The original officers were Sherry Braude, President, Beverly Pugh, Vice-President and Chairperson of the Host Committee for the NFA Convention, Ronna Ayscue, Secretary, and Ardelle Bowers, Treasurer.  Sherry Braude served as president for a few years, followed by Frank Bolkus.  In 1989, Ronna Ayscue assumed the helm, serving as president for approximately 13 years!  Alongside Ronna, Beverly Pugh served the organization as a vice president for many years, and until recently continued on the board of directors and subsequently the advisory board. 

During the past four decades, the organization has continued to grow and evolve.  In December of 2002, under the leadership of Tom Meany and Suzanne Wray, The Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia officially incorporated in Pennsylvania, and in 2011 Colleen Law and Renae Block took on the task of establishing the organization’s 501(c)3 nonprofit status.  The FSGP held its first Flute Fair Day on April 13, 2013 with guest artist Susan Milan.  In 2021, due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the FSGP successfully implemented a full season of virtual events, including a two-day virtual flute fair. 

In 1972, The National Flute Association was founded and held its first convention in 1973.  In August oF 1983, the convention was slated to be in Philadelphia. For each convention, it had become customary for flute clubs located in the vicinity of the convention town to assist the NFA committee with both the logistics and volunteers.  Since there were currently no flute clubs in the Philadelphia area, Sherry Braude and Beverly Pugh, both of whom had volunteered at past NFA conventions, reached out to the NFA for a list of Philadelphia area NFA members in the hopes of gathering recruits for the 1983 event.  Sherry andBeverly, along with Ronna Ayscue and Ardelle Bowers, came together in the fall of 1982 to organize and plan. It wasn’t long before the Flute Society of Greater Philadelphia became a reality.

PAST PRESIDENTS

1983–1988 Judy Braude

 1988–1989 Frank Bolkus

1989-2002 Ronna Ayscue

2002-2006 Tom Meany

2006-2008 Suzanne Wray

2008-2013 Colleen Law

2013-2021 Renae Block

2021-2023 Cindy Anne Broz

2023-2025 Cynthia McManus

Philadelphia has always been home to many of the great flute legends of the orchestral and performing arenas, it was inevitable that an organization for flutists would once again come to fruition. Below is a photograph of the original Philadelphia Flute Club.

Members of the original Philadelphia Flute Club