Festival Flute Choir
Announcing a new opportunity for the 2026 Wisconsin Flute Festival! Festival participants of all ages and abilities can perform in the closing concert as part of the Festival Flute Choir, led by renowned flute choir director and composer Kelly Via. This opportunity will replace our popular Flute Choir Reading Sessions from past years. There will be two rehearsals (morning and afternoon). Those interested in performing should plan to attend as much of both rehearsals as possible. Preregistration for the Festival Flute Choir is high encouraged so you can receive your music in advance. Walk up participants are welcome. Program information is coming soon.
About Kelly Via
Kelly Via received the Bachelor of Music from Drake University and the Master of Music from East Carolina University.
Kelly was the piccoloist with the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra from 1986 until his retirement in 2023 and the Macon Symphony Orchestra from 1991 until it closed in 2017. He was also principal flutist of the original Atlanta Pops Orchestra from 1986 to 2001. He has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta Opera, Augusta Symphony, Carrollton Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Metro Opera and LaGrange Symphony orchestras. He appeared as soloist with the Albany Symphony, Atlanta Pops, Macon Symphony and Columbus Symphony orchestras.
A flute choir enthusiast and arranger, Kelly was selected to perform with the National Flute Association Professional Flute Choir each year from 2000 to 2016. He served as Flute Choirs Coordinator for the NFA from 2007 to 2012 and High School Flute Choir Coordinator from 2012 to 2014. Kelly was chosen to conduct the NFA High School Flute Choir in 2008, Windy City Flute Orchestra to open the 2014 convention, Collegiate Flute Choir in 2017, Adult Amateur Flute Choir in 2022, and the NFA Professional Flute Choir and LGBTQ+ Flute Choir in 2023.
Kelly has appeared as guest conductor with flute choirs in Arizona, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Canada. His arrangements and compositions for flute choir, available through Nourse Wind Publications, include winners in the NFA’s 2002 and 2013 Newly Published Music Competition and finalists in 2004 and 2022.
Kelly is Senior Lecturer in Flute at Mercer University, director of the Mercer University Flute Choir and Flute Instructor at the Atlanta Music Academy.