Masterclasses

Described as a flute virtuoso by the *Boston Globe*, Alberto Almarza brings a unique and passionate vision to music. His versatility and musicianship have led him to perform and record some of the most daring and challenging works in contemporary music, as well as pieces from the standard repertoire and Baroque literature on historical instruments. Originally from Chile, Almarza was the principal flutist of the Santiago Philharmonic Orchestra before moving to the United States, where he studied with Jeanne Baxtresser in New York and Julius Baker at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, earning his master’s degree. He is currently an Associate Professor of Flute and Head of the Flute Department at Carnegie Mellon. His skills as a pedagogue, lecturer, and recitalist have led him to be invited to international festivals in the United States, Europe, Korea, and Latin America. More recently, he appeared as a speaker at a TED Talk. He has been a resident artist and faculty member at the Jeanne Baxtresser International Master Classes and has served on the Artistic and Career Development Committee and the New Music Advisory Council of the National Flute Association. Alongside Jeanne Baxtresser, he co-founded the Carnegie Mellon Flute Forum and the summer masterclass *The Consummate Flutist*. Almarza has appeared as a soloist with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, the Memphis Symphony, the BachFest Chamber Orchestra, and the Chilean Philharmonic, National Symphony, and National Chamber Orchestras. He has also collaborated with artists such as Julius Baker, Andrés Cárdenes, Alex Klein, Lionel Party, Cuarteto Latinoamericano, and the Arianna String Quartet, among others. As one of the leading advocates for new flute music, he has significantly contributed to expanding the repertoire through numerous commissions and premieres of works by composers worldwide. Pieces written for him include four flute concertos and dozens of solo and chamber works. His performances have been featured on *International Music from Carnegie Mellon* broadcasts in North and South America, as well as on recordings for New Albion, Elán, Albany Records, and Centaur Recordings. He also recorded an album for Naxos Records, performing Reza Vali’s *Flute Concerto* with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project. More recently, he and his extensive flute collection were featured on PBS’s *Horizons* program.

Silvia Careddu’s distinguished career began with her victory at the 56th Concours International de Musique de Genève, where she won both the First Prize by unanimous decision and the Audience Prize. This achievement earned her an invitation from Lorin Maazel to become the principal flutist of the newly founded Filarmonica Arturo Toscanini. She later held the same position at the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, the Wiener Symphoniker, and the Wiener Philharmoniker – Wiener Staatsoper. Since 2021, she has been the principal flutist of the Orchestre National de France in Paris. Silvia has been invited as a guest principal flutist with orchestras such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. In 2012, she became an artistic partner of the Kammerakademie Potsdam, which won the Opus Prize for Best German Orchestra in 2015 and 2022. Additionally, she is a founding member of the Alban Berg Ensemble Wien, a chamber music ensemble with recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and Decca. As a soloist and chamber musician, Silvia has performed at prestigious festivals such as Schleswig Holstein, Salzburg Festspiel, Austrian Flute Festival, the International Flute Festival in Qingdao (China), Festival de Cartagena, Festival des Arcs, Bürgenstock Festival, the Australian National Academy for Music, Festival de Pollenca, and the Patmos Chamber Music Festival, among many others. In the academic field, Silvia is a professor at the Zürich Hochschule der Künste (ZHdK) and a guest lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Scuola di Musica di Fiesole. From 2011 to 2021, she taught at the Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler and the Barenboim-Said Akademie in Berlin, and she was also a professor at the École Normale de Musique A. Cortot in Paris. She regularly offers masterclasses in Asia, Europe, and the United States. Silvia is a highly respected figure in the music community and has served as a jury member in international competitions such as the Concours de Musique de Genève, the A. Nicolet Competition, the Premio Abbado, the M. Larrieu Competition, the Crusell International Competition, and the Prague Spring International Competition. Born in Cagliari, Italy, Silvia studied at the Conservatoire de Musique et de Danse de Paris, graduating with honors. Her artistry has been shaped by renowned mentors such as Aurèle Nicolet, Riccardo Ghiani, Raymond Guiot, and François Souchard. *"The love for music can help you overcome any difficulty."* — Silvia Careddu Among Silvia’s numerous accolades are: - **Premio Donna Sarda**, recognizing her cultural contributions to her homeland, Sardinia. - **Premio Navicella**, celebrating outstanding professional and cultural achievements. - **Wins in international competitions** such as the Syrinx International Flute Competition in Rome and the Concorso di Esecuzione Musicale Golfo degli Angeli, supporting young talents in Cagliari and Sassari. These honors reflect Silvia Careddu’s extraordinary talent and dedication to the world of music.

