Diversity and Inclusion Committee

Activities

First Generation in College Scholarship

Continuing and strengthening NFA’s mission of inspiring flutists, enriching lives, and impacting those who need it most, the First Generation in College Scholarship aims to support and develop educational and career opportunities for talented, first generation in college students. First-generation in college students are defined as those students whose parents have not completed a bachelor's degree. Offered nationwide, this scholarship provides a transformative experience for college-level students with challenging financial backgrounds. 

Lesson Scholarships 

Annual, renewable private lesson scholarships are awarded to students across the country. Scholarships are applied to tuition fees for private lessons for talented school-age students for as many years as the student continues to study through his or her high school graduation. The scholarships are intended to provide for students who could not otherwise afford private lessons.

As part of this scholarship, each student is matched not only with a quality private instructor but a mentor. The mentor oversees progress and acts as a role model, helping the student explore study habits, career possibilities, and life skills. Students also receive a complimentary membership in the NFA. Currently, scholarships support students attending schools in four major cities across the U.S.

Convention Scholarships

Scholarships are also awarded to allow secondary school students to attend the NFA convention for one day at no cost. Each year, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee identifies 10–12 flute students attending school in the convention city who could not otherwise afford to attend. Selected students are guided through convention concerts, classes, and exhibits by a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Convention scholarships provide an inspirational opportunity for promising young flutists to make connections, observe performances by musical icons, and experience a national celebration of flute culture.

Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships are provided through the NFA’s General Endowment Fund. If you are interested in supporting under-resourced students, please consider making a donation—your support could make all the difference for a promising young flutist!

Instrumental Awards

To ensure that our Lesson Scholarship recipients have suitable, working instruments, the Diversity and Inclusion Committee awards instruments to deserving students on a case-by-case basis. A new instrument suited to the skill level of the student greatly impacts the learning experience allowing our young artists to grow and enjoy lessons year after year. 

In 2018, using endowment funds, the NFA purchased a brand-new flute for Minneapolis scholarship recipient Kemunto Onchera to use for her lessons. “When she received her new flute several months ago, she could immediately sense the difference," said her teacher, Vanamali Medina. "She can tell how much more this instrument is capable of and it's made her want to live up to its potential.” Kemunto is currently in 9th grade, she takes flute lessons at MacPhail Center for Music and performs with the MacPhail Northside Youth Orchestra. 

Outreach Mentoring Program

The Outreach Mentoring Program (OMP) fosters professional growth opportunities targeted to minority flutists enrolled as music major students at a university or college near the convention host city. Mentees receive personal career and outreach performance training by members of the Career and Artistic Development Committee.  Thorough the academic year prior to the convention, mentees develop interactive outreach performances that engage their community hone entrepreneurial and presentation skills. Mentees are invited to present at the NFA convention on a scholarship that covers their NFA student e-membership, convention registration costs, and miscellaneous expenses.