Baldwin High School junior Brayshin Choice and senior Raelee Martin were chosen to attend the National Flute Convention last month as part of the Georgia College & State University Flute Choir.
Flute professor at Georgia College & State University and band director at Oak Hill Middle School Dr. Elise Naber-Allen saw an opportunity for both high school and collegiate students when she applied to attend the convention in Atlanta.
“This is the first year, to my knowledge, that Georgia College was invited to the Flute Convention held by the National Flute Association,” said Naber-Allen. “I submitted our request in November 2024 using an audio-only recording of our flute choir. Submissions are anonymous, assigned a number, and judged. In March we were notified that we were accepted.”
Naber-Allen leads the first flute choir at the college in four years and is constantly working to offer new experiences to her students.
“When we were accepted, I wanted to extend that experience to my Baldwin students, so I asked sophomore, junior, and rising senior students if they wanted to attend. Brayshin Choice and Raelee Martin both responded with interest,” said Naber-Allen. “They rehearsed with us during the summer to prepare to play their piece “Breaking Glass.”” The flute choir performed four pieces including, “The Liberty Bell” by John Philip Sousa and arranged by Ricky Lombardo, “Madrigals” by Samuel Adler, “Cloud Forms” by Cecil Effinger, and “Breaking Glass” by Nicole Chamberlain. Choice and Martin only performed in one piece, but they gained valuable experience rehearsing with a collegiate group, attending concerts, visiting exhibits, and viewing a world premiere performed at the event's gala.
“They were wowed by the world premiere of a flute ensemble piece with soloist Valerie Coleman, founder of Imani Winds,” said Naber-Allen. “It was amazing to see them experience flute and music in a way that is not always easy to bring into the traditional band classroom. “ Choice and Martin also each bought a piece of music from vendors around the world to practice and perform in the future.
“They went above and beyond to continue to challenge themselves and that experience will be returned to the classroom to inspire and motivate their fellow classmates,” she said.
Naber-Allen plans to include Baldwin students in the next convention that occurs within drivable distance, if Georgia College is accepted to attend. She is also working to create a formal flute choir for Baldwin students that would serve as a supplemental class and would perform for the public.
“It’s all in discussion right now but the goal is to create a formal group that could perform and grow, just like our flute choir at Georgia College,” said Naber-Allen.