Frequently Asked Questions

Dates:
August 7-10, 2025

Location: 
Hyatt Regency Atlanta
265 Peachtree St NE
Atlanta, GA 30303

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All flutists are welcome at an NFA convention. This includes amateurs, students, professionals, and everyone in between. Flutists of all ages and performance levels attend the convention year after year to hear their favorite performers, learn new music, and meet like-minded friends. 

Note that an NFA Membership is required to register for the convention. Non-members may purchase tickets for individual sessions in-person at the convention. Non-flutists may attend as guests of an NFA member. Non-flutist guests can purchase a single event ticket or a full convention registration.

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The NFA is committed to meeting the accessibility needs of all convention participants. We have compiled accessibility information on the convention on nfaonline.org/accessibility (link opens in new window). 

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Each year, hundreds of NFA members submit a proposal to give a performance, lecture, or workshop at the convention. Proposals are reviewed by a committee of NFA members, the Program Chair, and the Assistant Program Chair with a number of criteria in mind,
including potential interest to convention attendees and alignment with that year's convention theme. 

The 2025 proposal process closed in late 2024, and we are no longer accepting submissions. We encourage you to consider submitting a proposal for our 2026 Convention in Portland, OR. Announcements will be made on social media and through our email list. 

That being said, there are still many opportunities to perform at the convention through our participatory flute choirs, reading sessions, and open masterclasses. Details will be announced when the schedule is released. 

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There are a few options:

We offer a lower-income registration rate. This rate is available to anyone who holds a lower-income NFA membership (available for those earning less than $40,000 annually).

All NFA members are invited to take advantage of our payment plans; these allow you to pay off your registration fee in installments over several months. You can enroll in a payment plan during the online registration process. 

If you are unable to afford registration, you are invited to apply for a Convention Registration Scholarship (applications open in March). These scholarships are awarded based on financial need and interest (regardless of age or playing ability), and recipients will not be made public. 

We also have some part-time paid work at convention registration to help offset expenses. Information will be available soon. 

If you'd like to split the cost of a hotel room, you can use our Roommate Listing page to find a potential roommate. 

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Absolutely! 

Convention attendees are invited to join one of our Participatory Flute Choirs and perform at the convention. This year, you can join the Opening Flute Orchestra, the Melanin Rhapsody Flute Choir, the LGBTQIA+ Flute Choir, the Adult Amateur Flute Choir, and the Closing Flute Orchestra (featuring world premiere performances of works by Jonathan Cohen, Tilmann Dehnhard, and Paige Dashner Long!). Advance sign-up is required, and these ensembles fill quickly every year. Be sure to register early to secure a spot! Learn more HERE. 

A cherished NFA tradition takes place on Sunday at the closing ceremony. Bring your flute and join thousands of flutists playing the Bach Air. 

There will also be open masterclasses and flute choir reading sessions where you can play. Check out the full schedule for details - coming soon.

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Yes - we're so glad you'll be there! We will hold a Welcome Orientation at the convention (Thursday, 11am)  for first-time attendees to find out more, presented by the 2025 and 2026 Assistant Program Chairs.

Also plan on joining the Myrna Brown Dine-Around on Thursday to connect with other flutists over a community dinner a local restaurant.

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Yes, this Awards Reception is a wonderful celebration of flutists - the recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award or the Distinguished Service Award - who have contributed so much to our field. 

The following awards will be presented at this reception:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Lillian Burkart, Sheryl Cohen, Zart Dombourian-Eby Distinguished Service Award: Zart Dombourian-Eby
 
This ticketed event will feature a southern-themed buffet, light refreshments, a cash bar, live music, and the awards presentation. Tickets are $120 (regular) and $60 (students & NFA lower income members). Purchase your tickets in advance when you register, as they will sell out. 

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We will publish a preliminary event schedule in the spring. The complete program book, including the full schedule, will be available as a pdf on the NFA website in July. New this year, there will be a $5 charge for a printed program book. To receive a printed program book, you MUST purchase it at the time of your registration.

The convention app, including the full schedule, will also be available in early July.

