South African Flute Festival

South African Flute Festival 2026: One Voice, Many Colours

-06–08 March 2026

Hosted at the University of South Africa, the inaugural South African Flute Festival brought together flute players of all ages and levels from across Gauteng for three inspiring days of music-making, learning, and connection. The festival followed its counterpart in Stellenbosch (28 February – 4 March 2026), forming part of a broader national initiative.

Under the artistic direction of Cobus du Toit, and with international guest artist Gareth McLearnon, the programme offered a mix of ensemble playing, lectures, masterclasses, and performances. The atmosphere throughout the weekend was energetic and supportive, with a strong sense of shared enthusiasm for the flute.

Day 1: A Resonant Beginning

The festival got underway on 6 March with flute choir rehearsals led by Cobus du Toit and Gareth McLearnon. These sessions introduced McLearnon’s music, while also giving players the opportunity to explore new techniques and settle into ensemble playing.

One of the standout moments was hearing—and even getting the chance to play—McLearnon’s contrabass flute. Its sheer size made quite an impression on everyone.

Day 2: Learning, Listening, and Inspiration

The second day began on a calm and focused note with Air and Awareness: Alexander Technique for Flutists, presented by Malané Hofmeyr-Burger. This session offered a grounding start, encouraging players to develop greater physical awareness and ease in performance.

In his engaging talk, Top 10 Flaux Pas, Cobus du Toit unpacked some of the most common flute-playing pitfalls, offering practical and easy-to-understand solutions. He has kindly agreed to share his tips in next month’s issue.

This was followed by a recital of intermediate repertoire featuring works by Eugénie Rocherolle, William Grant Still, and Amanda Harberg, performed by Cobus du Toit, Merryl Neille, and Eugene Joubert.

In the afternoon, the Wm. S. Haynes Company showcase, presented by Gareth McLearnon, offered insight into the history and craftsmanship behind these instruments, along with McLearnon’s perspective as a Haynes artist.

McLearnon’s lecture, Demystifying Great Flute Tone, was a clear highlight. He presented familiar concepts in a fresh and practical way, helping players rethink their approach to sound production. The full lecture is available here: https://www.wmshaynes.com/greattone

The day wrapped up with a relaxed and engaging Q&A session with du Toit and McLearnon, where participants could ask anything—from technical questions, career advice and questions on life as a professional musician.

Exhibitors and Instrument Showcase

The exhibition area brought a fun, hands-on element to the festival. Merryl Neille, a Haynes representative from Flutes and Flutists in Australia, teamed up with Laetitia de Lange of The Flutesmith to display a range of flutes from Haynes, Di Zhao, and Flutes and Flutists.

There were also some excellent locally made contributions. Richard Twyford introduced the Flick Wand, a clever and practical cleaning tool, while Michael Botha showcased his handmade headjoints and offered insight into the craftsmanship behind tone production.

Day 3: Performance and Celebration

The final day focused on performance and musical growth. Morning masterclasses with Cobus du Toit featured performances by Nondumiso Mabuza, Dalene Fourie, and Roxanne Neff. His teaching style was supportive and insightful, making the sessions valuable not only for the performers, but also for everyone listening.

Masterclasses with Gareth McLearnon followed, where Talitha Pienaar, Kate Watson, and Jesse Jardim performed. McLearnon placed strong emphasis on communication and character, encouraging performers to project emotion in the music much like actors do.

The festival built up to the flute choir concert, One Voice, Many Colours, featuring around 70 flautists on the stage of the ZK Matthews Great Hall! The programme featured McLearnon’s own compositions FourMies-Dabble and Aurora, as well as his arrangements of The Best Bits of Carmen Fantasy and Circle of Life. The combined sound was vibrant and powerful, with McLearnon and du Toit’s playing in the Carmen Fantasy standing out as a particular highlight.

The Gala Concert, Beyond Breath, brought the festival to a memorable close. The programme included works by McLearnon and Valerie Coleman, as well as the world premiere of Legenda by Hendrik Hofmeyr, performed by Handri Loots, Malané Hofmeyr-Burger, and Cobus du Toit.  A particularly moving moment was the Flower Duet by Léo Delibes, performed by Cobus du Toit and his former teacher, Ronelle Bosman.

The concert concluded with a professional flute ensemble made up of many of Gauteng’s leading players, performing works by Ian Clarke, Gareth McLearnon, and Amanda Harberg. The focus on contemporary repertoire gave the programme a fresh and exciting edge.

Conclusion

The inaugural South African Flute Festival was a resounding success, bringing together high-level artistry, meaningful learning experiences, a shared passion for all things flute, and a strong sense of community. Above all, it was a celebration of making music together—truly one voice, many colours.

By Handri Loots
Associate director – SAFF

Formidable Ensemble Rehearsal

Gareth on Contrabass Flute