Peter Verhoyen, piccolo soloist of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, has built a distinguished reputation as a specialist on his instrument. Since 2006, together with pianist Stefan De Schepper, he has developed numerous concert programs for piccolo and piano, showcasing the piccolo as a recital instrument. To bring a contemporary approach, Peter has commissioned several Flemish composers to create new works for piccolo. This initiative led to a series of recordings (*Piccolo Tunes, The Birds!, Piccolo Polkas, La Gazza Ladra, Ma Mère l’Oye, Mighty Metamorphoses*), where the piccolo takes center stage. For his dedication to contemporary Flemish music, Peter was awarded the **Fuga Trofee** by the Union of Belgian Composers in 2017. As a piccolo specialist, Peter is regularly invited to give masterclasses and recitals at European conservatories such as the CNSMP in Paris, the Royal Academy of Music in London, and institutions in Brno, Hannover, Weimar, Tilburg, Milan, among others. He has also participated in flute and piccolo festivals across Europe (*BFS Conventions, Adams Flute Festival, International Piccolo Festival*), the United States (*NFA Conventions in New York, Washington, Anaheim, Las Vegas, San Diego, Salt Lake City, and more*), as well as in Colombia, Brazil, Mexico, and Australia. Currently, Peter teaches piccolo at his private studio in Bruges, at the **Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst** in Graz, and at the **Royal Conservatoire of Antwerp**, where he developed Europe’s first master's program in piccolo performance. This prestigious program has gained international recognition, attracting students from Belgium, Australia, and beyond. His master’s students have achieved success in international piccolo competitions and secured positions in national and international orchestras. In collaboration with Aldo Baerten, Peter is the organizer and driving force behind the **International Flute Seminar Bruges**, a space where flutists and piccolo players of all ages and levels receive inspiration and motivation through individual lessons, workshops, masterclasses, and chamber music.

Born in Braga, Portugal, in 1990, Francisco Barbosa began his musical studies with José Matos. In 2000, he entered the Braga Conservatory under the guidance of João Marinho and Adriano Sabença, and in 2005, he continued his studies at the Academy of Music in Guimarães with Gil Magalhães. He has refined his technique through masterclasses with renowned flutists such as Mark Fregnani-Martins, Nuno Inácio, Ana Maria Ribeiro, Reza Najfar, William Bennett, and Mauricio Freire, among others. Throughout his career, Francisco has collaborated with distinguished orchestras such as the Orquestra Nacional dos Templários, Orchestra XXI, Orquesta Santa Cecilia de Madrid, Orquesta del Distrito de Braga, Orquestra de Câmara Portuguesa, and Orquestra Metropolitana de Lisboa. He has worked under the baton of esteemed conductors such as Krzysztof Penderecki, Plácido Domingo, Juanjo Mena, and Stefan Asbury. In 2008, following an invitation from Wolfgang Schulz, he moved to Vienna to study with Schulz, Reza Najfar, and Hansgeorg Schmeiser, furthering his training with Clare Southworth, Katherine Bryant, and Emmanuel Pahud. During his time in Austria, he performed at Ehrbarsaal (Vienna) and at Musikschule Hard, accompanied by pianists Erich Faltermeier and Violetta Kargina. In 2012, he founded the Sirius Trivium chamber trio, with which he won the internal chamber music competition of the Academia Superior Metropolitana de Orquesta. As a soloist and with this ensemble, he has performed in renowned venues such as Casa da Música in Porto and international festivals such as the Piantón Music Festival in Spain (2013 and 2014). Francisco graduated with distinction from the Academia Nacional Superior de Orquesta in 2013, studying under Nuno Inácio. In 2014, he entered the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía in Madrid, where he studied with Jacques Zoon. A year later, he toured as a soloist with the Camerata Reina Sofía, under the direction of Hansjörg Schellenberger. Since 2015, he has been a member of the Klaue Woodwind Quintet. Additionally, in 2016, he participated in the Santander Music Festival, performing alongside world-class soloists such as Matthias Racz and Pascal Moragues, under the direction of the legendary Krzysztof Penderecki.