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To ensure that all participants in the NFA convention and other events have a positive and collaborative experience, the NFA expects that community members will:

• Be considerate and respectful to all community members
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, abusive, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech
• Speak up if they observe anything at an event that conflicts with this Code of Conduct
• If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact the Executive Director or another member of the NFA staff or Board of Directors immediately
• Possible consequences of violation of the code of conduct include removal from NFA events or notification to the authorities

RULES AND POLICIES

• The first two rows of each convention room are designated priority seating for attendees with disabilities. Please consider refraining from using these rows, and if you are seated in this area, please be prepared to offer your seat if another attendee requires it.
• Please be courteous to the performers and those around you when taking photographs at concerts or presentations. Ensure that your camera’s flash and any associated sounds (e.g., from a cell phone) are turned off.
• Audio and video recording of convention concerts and presentations is discouraged, unless the person recording:
  • a) will not block the view of any person in the audience, create noise, or otherwise interrupt, disturb, disrupt, or delay the performance or presentation being recorded
  • b) will not use said recording for any copyright infringing or other illegal purpose or for any purpose that would be detrimental to the NFA;
• Please silence all electronic devices before performances or presentations.
• In accordance with NFA policy, refrain from applause at all competition events.
• Rehearsals will take place in the performance halls between events. Please do not disturb them. Doors will open 15 minutes prior to the event.
• Please refrain from practicing in hotel rooms after 9:00pm.
• Please observe policies as a courtesy to all the performers and attendees.

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We're here to help! Please contact Mily Harrod, NFA Membership Manager, at mharrod@nfaonline.org, or call our office at 312-332-6682. 

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Registration includes admission to:

• All 200+ convention sessions (workshops, recitals, masterclasses, etc.)
• All evening Gala Concerts, including the Saturday Night Concerto Concert
• The Exhibit Hall

Admission to the Awards Reception (where the Lifetime Achievement Awards and Distinguished Service Awards are presented) is not included in your registration. Purchase your ticket as an add-on when you register. 

Please note that a printed program book is not included in your registration this year. If you would like a printed program book, you must purchase one for $5 during the registration process. A digital pdf copy of the program book, as well as the convention app, will be available for free. 

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Yes - an NFA membership is required to register for the NFA convention. Become a member at nfaonline.org/membership

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We strongly encourage you to register online. This will guarantee you the lowest price and ensure an easy check-in when you arrive in Atlanta. Online registration ends on Tuesday, July 29th at 11:59pm CT.

We also welcome on-site registrations at the NFA Registration Desk in Atlanta. Registration  information can be found here. 

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Yes! We offer a lowered registration rate for non-flutist guests (family members, partners/spouses, etc.). You add your guest directly onto your registration. 

If your guest is under 8, then they are free. Please contact Mily Harrod (mharrod@nfaonline.org), to process under 8 registrations.

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If your presentation/performance includes a non-flutist, they will receive a complimentary single-day registration for the day they will be participating at the convention. Please email Mily Harrod (mharrod@nfaonline.org) to process this.

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You can register your group using this form (note there are no discounts for group registrations, but we have a 50% discount for student group memberships): https://www.nfaonline.org/convention/HomePage/registration/group-registration

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The Convention Program Book, including the complete schedule, will be published on our website in the summer. The full convention program will also available on the convention app and in a printed program book.

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Reach out to Mily Harrod, NFA Membership Manager, at mharrod@nfaonline.org

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Yes, but new this year, there will be a $5 charge for a printed program book. To receive a printed program book, you MUST purchase it at the time of your registration.

Attendees who register online in advance of the convention will need to purchase your printed program book online during the registration process. Program books are not available to purchase on-site for those who have registered in advance.

If you have not registered online in advance of the convention and you register on-site, you will have the option to purchase a printed program book, subject to availability.

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This step has been introduced in the interest of affordability -- to contain convention costs -- and sustainability -- to avoid a surplus of books being printed and shipped. 

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International flute choirs invited to perform receive free registration, but will need to be active members. 

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You can find all the information and necessary forms on our website here.

Start by reading the Exhibitor & Sponsor Prospectus, then our Rules & Regulations document for more information.  

If you have any questions, contact the Convention Director, Daniel Pozzebon: dpozzebon@nfaonline.org. Note the deadlines for each step of the process.

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The loading dock comes right to the exhibit hall on street level.

