October 29 – November 2, 2025
Jean-Baptiste Lully Conservatory, 5 Rue Francis de Pressensé, 92800 Puteaux, France
Organized by La Traversière – French Flute Association
The VIIᵉ International Flute Convention, organized by the French Flute Association – La Traversière, will take place from October 29 to November 2, 2025, at the Jean-Baptiste Lully Conservatory in Puteaux, just outside Paris.
This highly anticipated triennial event brings together leading flutists, teachers, composers, and instrument makers from around the world for five days of concerts, masterclasses, conferences, workshops, and exhibitions dedicated entirely to the flute.
Since its founding in 1996, the Convention Internationale de la Flûte has become one of the most prestigious gatherings in the global flute community, attracting more than 1,500 participants at each edition. Past conventions have featured such legendary names as Jean-Pierre Rampal, James Galway, Maxence Larrieu, Alain Marion, Michel Debost, Pierre-Yves Artaud, Philippe Bernold, William Bennett, András Adorján, and Emmanuel Pahud, who returns as one of the featured artists in 2025.
Theme: Récitals & Découvertes
This year’s convention embraces the theme “Recitals & Discoveries,” spotlighting the 45-minute recital format that has long been central to flute artistry. The 2025 program promises a stylistic journey across centuries and genres — from early music and Romantic works to jazz, world, and electroacoustic performance.
Over 60 soloists and ensembles will perform across the five days, along with numerous chamber groups, orchestras, and youth ensembles. Among them are internationally celebrated artists Julien Beaudiment, Sophie Cherrier, Philippe Bernold, Birgit Ramsl, Peter Verhoyen, Anna Besson, Juliette Hurel, Isabelle Moretti, Carlo Jans, and Emmanuel Pahud.
Key Highlights
Opening Concert – Wednesday, October 29
The convention opens with Julien Beaudiment and Sophie Cherrier, honoring the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel and the centenary of Pierre Boulez, featuring music by Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Tanada. The performance is dedicated In Memoriam to composer and pianist Fuminori Tanada.
Tribute to Great Composers
Throughout the convention, new works commissioned from Graciane Finzi, Thierry Escaich, and Nicolas Avinée will be premiered. The centenary of Jindřich Feld will also be celebrated with concerts featuring international soloists. Guest composers also include Gareth McLearnon and Victor Somma, whose contributions highlight the convention’s openness to contemporary and global flute creation.
Concert of Regional Conservatories – Thursday, October 30
Directed by Philippe Boucher, 70 young flutists from surrounding conservatories will perform Avinée’s Suite fantastique for flute orchestra.
Flute and Orchestra Gala – Friday, October 31
Soloists Mario Bruno, Iris Daverio, and Vincent Lucas will perform with Orchestre Ostinato under Philippe Bernold. The program includes C.P.E. Bach’s Flute Concerto, Germaine Tailleferre’s Concertino, Albert Roussel’s Le Marchand de sable qui passe, and Marc-André Dalbavie’s Concerto.
Radio France Flutists – November 1–2
Members of the Orchestre National and Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France will lead concerts, masterclasses, and a festive closing performance celebrating the Parisian flute scene.
Aurèle Nicolet Day – Sunday, November 2
Marking the upcoming centenary of the great Swiss flutist Aurèle Nicolet, this special day includes lectures, concerts, and workshops led by his students, culminating in a solo recital and masterclass by Emmanuel Pahud.
Featured Artists and Ensembles
This edition will welcome an exceptional lineup of internationally acclaimed performers and distinguished teachers, including Emmanuel Pahud, Julien Beaudiment, Sophie Cherrier, Philippe Bernold, Carlo Jans, Birgit Ramsl, Peter Verhoyen, Juliette Hurel, Isabelle Moretti, Anna Besson, Jean-Louis Beaumadier, Gergely Ittzés, Félix Renggli, Adriana Ferreira, Silvia Careddu, Mathilde Calderini, Clara Novakova, and many others.
Performances will also feature chamber ensembles such as Flötenspektakel, Ensemble Hélios, Ensemble Vibrations, and TraverseLair – Résonances XXI.
Young Soloists
Continuing its long tradition of supporting emerging talent, the 2025 Convention will showcase an impressive new generation of flute virtuosos. Among the invited artists are Mario Bruno (laureate of the Geneva and Munich International Competitions), Iris Daverio (principal flute of the Paris Opera), and Gabrielle Rubio, who is also featured in the early music program.
Special attention will be given to the laureates of the 2024 Maxence Larrieu International Flute Competition – Nice. Julin Cheung, winner of the First Prize, will appear both in recital and in concert with Philippe Bernold. Judy Lee and Mathilde Alvin-Besson will also perform; Alvin-Besson — recipient of multiple distinctions including the Second Artistic Prize, a Special Mention, and the Young Hope Award — will appear in flute and piano sonatas, flute and harp duos, and wind quintet performances.