In 1997, she won First Prize in the Paris Conservatory (CNR) competition, and in 1999, she graduated from the Higher Institute of Art in Havana with a Gold Diploma. She holds a Master’s degree in Hispanic Musical Heritage from the University of Havana. Her performances as a soloist stand out with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, conducted by Maestro Leo Brouwer (Cuba), Sebrina Alfonso (USA), Jean Paul Penin (France), among others. She has also performed with the National Concert Band, the Música Eterna Chamber Orchestra, Los Solistas de la Habana, the Woodwind Ensemble of the Rouen Opera (France), the Chamber Orchestra of the European Community under the direction of Eivind Aadland (Norway), the University of Chile Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of the Dominican Republic, the Cuarteto Latinoamericano, and the Lyceum Mozartiano Orchestra of Havana, among others. She has received numerous awards, including: Grand Prize in the "Amadeo Roldán" competitions (1991 and 1994). Grand Prize in the 6th Chamber Music Competition and Festival of the National Center for Concert Music. Award at the Chamber Music Competition of the National Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba. Honorable Mention for Interpretative Mastery (1993). Award at the 9th Festival and Contemporary Music Competition "José Ardévol". First Place in the "Musicalia '95" competition at the Higher Institute of Art. In 2009, she received the "La Espiral Eterna" Award, granted by the Office of Maestro Leo Brouwer. In 2020, she received the "Batuta Award", and in 2021, she was honored with the "Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres" distinction by the Ministry of Culture of France and the National Culture Order of Cuba. She has performed numerous recitals in concert halls across Cuba, China, Chile, the United States, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Spain, France, Austria, Germany, Italy, England, Ecuador, and Brazil. She has also recorded for radio and television programs in various countries. She has represented her country at numerous flute festivals around the world, where she has offered recitals and masterclasses. She is frequently invited as a jury member for various competitions. Her work as a flutist has led her to collaborate with numerous ensembles and prominent soloists from different parts of the world. In 2003, she released her first album, "Flauta Virtuosa", which won the Best Debut Album award at the Cubadisco 2004 competition. She has also participated in recordings of works by Maestro Leo Brouwer, which are featured in albums such as "Homo Ludens," "Paisajes, Retratos y Mujeres," "Brouwer Esencial," and "Mitología de las Aguas," among others. She has been an Associate Professor of Flute for over twenty years, teaching at the Higher Institute of Art. She is a soloist with the National Center for Concert Music and a guest soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra. Since 1997, she has been a member of Duo Ondina alongside pianist María del Henar Navarro, and since 2005, she has been part of the ensemble that accompanies Silvio Rodríguez.

Francisco is the Principal Flutist of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, Solo Flutist of the OBC Orchestra of Barcelona, and during the 2019-20 season, he was the Principal Guest Artist of the Extremadura Orchestra. In 2015, he won 4 prizes (including the Audience Award and Second Prize) at the prestigious "ARD-Musikwettbewerb" competition in Munich. Since then, he has had an active career as a soloist and chamber musician. He is often invited to give masterclasses at conservatories such as Barratt Due in Oslo, University of Gothenburg, Conservatorio Superior de Badajoz, Conservatorio Superior de Aragón, Conservatorio Superior de Granada, and the ESMUC in Barcelona. Francisco has been invited as Principal Flutist in orchestras such as the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, Orquestra de Cadaqués, Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Gothenburg Symphony, Swedish Radio, Sydney Symphony, Den Norske Oper & Ballett, Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Frankfurter Museumsorchester, and the Liceo Orchestra of Barcelona, to name a few. In addition to his performing career, Francisco is also a composer. He has published works for solo flute such as “Mangata” and even “El Bailaero de las Gitanas” for flute and orchestra, which received great success both from the public and critics at its premiere. His most recent commission was "Mononoke-hime", the required piece for the AFE competition in 2020.

Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Luis Julio Toro is an internationally renowned flutist whose career has merged academic, popular, and traditional music. He began his studies with Glen Egner and was part of the Orquesta de la Juventud Venezolana Simón Bolívar. In 1980, he enrolled at the Royal College of Music in London, where he earned the Performer’s Diploma and the Associate Certificate (ARCM). Additionally, he explored Indian classical flute at the Bhavan Institute of Indian Arts. Toro has performed as a soloist on iconic stages such as Carnegie Hall, the Radio France International Festival, the Cervantino Festival, and numerous festivals across Europe, Asia, America, and the Middle East. He has received awards such as The Best Flutist of the Year, the Oliver Dawson Award, and First Prize at the Eve Kish Competition. He has also been honored with decorations such as the Order Colombeia and the Order Andrés Bello in its First Class. As an educator, he teaches Instrumental Performance in the Master’s in Flute program at the Simón Bolívar University and has been invited to the Instrumenta project in Mexico. Luis Julio is a founding member of Ensamble Gurrufío and Camerata Criolla, groups that blend academic music with the richness of Venezuelan music, redefining aesthetic standards in their performances. Simultaneously, Toro lives music as an extension of his adventurous life. With a restless and resilient spirit, he has overcome adversities to continue exploring and taking his audience on a musical journey that spans from Baroque to contemporary music, as well as his beloved traditional-rooted music. This approach inspired his Aventuras Sonoras program and his immersive concerts. With a distinctive sound and exceptional command of his instrument, Luis Julio Toro is much more than a performer: he is a creator, explorer, and teacher who transforms every stage into a unique musical journey.

International concert artist and piccolo soloist of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, Ana María Hernández has performed in 16 countries across the Americas and Europe. Her artistic work has been guided by the search for new horizons, using her versatility in handling flutes to serve innovative musical proposals. She has collaborated with Puerto Rican and international composers in the creation of works, including premieres with the Kroger Quartet in Denmark, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra, the National Symphony Orchestra of Ecuador, the International Flute Festival Orchestra of Panama, Duo Laelia, and the Heliconia Group. Her performances stand out at Indiana South Bend University, the World Exposition in Seville, the Music Forum Concert Series in Baltimore, the National Flute Association Convention in San Diego, Berklee College of Music, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York. She has also performed as a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba, the Symphony Orchestra of Trujillo, Peru, and the Latin American Chamber Ensemble in Philadelphia. As an ensemble performer, she has appeared with the Ensemble International de Paris, the Concerto Soloist of Philadelphia, the Haddonfield Symphony, and the Orchestre Philharmonique d'Europe. She was a representative of Arista Flutes at the French Flute Convention, was interviewed for Flute Talk Magazine, and received awards in the UFAM and Nerini competitions in Paris. She earned a Doctorate in Music from the University of Kansas, focusing her research on Latin American female composers. She was honored by the National Foundation for Popular Culture as the producer and performer of the album Flauta Boricua, produced with the sponsorship of the Puerto Rican Institute of Culture. She also graduated from the Peabody Conservatory of Music, L'Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris, L'Ecole de Musique de Ville d'Avray, the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and the University of Puerto Rico. She was the Artistic Coordinator and creator of the First Latin American Flutists Festival at the University of Puerto Rico. She created the courses Piccolo and Latin American Female Composers at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico, and the course Women in Music at the University of Puerto Rico. As an academic, she has presented her work at conferences and universities, including the College Music Society Convention in New Mexico, Berklee College of Music, the University of Costa Rica, the University of Panama, and the International Alliance for Women in Music Conference. During her Central American Tour 2018, she presented concerts, masterclasses, and lectures in Honduras, Panama, and Costa Rica, being an invited academic in the latter. She regularly serves as a judge in national and international competitions, including the International Latin American Flute Competition. Dr. Hernández is part of the Artistic Committee of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra and is a professor at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico.