For small exhibitors with one booth and limited material, you can walk your materials into the hall from the main lobby. You must have a convention badge to enter the exhibit hall,  so you must visit registration first (open on Wednesday from 9:00 am).

More information will be available through the Decoration Company (Via Exhibitor Kit) that will be sent to you around May.

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No - you can bring your own folding table and chairs, table cloths, small rug, etc. It will save a lot of money if you bring these items yourself (note the pricing costs for load-in of materials).

More information will be available through the Decoration Company (Via Exhibitor Kit) that will be sent to you around May.

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You can purchase this via the exhibitor kit that will be distributed by the decoration company (RPM xpo) around May.

Note that these services are provided by the Hotel (via Encore) and prices are not negotiable.

We recommend for small companies that you do not use electricity at your booth and use a wifi hot-spot from your phone, if possible. This will reduce your costs significantly.

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YES.

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Advertising in the printed program book is a great way to promote your business! You can find all details and the order form here.

The deadline for ad reservations is on May 1st, 2025.

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NFA Commercial Membership accounts have to be setup by our staff and linked to at least one individual account. Please contact our Convention Associate, Aydan Hensley, at ahensley@nfaonline.org to setup an account and login. Once you are logged in, you will be able to toggle between your personal NFA profile and your company profile. Exhibitors will need to be acting from their company profile to purchase commercial membership and complete the exhibitor contract. Please note, your personal profile does not need to have an NFA membership in order for you to exhibit; only the company profile needs a membership.

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Daniel Pozzebon, Convention Director: dpozzebon@nfaonline.org

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Yes, in order to perform or present at the convention you need to be registered and have a badge, and your membership must be active. 

If you have questions regarding this please contact Mily Harrod @ mharrod@nfaonline.org

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Yes, everyone attending the convention needs to be registered. If a member of your group is not a flutist, they will be registered for free and will receive a badge. Please contact Mily Harrod @ mharrod@nfaonline.org for further information.

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Yes, everyone attending the convention needs to be registered. A composer whose work is being performed will be registered for free for the day of their performance and will receive a badge. Please contact Mily Harrod @ mharrod@nfaonline.org for further information.

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Contact Mily Harrod @ mharrod@nfaonline.org or visit NFA registration

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No. When setting up the budget for the convention, we took under consideration all the information listed in the proposals. We are not able to make any changes at this time.

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Yes. The NFA will not provide laptops. The production team from Crescent Productions will have the necessary connectors to go from your laptop to their system. However, the NFA suggests that you bring your own connectors as a backup plan.

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Yes, at the beginning of your rehearsal, there will be someone from Crescent Productions available in your room to set you up and get you going. If no one is there, there will be a card with a contact number you can call and they will be right over to help. Please note that the technicians will not remain in the room for the entirety of your program and they are not running your program. It is your responsibility to run your own electronics or presentations.

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Yes. Our convention runs on a very tight schedule. By clearing the stage immediately after your performance, you will be helping us keep the events on schedule. Thank you!

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If you are part of the Flute Ensemble Festival, YES, bring your own music stand. 

If not read below: 

No. The NFA does not print presenter/performer materials at the convention.

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Yes, it is the same log-in information that you will use for your hotel room wifi. The Hotel offers a 10mbs throughout the hotel and convention area with the exception of the exhibit hall.

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See questions above regarding technical assistance in your event room. For other technical questions, contact the Convention Director, Daniel Pozzebon by texting the following information to 949-274-3658: 

Name: 

Room: 

Session time: 

Needs: 

Consult the Code of Conduct statement displayed in the lobby and exhibit hall, program book and convention app. Report an incident immediately to the Executive Director,  jclarke@nfaonline.org or a member of the NFA staff or board. 

Code of Conduct

To ensure that all participants in the NFA convention have a positive and collaborative experience, the NFA expects that community members will:

• Be considerate and respectful to all community members.
• Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, abusive, or harassing behavior, materials, and speech.
• Speak up if they observe anything at an event that conflicts with this Code of Conduct. If you are being harassed or feel uncomfortable, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact the Executive Director at jclarke@nfaonline.org or another member of the NFA staff or Board of Directors immediately. Possible consequences of violation of the code of conduct include removal from the convention or notification to the authorities.

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