Raleigh Flute Choir

 

The Raleigh Flute Choir, founded in 1986, is a chamber ensemble of professional flutists in central North Carolina.

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Remembering Tom Mease

Thomas Edward Mease, born the 21st of September 1961, to the late Cecil and Shirley (Dittberner) Mease, passed peacefully surrounded by the love of family and friends on the 23rd of July 2022. Tom was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa, where he first picked up the flute in the fourth grade. His love of the flute and music led him to gain his undergraduate degree from Drake University in Des Moines. His pursuit of an advanced degree brought him to North Carolina where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University. Tom continued his passion for music as a band director in eastern North Carolina which he fondly referred to as his “Peace Corps years.”

Tom was an accomplished musician and had many instruments in his repertoire but the flute, specifically the bass flute, had become his instrument of choice. His continued love of music and desire to perform brought him to the Raleigh Flute Choir in 1989, where he was a member until his passing. Tom performed with the RFC at the Biltmore House, Wake Forest University, Duke Chapel, and five visits to the White House, to name a few. In 2011, Tom was invited to join the International Flute Orchestra. The IFO travels the world bringing music and education to the countries they visit by providing free concerts. Through Tom’s association with the IFO, he has performed at beautiful historic venues, gardens, churches and cathedrals in Turkey, Croatia, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Germany, Spain, Japan, Portugal and Ireland. Tom was an active member in the National Flute Association, most recently serving as Treasurer until his diagnosis.

Remembering Kim Kittner

We lost a brilliant flutist and lovely soul in June 2020 when our beloved friend and colleague Kim Kittner passed away after a valiant, five-year fight with cancer.

Kim was a member of the Raleigh Flute Choir and the Raleigh Area Flute Association (RAFA) the past 34 years — performing more than 200 concerts with the Raleigh Flute Choir, hosting RAFA guest artists in her home, judging many competitions, serving on the board or directors, and housing RAFA’s extensive flute choir music library in her basement office.

But even more than all of these musical accomplishments and skills, we celebrate Kim for who she was as a person and as a dear friend to many of us. Yes, she was a brilliant musician, but she also inspired and touched us deeply with her positive and generous spirit, her boundless strength, and her delightful sense of humor.

We premiered a commissioned work, “A Journey with Love” by Phyllis Avidan Louke, at our concert in December 2021. The performance is available on our YouTube channel.