Rafael is one of the most influential flutists in the Colombian music scene, both as a performer and a teacher. His students are recurrent winners of flute and performance competitions in Colombia and are frequent invitees to prestigious international flute competitions, where they have received significant recognition. His professional activities have led him to perform in concert halls in Colombia, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Israel, Oman, Japan, and the United States. Rafael has an outstanding career in chamber music. He is a founding member of the ensemble La Sociedad, a group with which he has developed a significant concert schedule both in and outside Colombia for over 17 years. In addition to his concert activities, they have recorded numerous works by Colombia’s most important composers. In 2024, he presented a concert at the National Flute Association's Annual Convention with his interdisciplinary project EAC. In 2022 and 2023, he was invited to the Popayán Chamber Music Festival along with the Romo Ensemble. In 2019, he was invited to perform at the Cartagena International Music Festival alongside pianist Ramin Bahrami and the Cremona Quartet. He performed with the Guloya Ensemble in 2018 at the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention in the United States, at the Flautistic Festival in the Dominican Republic in 2017, at the Preludios Festival in Brazil in 2016, and at the Javeriana University in Colombia in the same year. In April 2013, he performed at the Instituto Cervantes in Tokyo with the ensemble La Greca, and in 2012, he was invited to the International Contemporary Music Festival at the University of Chile with the ensemble CG y. Between 2007 and 2012, he was a member of the ensemble Cotoprí, with whom he toured in Brazil and the United States. He has been invited to participate in the recording of several CDs published by the Luis Angel Arango Library, dedicated to the works of composers Luis Fernando Rizo (2013), Francisco Zumaqué (2014), Fabian Roa (2016), Pedro Sarmiento (2017), Moisés Bertran (2022), and Natalia Valencia (2024). He also participated in the recording of the CD “Formas de recuerdo sin territorio” released in 2016, dedicated to the works of composer Carolina Noguera. In 2017, he took part in the multimedia opera “3mil Ríos” by Portuguese composer Victor Gama, and in 2015, he joined the French ensemble Le Balcon for the performance of “Garras de Oro”, presented at the Cartagena International Film Festival. In 2010, 2011, and 2012, Rafael was invited to perform at the Cartagena International Music Festival as a member of the City of London Sinfonia, and in 2023, with the Prague Chamber Orchestra. In addition to his work with the classical flute repertoire, Rafael has extensive experience in popular music and jazz. With the ensemble La Moderna, he released two CDs: “La Moderna MC” (2000) and “Jovita” (2004), and they were invited to perform at major festivals such as the “International Jazz Festival at the Teatro Libre”, “Barranquijazz”, and the “Jazz al Parque” Festival. Between 2010 and 2014, and in 2017, the Jazz al Parque Festival invited him to be part of the “Big Band Bogotá”, which brings together some of the country’s most notable jazz figures, and they recorded several live concert DVDs. He is currently part of the Igaragó Latin Jazz Ensemble, with whom he released his first album in 2019. Rafael was a flutist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia for over 10 years and with the Cundinamarca Philharmonic Orchestra. As a soloist, he has performed with the Loja Symphony Orchestra (Ecuador), the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia (Colombia), the Valle Departmental Wind Symphony Orchestra (Colombia), the University of Arkansas Symphony Orchestra (USA), the State University of Campo Grande Orchestra (Brazil), among others, performing world premieres of works dedicated to him, in addition to solo repertoire. As a teacher and performer, he has been invited to the Oaxaca International Flute and Piccolo Festival (Mexico), the Colombia RC International Flute Festival, the Southwestern Colombian Flute Festival, the Medellín Flute Seminar, North Texas University (USA), Prairie View A&M University (USA), Virginia Tech University (USA), Campo Grande University (Brazil), the National Conservatory of Music of Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), National School of Music (Cuba), and University of Panama (Panama), as well as nearly every music program university in Colombia. He studied flute with Sara Brown, Fabio Londoño, Ronda Mains, and Mary Karen Clardy. He has been awarded in various competitions in the United States and Colombia and holds a Master’s Degree in Music from Javeriana University and a Master's Degree from the University of Arkansas (USA). Rafael is the founder and member of the organizing committee for the International Latin American Flute Competition. He was the director of the Music Studies Program at Pontificia Javeriana University and is currently a flute and chamber music professor at that institution, as well as a flute professor at University of Valle.

