Board of Directors

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Lucy Snell

President

Lucille Snell is an active recitalist and teacher based in Waldorf, Maryland.  She founded the Flute Choir of Southern Maryland in 2008, and the Flute Magic! Flute Camp in 2009.  She retired from The United States Air Force Band in 2008 after 30 years of performing with the Concert Band.  Lucy holds a Bachelors in Music Education degree from the University of New Mexico, and a Masters in Music Education from Indiana University.  She currently studies with Laurie Sokoloff, retired piccoloist from the Baltimore Symphony.  Lucy has been a member of the NFA Professional Flute Choir eight times, and is NFA’s incoming Flute Choir Composition Contest Coordinator.  In addition, Lucy has been a performer in the Master Classes of Göran Marcusson at Wildacres Flute Retreat for 16 years. Lucy holds Permanent Professional Certification from Music Teachers National Association, and serves as Treasurer of the Flute Society of Washington, and Treasurer of the Music Teachers Association of Charles County.  When not practicing, performing, teaching or attending flute events, she water skis, works crossword puzzles and reads.  
www.lucysnellflute.mtacc.org

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Sydnee Stein

Sydnee Stein-Lalwani

Treasurer

Sydnee Stein-Lalwani is an active performer and arts board member in the Washington, DC area. A playing member of the Capital Wind Symphony, the Capital City Symphony and the Columbia Flute Choir, Sydnee has performed at The Kennedy Center, the White House, The Atlas Theatre in Washington, DC, and the NFA Convention in the 2015 and 2017 Low Flutes Ensemble, and as a member of the 2019 NFA Professional Flute Choir in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her arts board work has included leadership as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Tysons-McLean Orchestra, as Treasurer of the Board for The Capital Wind Symphony and as the current Assistant Treasurer and former Treasurer of the Flute Society of Washington. Sydnee maintains an active flute studio in the Aldie, Virginia area and enjoys a crazy schedule of rehearsals, teaching and performing in the Greater Washington, DC area. Sydnee is originally from the North Central Texas area and is a graduate of The University of North Texas where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music, Spanish and French. She lives in a cute little farmhouse in Aldie, Virginia, with her husband Rajan and her sweet dog Charley who is one of the resident dogs of the Columbia Flute Choir and attends rehearsals whenever he can.

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Dr. Julianna Sabo

At-Large

Dr. Julianna Sabo fulfills her philosophy, “we learn so that we may share,” by creatively committing music, education, and nonprofit administration skills in service of her community. After completing a Doctor of Musical Arts program under the guidance of Jonathan Snowden, Dr. Sabo returned to Shenandoah University and earned a second master’s degree in Arts Management. Early ensemble training at the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as collegiate study with Dr. Andrea Kapell Loewy and Dr. Kathryn Thomas Umble furthered her bold performance style. Julianna has performed on flute and piccolo with the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra, Warren Philharmonic Orchestra, EDGE Contemporary Ensemble, Snowbelt Symphony, OneWorld Camerata, and several European tours. She has also appeared at the National Flute Association Convention and 2011 film soundtrack, Undaunted: The Forgotten Giants of the Allegheny Observatory starring Neil de Grasse Tyson. Dr. Sabo currently serves as an adjunct music professor at Shenandoah University and Blue Ridge Community & Technical College. She has also provided flute, piccolo, and instruction for more than 15 years with robust studios and adjudication service in Ohio, Virginia, and Louisiana. Behind the scenes, Julianna is an accomplished grant writer, securing more than 3 million dollars in funding for nonprofits that champion equitable access to the arts, education, and wellness. She proudly serves as the Development Director at Baltimore Safe Haven and her past service includes Executive Director of OneWorld Symphonic Festival and Development Associate at Boulanger Iniative.

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Madeline Walker

Ex-Offico, Marketing Director
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Linda Kirkpatrick

Linda Kirkpatrick

Vice-President

Dr. Linda Kirkpatrick is the Director of Instrumental Music at McDaniel College, in Westminster, MD, where she teaches flute, flute choir, conducting, music literature, band and orchestra. Degrees include a Bachelor and Master of Music in Flute Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Flute Performance/Pedagogy and Instrumental Conducting from the University of Maryland. Published works include The Pedagogical Techniques and Methods of Flutist William Montgomery, Edwin Mellen Press, 10 flute choir arrangements, an article for the Flutist Quarterly on safely operating a summer music camp/festival/ masterclass and articles for the 2019 NFA Convention Chronicles. She is the director of Flute Cocktail, a regional flute choir, and Lower Realm, a low-voiced flute ensemble. She was the director/founder of the McDaniel Summer Music Camp, which concluded in 2018 after 33 years. She is a three-time winner of the National Flute Association’s Professional Flute Choir Competition, conducted flute choir reading sessions at the 2007 and 2009 NFA conventions and is a proofreader for the annual convention program book.

