Magicflutes Flute Orchestra has been making beautiful music for over 30 years
As one of the oldest community-based flute choirs in the San Francisco Bay Area, we strive for a harmonious environment where all members contribute equally and are treated with respect.
MagicFlutes was formed in 1980 when Music Director, Pamela Ravenelle joined the faculty of Canada College in Redwood City. At that time, Ms. Ravenelle was still a student herself, completing her Master of Music Degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Today, Ms. Ravenelle has a full schedule of teaching privately in addition to directing MagicFlutes.» About Pamela Ravenelle, Our Founding Artistic Director
About the Magicflutes Orchestra
Magic Flutes is one of the oldest community-based flute choirs in the S.F. Bay Area. The group has grown and flourished by encouraging the development of artistic excellence among our membership and by providing an outlet where professionals, teachers, adult amateurs, and students can gather to share our love of flute playing and performance. As a group, MF strives for a harmonious environment where all members contribute equally and are treated with respect.
Magic Flutes was formed in 1980 when Music Director Pamela Ravenelle joined the faculty of Canada College in Redwood City. At that time, Ms. Ravenelle was still a student herself, completing her Master of Music Degree at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.
The group started as a flute trio and has grown to a group of 30 flutists. Magic Flutes rehearses once a week at The College of San Mateo, and performs regularly in the S.F. bay area at venues such as The Filoli Mansion in Woodside, the Morrison Planetarium in San Francisco, The Piccolo Pavilion in Corte Madera, Burlingame Country Club, Brentwood Art, Wine and Jazz Festival, Foster City Community Center, Bach Dancing and Dynamite Society, and the S.F. Conservatory of Music.
Magic Flutes was also invited to perform at the N.F.A. Conventions in Las Vegas in August 2003 and in Anaheim in August 2010. In addition, Magic Flutists have performed many “Outreach” concerts in the Palo Alto and San Mateo School Districts.
Magic Flutes has performed at the S.F. International Flute Festivals in 2010 and 2011, and performed the opening night concert at the 2013 Flutes-by-the-Sea festival in Half Moon Bay. They performed again at the 2014 Flutes-by-the-Sea Festival in Half Moon Bay on June 8th – 10th.
Magic Flutes has commissioned works and has performed pieces arranged by our very own choir members.
Through fundraising over the years, we acquired a contrabass flute for the group. Magic Flutes was the first flute ensemble to be featured in the N.F.A.ʼs “The Flutistʼs Quarterly” in the new “Spotlight” column in October of 2011.
Orchestra Flutes
The orchestral flutes are piccolos and concert flutes tuned to the key of C. Often referred to as concert flutes. The orchestra parts cover the wind instrument section from piccolos to bassoons.
Low Altos & Basses
Our orchestra has a full section of alto flutes and bass flutes. The low flutes take on the orchestra parts of violas, cellos and string basses as well as french horns and other brass instruments.
The Contrabass!
Through fundraising over the years, we acquired a contrabass flute for the group. This new addition provides a bass sound that adds a bit a “magic” to the MagicFlutes sound allowing us to perform many orchestral works.
What does an orchestra of flutes sound like?
Over the years, we have recorded a few of our concert pieces.
Enjoy the beautiful blend of various flutes performing a repertoire of classic orchestra music.