Alejandro Escuer is a Mexican flutist, composer, and multidisciplinary artist born in 1963. He is renowned for his unique approach to performance and composition, integrating visual and sound elements that deeply impact his concerts and recordings. His repertoire spans from classical masterpieces to Latin American compositions, as well as his own creations and improvisations. As a performer, he appears both as a soloist with symphony orchestra and in recitals with piano, guitar, electronics, percussion, multimedia, or ensemble. Escuer has been a key figure in the consolidation of contemporary music in Mexico, serving as artistic director and producer of more than 150 concerts, including premieres by composers from Mexico, Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, Korea, Italy, Spain, and other countries. He has received numerous awards and recognitions, including the Rockefeller Prize (1995), first place in the National Competition of Performers (1986, 1987), multiple grants from the National Fund for Culture and Arts (FONCA), and the Independent Music Award for Best Classical Contemporary Album in 2014 for his album Flying. As an academic, Escuer is a full-time professor at the National School of Music of the UNAM and has taught masterclasses and lectures at prestigious institutions such as Indiana University, Columbia University, and New York University. His research has led him to explore new expressive techniques for the flute, including circular breathing, the use of subcontrabass flutes, and the development of innovative technologies. He also incorporates cultural influences from pre-Hispanic and Latin American traditions in his performances. Escuer holds degrees from the National Conservatory of Music (B.A.), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (B.A.), the Sweelinck Conservatorium in Amsterdam (M.A.), and a doctorate in musical performance from New York University (Ph.D.). He has recorded more than 12 albums as an artistic director, including standout works such as Jade Nocturno, Aqua, Aire Desnudo, Folklore Imaginario, and Flying. His accomplishments include the premiere of Flow for flute and orchestra by David Dzubay in 2019, performed with the Mexico City Philharmonic Orchestra. Alejandro Escuer continues to be a leading figure in contemporary music, with a career that combines artistic excellence, innovation, and cultural commitment.

Elizabeth is the principal flutist of the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, professor of flute at the University of Antioquia and the Ibero-American Philharmonic Academy Foundation (Colombia). She is the founder of the "Ensamble Murano" and the "Proyecto Modular." Elizabeth has been invited as a flutist for the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, principal flutist of the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra of Colombia. She served as the principal flutist of the Eafit University Symphony Orchestra and the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Antioquia (Colombia). She has also taught flute at the Javeriana University (Bogotá D.C.), Francisco José de Caldas District University (Bogotá D.C.), and Eafit University (Medellín). Elizabeth is also involved in various musical events in Colombia, including inter-university competitions, the itinerant flute festival, the Medellín Flute Seminar, and the "Extravagant Flute Cycles" festival. Elizabeth won the First Prize at the Alexander and Buono Flute International Competition, which allowed her to debut at the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York (USA). She has also won the Silberman Chamber Music Competition at CMU (USA) and received mentions at the Concours International du Jeune Flûtiste in Paris. Additionally, she participated in the Evry National Orchestra Academy under the direction of Maestro Nicolas Brochot (France). Elizabeth performed a contemporary music recital at the Historical Computers Museum in Silicon Valley, California, and was the winner of the Young Performers Competition at the Luis Ángel Arango Library in Bogotá. She has been a beneficiary of the Carolina Oramas and Colfuturo artist grants, was sponsored by Eafit University for her master's studies in the United States, and was selected by the Ministry of Culture as the winner of the Colombian Music Portfolio. Her teachers have included Alberto Almarza and Jeanne Baxtresser in the United States, Vincent Lucas, Gilles Burgos, and François Veilhan in France, and Hugo Espinosa, Fabio Londoño, and Mauricio Moreno in Colombia. Elizabeth earned her Master's in Performance from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh (USA), completed Diplomas in Music Studies and Advanced Training at the National Conservatories of Meudon and Evry (France), and obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Antioquia (Colombia).

