.

Main Festival Programme

Saturday 4 October – Official opening with Papua New Guinean/Australian flutist Ralema Fairhead, followed by a full schedule of masterclasses, workshops, recitals, and the Open Competition final.
Sunday 5 October – Ensemble performances from flutists across Australia, a careers panel led by Maj Gregory Peterson and Janet McKay, and a Gala Concert featuring the festival’s star artists.
Monday 6 October – A recital by András Adorján with pianist Leigh Harrold, and a Closing Concert with the Festival Flute Orchestra, competition winners, and leading Australian performers.

Junior Day

Also held on Friday 3 October at the Conservatorium High School, the Junior Day offers younger flutists the chance to meet peers, participate in ensemble playing, work on tone and practice skills, and present a final performance. Directed by Nathalie Resciniti and Kate Bergen, the program is open to players of all levels and is designed to inspire the next generation.

Festival Flute Orchestra

Under the direction of Tim Munro — Grammy-winning flutist, conductor, and educator — the Festival Flute Orchestra will bring together participants of all skill levels, from intermediate students to professionals, for rehearsals and a final performance at the Closing Concert.

Interactive and Immersive Events

Among the innovative offerings is The Show Must Go On — an escape-room style, pit-orchestra simulation in which participants solve musical puzzles to step in for a missing flutist, culminating in a live performance with the “orchestra.”

The Australian Flute Festival 2025 promises four days of high-level artistry, education, and community engagement, making Sydney a hub for flute enthusiasts this October.

For full program details and registration information, visit the festival’s official website.