As an active participant in the annual Mid Atlantic Flute Convention, she has conducted the Mid-Atlantic High School Flute Choir, led flute choir reading sessions and served as program chair. She is a frequent recitalist, conductor and adjudicator in MD and PA, and performs with the Mistral Winds Quintet. For more information, visit lindakirkpatrick.com

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Laura Benning

At-Large /Convention Director

Laura Benning is a member of the Columbia Orchestra, Prince George’s Philharmonic, Quaternity flute quartet, and member/manager of DCFlutes ensemble. She has performed with the Maryland Symphony, Avanti Orchestra, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Loudoun Symphony, Pan American Symphony, Trinity Chamber Orchestra, NIH Philharmonia, the Great Noise Ensemble, and Metropolitan Orchestra. She is a 14-time winner of the National Flute Association Professional Flute Choir competition, winner of the 2016 NFA Convention Performers competition,  and performed two works written for her at the 2012 National Convention in Las Vegas; “Echoes of Narcissus” for two piccolos and piano by Melvin Lauf, Jr., and “Harmony and Blue and Gold” for flute quartet by Eric Ewazen. She has performed in masterclasses for Amy Porter, Ian Clarke, Goran Marcusson, Sarah Jackson, and Bart Feller. She is on the board of The Flute Society of Washington, past treasurer, director of the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention, and freelances throughout the Washington DC metro area. She was the Local Arrangements Chair for the 2015 NFA Convention in Washington DC. She had degrees in accounting and music from James Madison University.  Teachers include Aaron Goldman, Carol Kniebusch Noe, and Randi Jean Bly.  

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Willie Santiago

At-Large

WILLIE SANTIAGO is a passionate performer, educator, and arts administrator based in Baltimore, Maryland. As a performer, their skills range from playing early music on the traverso to experimental contemporary music utilizing extended techniques. Willie’s work as a chamber musician has been recognized on the regional and national level. They have performed at the New Music Gathering, National Flute Association’s Annual Convention, and the Mid-Atlantic Flute Convention with the flute quartet, Stranded Silver.  Currently, Willie serves as the Manager of Programs and Resources for the Association of Performing Arts Professionals where they manage and oversee the logistics for the various programs APAP runs throughout the course of the year. Previously from 2015-2021, they served as the Concert Coordinator for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County where they oversaw the logistics for the Department of Music’s concert series. oversaw the logistics for the Department of Music’s concert series.

Willie received their M.M. in Flute Performance from East Carolina University and their B.M. in Music Education with Performance Honors from Syracuse University. They performed in masterclasses for Nina Assimakopoulos, Mario Caroli, Ian Clarke, Gary Schocker, and Jim Walker and studied with Kelly Covert, Christine Gustafson, and Lisa Cella. Willie was also a flute fellow for the Contemporary Performance Institute, National Music Festival, and Baroque Performance Institute.

Outside of their musical life, Willie is an avid knitter, crocheter, baker, and runner. They enjoy planning backpacking adventures and taking very long walks in the woods.

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Meghan Shanley Alger

Ex-Offico, Convention Assistant Director

Flutist Meghan Shanley Alger explores sounds on everything from harmonica and beer bottles to live electronics, knitting needles, and pencils. With an uncanny ability to create specific atmospheres, even the New York Times has noted her “singing into her flute to produce surreal and eerie timbres.” She ventures into the extreme with composers, pushing the boundaries of what is possible to create new worlds. Her performance credits include the Kennedy Center, AMP by Strathmore and Peabody Library of Baltimore, as well as Symphony Space and Carnegie Hall. 

Shanley Alger uses commissioning and programming to advance social change, designing concerts that provoke reflection and audience participation. Current projects include a debut album of living women composers, Making Waves, highlightighting the power of the archetypal feminine energy, with works by Pamela Z, Lunon, Socolofsky, and Nourbakhsh. Other projects include a participatory concert in which audiences honor lost family and friends by co-creating a temporary memorial flower wall at the venue, using paper remembrance notes to write messages for loved ones.

The ensemble she co-founded, Balance Campaign (flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion), is a laboratory of sound and experimentation. Balance Campaign collaborates with composers to reimagine the concert experience and surprise listeners. The ensemble’s debut recording features a work by Nathan Lincoln de Cusatis that highlights human evolution and our impact on the planet. Upcoming collaborations include works by Alexandra T Bryant and Ashi Day that focus on everything from moms and mice to the Salem Witch Trials.