Darío Portillo is a Mexican flutist born in 1994. Since 2017, he has served as the Principal Flute of the Niederrheinische Sinfoniker Orchestra in Germany. He studied at the Conservatorio de las Rosas, the École Normale de Musique de Paris, the Conservatoire de Paris, and the Hochschule für Musik Stuttgart, under renowned teachers such as Pierre-Yves Artaud, Philippe Bernold, and Davide Formisano. Darío has won international competitions and participated in prestigious events such as the ARD Music Competition in Munich and the Kobe Flute Competition. He has performed as a soloist with various orchestras and collaborated with renowned conductors. His repertoire spans from Baroque to Contemporary music, with a particular interest in composition and improvisation.

Maria Fernanda Castillo is a Venezuelan flutist acclaimed by the New York Times for her "...elegant virtuosity." She has developed an important career as a performer, musicologist, entrepreneur, and educator in Latin America and the United States. A co-founder and co-director of the Latin American Music Initiative (LAMI), Maria Fernanda has dedicated herself to promoting the music of Latin American composers. As a performer, Maria Fernanda has an extensive career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist. She made her solo debut in New York City with the Orquesta Filarmónica de las Américas under the direction of Mexican conductor Alondra de la Parra. She has also performed as a soloist with renowned orchestras such as the Orquesta Sinfónica Simón Bolívar and the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas. Her orchestral experience is vast, having served as Assistant Principal Flute with the Orquesta Sinfónica Municipal de Caracas, and performing in various orchestras, including the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, New World Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Orquesta Sinfónica de Venezuela, Orquesta Filarmónica de Venezuela, Miami City Ballet, and Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes, among others. Maria Fernanda holds Bachelor's, Specialization, and Doctoral degrees in performance from the University of Michigan with Amy Porter, a Master's degree in performance from the University of Miami with Christine Nield-Capote, and a Master's in Latin American Musicology from the Universidad Central de Venezuela. She is currently a Professor of Flute at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville.

Abraham Jacob Saenz is a concert flutist of the Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes and the Principal Flute of the UNAM Philharmonic Orchestra, the UNAM Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería. He is a winner of various competitions, including the Concurso Nacional de Flauta "Gildardo Mojica", the Concurso del Conservatorio de Chihuahua, and the Concurso de Solistas del Festival Internacional de Flauta de Monterrey. He has held significant positions in orchestras, including Principal Flute of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa in 2015, and later Co-principal Flute in 2019. As a soloist, he has performed with orchestras across Mexico and alongside renowned violinist and conductor Massimo Quarta with the Ensemble Filarmonía. His performances have taken place at the South Texas Flute and Clarinet Festival, Instrumenta Oaxaca, the Festival Internacional de Chihuahua, the Festival Internacional de Monterrey, as well as recitals in Italy, Switzerland, and the United States. He has also recorded for Deutsche Grammophon as a flutist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería.

Originally from New York, USA, Megan Maiorana has been the Principal Flute of the Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes since 2001 and a flute professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Zacatecas since 2008. She has performed with various orchestras across Mexico, including the Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa (interim flutist), Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México, Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad de Guanajuato, Orquesta Sinfónica de Querétaro, and Orquesta Sinfónica de San Luis Potosí. As the Principal Flute of the Ensemble Sinfónica de Nuevo Inglaterra, she toured internationally in Russia, Scandinavia, and the United States, and has performed several times at the renowned Carnegie Hall in New York. [Name of Flutist] has been a guest soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatán, Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de Chihuahua, Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Orquesta Filarmónica de Zacatecas, and numerous times with her beloved Orquesta Sinfónica de Aguascalientes, performing major flute concertos from the classical repertoire. As a soloist, she premiered a work by composer Cutberto Córdova with the Orquesta de Guitarras de Xalapa at the Sala Tlaqná in Xalapa. With her ensemble LUMINARIA, she has performed at the Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City), the Festival de Música de Cámara de Aguascalientes, at the Foro del Lago de la Feria Nacional de San Marcos, and in the cities of Guanajuato and Salamanca. LUMINARIA was a winner of the PECDA project in 2015, performing artistic concerts for the public in Aguascalientes. The American flutist has also collaborated with the José White String Quartet, premiering and recording "Horas Marcadas" by Javier Álvarez, which was also presented at the Palacio de Bellas Artes and the Festival de Música de Morelia. She was a finalist in the C.R.E.A.T.E. Competition by the National Flute Association (USA), presenting her project "Expanding the Mexican Repertoire for Flute, Viola, and Harp Ensemble" at the Chicago Convention.