Together with rising chamber ensembles such as QuintetRis, harpist Albane Baron, and pianist Constantin Mathias (supported by the Evesque-Huber Foundation and appearing in concert with Silvia Careddu), these artists represent the vibrant future of the flute, continuing the legacy of earlier generations of performers who first appeared at the convention, including Philippe Bernold, Benoît Fromanger, and Emmanuel Pahud.
Baroque and Historical Performance
The early music focus features Anna Besson, performing on period instruments, and Gabrielle Rubio, presenting early 18th-century French music with Thibaut Roussel on theorbo. The Consort “Les Joueurs de Traverse” will offer Renaissance flute performances.
Exhibition & Showcases
The Exhibition remains one of the major pillars of the International Flute Convention, gathering flute makers, technicians, publishers, and innovators from around the world. This vast exhibition area will once again celebrate the artistry, craftsmanship, and creativity of the flute world, offering visitors the opportunity to explore, compare, and try instruments in ideal acoustic conditions.
For the 2025 edition, La Traversière expands opportunities for exhibitors with dedicated showcase sessions designed to highlight their work and innovations. These presentations may include demonstrations, discussions, or short performances, offering participants a chance to engage directly with the public and share their expertise.
Exhibitors are invited to present their projects and describe the focus of their showcases in the dedicated application form available on the official website. This initiative reflects the convention’s dynamic, collaborative spirit and provides flute makers, publishers, technicians, and industry professionals with an outstanding platform for artistic exchange and visibility.
Masterclasses
A series of high-level masterclasses will accompany the convention’s concerts, offering participants rare opportunities to observe and learn from leading performers.
- Thursday, October 30: Julien Beaudiment
- Friday, October 31: Peter Verhoyen (piccolo), Silvia Careddu
- Saturday, November 1: Birgit Ramsl, Mathilde Calderini
- Sunday, November 2: Anna Besson (baroque flute), Emmanuel Pahud
Each masterclass will explore a different facet of flute artistry — from interpretation and tone to contemporary technique and stylistic diversity — reflecting the convention’s mission to connect tradition with innovation.
Lectures & Illustrated Talks
The convention will also feature a rich series of illustrated lectures and conference-performances, offering historical insight and artistic reflection on the flute’s evolution and its leading figures.
Thursday, October 30: The History of the Flute – Johanne Favre-Engel; Louis Fleury (1878–1926) – Lucile Renon, with Sibel Pensel
Friday, October 31: Gaston Crunelle (1898–1990) – Leonard Garrison, with Patricia Nagle and the Quintet Le Bateau Ivre
Saturday, November 1: The Modern Flute and Improvisation – Yann Cléry; Opera Fantasies – Jean-Christophe Maltot, with Laetitia Brault, Julien Beaudiment, and Hélène Boulegue.
Beatbox Flute & Contemporary Techniques – Tilmann Dehnhard
Sunday, November 2: Aurèle Nicolet (1926–2016), an Engaged Artist – Denis Verroust, with guest soloists
Venue & Organization
The VIIᵉ International Flute Convention will take place at the Jean-Baptiste Lully Conservatory in Puteaux, France (5 Rue Francis de Pressensé, 92800 Puteaux), from October 29 to November 2, 2025.
Ideally located just outside Paris, the conservatory offers spacious, modern facilities, including a 600-seat auditorium, a dedicated recital hall, and several rooms for chamber music and exhibitions — an ideal setting for an event of this scale and artistic caliber.
The convention is organized by the French Flute Association – La Traversière, under the artistic direction of Denis Verroust and Frank Masquelier.
The organizing team includes Lucie Humbert, Corinne Hournau, Christine Lacombe, Joëlle Crockey, Sophie Dufeutrelle, Thomas Mallet, Jean-Luc Abras, Claude De La Taille, Patricia Kraeutler, Cécile Bruned, and Marie-Jacques Poinsteau, with coordination across registration, workshops, showcases, publications, and logistics.
Full details, registration information, and the exhibitor application are available on the official event page:
https://latraversiere.fr/evenements/vii-convention-internationale-de-la-flute/
Updates on the complete program, including concerts, masterclasses, conferences, workshops, and exhibitor showcases, will be published on the website in the coming weeks
Please note: attendance for smaller events such as workshops, conferences, and thematic concerts requires advance reservation due to limited seating (65–150 places).
A Global Gathering of the Flute Community
The VIIᵉ International Flute Convention promises to be an unforgettable celebration — uniting tradition and innovation, legendary masters and new talents, all in the heart of France’s musical culture. From the intimate sound of the traverso to the brilliance of the modern concert flute, every aspect of the instrument will resonate during these five extraordinary days in Puteaux.