As a teaching artist, Meghan is Adjunct Instructor of Flute at Harford Community College and has presented workshops and residencies in Italy at the Alba Music Festival as well as University of Maryland and Catholic University. Committed to connecting with students and audiences through shared experience and insight, Meghan regularly presents community engagement performances at schools, universities, and festivals.

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Sarah Eckman McIver

Secretary

Dr. Sarah Eckman McIver attained her Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland – College Park, with a focus on modern works by flutist-composers. She began her advanced studies at McGill University in Montreal, where she developed an appreciation for historical performances and a fascination with contemporary works. While pursuing a Master of Music degree at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, she wrote a thesis on electro-acoustic music for flute and computers and at the same time began studying baroque flute with Lisa Beznosiuk. Her primary flute teachers include Timothy Hutchins, Peter Lloyd, and Dr. William Montgomery. Sarah served as flutist and section leader with the US Army Field Band from 2003 – 2014. She was a NFA Convention Performers Competition winner in 2015, and is an active teacher and freelancer in the Baltimore/DC region. She currently serves as the enlisted leader of the 229th Army Band, Maryland Army National Guard. For more info visit sarahflute.com.

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James Miller

At-Large

James Miller is a flutist in The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” in Washington, DC. Miller is a staunch advocate for diversity, equity, access, and representation in the performing arts. He has a multifaceted career as an educator, soloist, and collaborator. Miller currently teaches flute at Huston Tillotson University and Bowie State University. He has performed internationally as a soloist and chamber musician in England and South Korea. Miller has also served as a woodwind instructor for SoundScapes and el Sistema-based music nonprofit, an education intervention organization that instills transformative life skills in under-resourced children in Newport News, VA.

 He has performed with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Nova Chamber Orchestra, and was a featured soloist with the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra. In addition, Miller has been a prize winner in numerous national and regional competitions, including the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Competition and SC Flute Society Young Artist Competition. Miller curated the first chamber musical performance at the Oprah Winfrey Theatre in the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, DC, celebrating Black classical music composers.

Miller regularly performs, teaches, and serves as a guest lecturer throughout the United States. Recent appearances include the University of Texas at Austin, University of South Carolina, University of Maryland, Texas A&M Commerce, Howard University, Northern Kentucky University, and Wichita State. In addition, Miller has performed, presented, and served as an adjudicator at the Mid-Atlantic and National Flute Association. 

A native of Pontiac, Michigan, Miller received his Doctor of Musical Arts from The Catholic University of America, Professional Artist Certificate from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Master of Music from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and Bachelor of Music from the University of South Carolina. His primary teachers are Dr. Tadeu Coelho and Aaron Goldman.

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Alexander Scott

At-Large

ALEXANDER SCOTT is pursuing a Master of Music in Wind Conducting at the University of Maryland, where he currently serves as an instrumental conducting graduate assistant. He is a conducting student of Dr. Michael Votta, with additional mentoring from Dr. Andrea Brown and Dr. Craig Potter.  In addition, he serves as Interim Music Director for the Maryland Community Band and Assistant Conductor for the Bel Air Community Band.

Before coming to the University of Maryland, Scott taught for nine years at the elementary, middle, and high school levels in Maryland public schools. For seven years, he was the Music Department Chair and Director of Instrumental Music at Meade Senior High School in Fort Meade, Maryland, where he was responsible for conducting the Concert Band, String Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra, Marching Band, Jazz Band, Steelband, and Pit Orchestra, as well as instructing International Baccalaureate (IB) Music, Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory, and Guitar courses. Additionally, he served as the school’s advisor for the Tri-M Music Honors Society.

While teaching at Meade Senior High School, Scott’s bands and orchestras consistently earned excellent and superior ratings at county and state adjudication festivals and his marching band earned 2nd place at the 2018 USBands Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships. His concert band was a member of a commission consortium for Anthony O’Toole’s “Latin Dance Movements.” Scott was a semifinalist for Music and Arts’ national Music Educator of the Year award (2016) and the Maryland winner for School Band and Orchestra Magazine’s 50 Directors Who Make a Difference Award (2018). His departmental leadership was twice recognized by the NAMM foundation with a Best Communities in Music Education designation (2018, 2019).

Scott earned his M.M. in Music Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and his B.A. in Music Education from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). While at UMBC, Scott served as the inaugural undergraduate conducting fellow with the Wind Ensemble. Scott is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Maryland Music Educators Association, and the Flute Society of Washington.

As a woodwind specialist, Scott enjoys performing flute, clarinet, and saxophone in various community and amateur ensembles in the DMV area. He also plays the double seconds steel pan in the Baltimore-based steelband sextet Charm City Steel.

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Committees & Event Coordinators