Born in Xalapa, Veracruz in 1990, David Rivera began his musical studies at the age of eight at the Centro de Iniciación Musical Infantil (CIMI). He later pursued his undergraduate studies in transverse flute at the Instituto Superior de Música del Estado de Veracruz, under the guidance of Maestra Érica Ríos Hernández. He earned his Master's in Chamber Music from the Centro Mexicano de Postgrado en Música in Puebla, studying with Miguel Ángel Villanueva. David was a member of the Orquesta Sinfónica Juvenil del Estado de Veracruz for five years, where he developed his passion for the piccolo. He has attended masterclasses with renowned piccolo players such as Peter Verhoyen, Pierre Dumail, Nathalie Rozat, and Virginie Reibel, among others. He has taught in prominent educational projects, including Esperanza Azteca Coatepec, the Escuela de Música de Bellas Artes de Veracruz (EMBA), and the Centro de Artes Indígenas (CAI) in Papantla, Veracruz. David has participated in the Concurso Nacional de Flauta “Rubén Islas” and the Concurso Nacional de Flauta “Gildardo Mojica”, earning third place in 2005, second place in 2006 and 2007, and first place in 2008 in various categories. He also participated in the first edition of the Concurso de Música de Cámara “Mateo Oliva” in Naolinco, Veracruz in 2016, where he earned second place. Currently, David is a member of the Orquesta de Flautas de Xalapa, with which he has performed at several National Flute Association conventions in the United States, as well as in prestigious national festivals and venues. He is the piccolo player for both the Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM (OFUNAM) and the Orquesta del Teatro de Bellas Artes.

Yamani Fuentes won first place in the Harold Clarke Competition for Woodwind and the Albert Cooper Flute Competition in 2004. She completed her Master's in Performance in London under the guidance of Wissam Boustany, graduating with honors and receiving the Gold Medal from the Trinity College of Music. Currently, she is the Principal Flute of the Orquesta Filarmónica del Estado de Querétaro and has performed as a soloist with the Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa, the Orquesta de Cámara de Bellas Artes, and other prestigious ensembles. Her talent has taken her to stages such as Carnegie Hall, the Merkin Concert Hall in New York, and the most important concert halls in Mexico.

Rubén Ramírez Alejandre, born in Poza Rica, Veracruz, is a specialist and passionate flutist. He studied music at the Universidad Veracruzana, completing 16 semesters of musical studies, and has established himself as a distinguished performer in the field of classical music. Since 2022, he has been the Principal Flutist of the Camerata de Coahuila. His journey into music began during his adolescence, when he discovered the complexity of classical music and became fascinated by the sound of the transverse flute. He describes this instrument as an extension of the human voice, which led him to explore its technical and expressive possibilities. “The flute has no resonance box; the musician creates the resonance with their body, shaping the sound and playing with colors,” he says. Throughout his career, Rubén has been part of several prominent orchestras, including the Orquesta Nacional de Flautas de México, Orquesta Sinfónica de la Universidad de Guanajuato, Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa, Orquesta Filarmónica de la UNAM, and Orquesta Sinfónica de Jalisco. He has also won important accolades, such as first place at the Concurso Nacional de Flauta "Rubén Islas" in 2011 and second place at the Concurso Nacional de Flauta "Gildardo Mojica" in 2014. Rubén admires Emmanuel Pahud, flutist of the Berlin Philharmonic, as well as international teachers like Patrick Gallois and Mario Caroli, with whom he has taken masterclasses. For Rubén, playing the transverse flute is like “singing on another sonic level,” an experience that allows him to explore unique dimensions of music. In March 2024, he performed as a soloist with the Camerata de Coahuila, interpreting Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Flute Concerto in D Major at the majestic Teatro Isauro Martínez in Torreón, receiving praise for his outstanding performance. In addition to his love for music, Rubén has a particular interest in systems and technology, a field he considers a hobby and an alternative career path he would explore if music had not captivated him so deeply.