Falaut Flute Orchestra (Italy)

The Falaut Flute Orchestra stands as a central artistic force within the long-established Falaut cultural ecosystem in Italy. Founded by Salvatore Lombardi, the orchestra was conceived as a bridge between generations, uniting high-level performance with education, mentorship, and international artistic exchange.

Through its close connection to the Falaut Campus, Festival, and competitions, the ensemble regularly brings together young flutists from many countries, fostering cross-cultural collaboration and professional development.

Comprised entirely of transverse flutes, the orchestra is distinguished by its complete representation of the flute family, from piccolo to the rare contrabass flute. Its flexible formations allow repertoire to range from chamber-scale works to large flute orchestra programs, supporting both artistic ambition and educational breadth.

In 2025, the Falaut Flute Orchestra was actively present in major Italian and international flute contexts.

A highlight of the season was its performance at the 10th Falaut Festival in Naples, where the ensemble appeared under the direction of Paolo Totti, presenting a program that emphasized Italian musical culture while engaging an international audience of performers, students, and guests.

During the same year, the orchestra was also closely connected with professional activities surrounding the Severino Gazzelloni Competition, an event of international scope that attracts participants and jurors from multiple countries. Through this context, the Falaut Flute Orchestra contributes to a broader professional network extending well beyond Italy.

During the 2025 Falaut Campus in Polla, the orchestra additionally participated in a cultural initiative highlighting music as a universal language and shared cultural heritage.

As part of the campus concert program, the ensemble performed Baym Rebn in Palestine, a work drawn from the Klezmer tradition and artistically reworked to bring together musical elements from different cultural backgrounds.

Presented in several public performances across concert halls and historic venues, this project reflected the orchestra’s civic engagement and educational mission, emphasizing listening, coexistence, and cultural exchange through music.

Through its 2025 activities, the Falaut Flute Orchestra demonstrated artistic vitality, educational continuity, international relevance, and a strong commitment to cultural participation, confirming its position as a respected and influential flute ensemble on both national and international levels.

Marmara Flute Orchestra (Türkiye)

The Marmara Flute Orchestra (MFO) is nominated in recognition of its exceptional scale of activity, educational leadership, and community impact during its 10th anniversary season in 2025.

Founded in 2015 as a project within Marmara University and operating entirely on a volunteer basis, MFO has grown into one of Türkiye’s most influential flute ensembles.

The orchestra rehearses regularly throughout the academic year and sustains an ambitious program of concerts, recordings, competitions, and educational initiatives.

In 2025, MFO achieved several remarkable milestones. Most notably, it organized and led Türkiye’s largest flute orchestra performance, bringing together 485 flutists of all ages and levels from cities across the country — a powerful demonstration of national unity through music.

The anniversary year also included the release of a seven-track recording project with accompanying video productions, documenting the orchestra’s artistic identity and expanding contemporary repertoire for flute ensemble.

In addition, MFO represented Türkiye internationally at the National Flute Association Festival in Atlanta (USA).
Education remains central to MFO’s mission.

In 2025, the orchestra continued its national flute competition, officially recognized by the Ministry of National Education, alongside a long-term mentorship program connecting students — including those from remote regions — with professional musicians.

The ensemble also maintains two affiliated groups: Low MFO, dedicated exclusively to low flutes, and Young MFO, formed by musicians under the age of 18.

In its anniversary year, the Marmara Flute Orchestra received the Mavi Nota (Blue Note) Music Award, a prestigious national distinction recognizing outstanding artistic contribution and cultural impact.

A Celebration of Ensemble Excellence

The Ensemble of the Year category reflects the many ways flute ensembles can shape musical life — through performance, education, innovation, and community building.

Both nominees exemplify excellence:

▪︎ one rooted in international cultural exchange and generational continuity,
▪︎ the other distinguished by scale, educational leadership, and national impact.

The international judging panel now has access to the full nomination materials and detailed documentation for review and evaluation. Final results will be announced on January 10, 2026.