Arkansas Flute Festival
Join us for an inspiring weekend of learning, music, and connection!

Renowned for her artistry and stage presence, Jasmine Choi is the featured guest artist at this year’s Arkansas Flute Fest. With experience as principal flutist and soloist with world-class orchestras, she brings both technical brilliance and expressive depth to every performance. Her visit will elevate the festival with inspiring insights into flute technique and musical interpretation.
The festival is open to intermediate and advanced flutists of all ages, with activities tailored to help elevate your musicianship through hands-on classes, master classes, and recitals. Those in grades 10–12 who are preparing for the ASBOA All-State Auditions can participate in optional All-State Mock Auditions. The Carolyn Nussbaum Music Company will be on hand all day, with a large variety of instruments, sheet music, and accessories to browse or purchase.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to elevate your playing and meet fellow flute enthusiasts. We can’t wait to see you there!
Audience
Open to flutists of all ages, with intermediate to advanced skill level.
Am I an Intermediate Level flutist?
Can you play a 1 or 2 octave scale?
Can you read and play all the notes from low C on the flute up to third octave E above the staff?
If you answered, “Yes!,” to these questions, we will see you at the Festival in February!
Date
Saturday, Jan 31- Feb 1, 2026
Times
Saturday, Jan 31: 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sunday, Feb 1: 12:00 – 5:15 pm
Location
Billingsley Music Building, U of A Campus, Fayetteville
Map & Directions
Fee
$35 per person
Scholarships for the workshop are available, if necessary. Please contact Dr. Ballatori for details.
Registration
Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover Card are accepted.
Tentative Schedule
Meet the Clinicians

Guest Artist
Jasmine Choi
Professor of Practice in Flute
Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Biography
Praised worldwide as “The goddess of flute” (Korea Times) and “one of the best flutists in the history of music” (Sinfini Magazine), Jasmine Choi has captivated audiences with her artistry, imagination, and fearless approach to repertoire. A graduate of both the Curtis Institute of Music and The Juilliard School, she rose quickly in her career, serving as principal flute of the Vienna Symphony and associate principal of the Cincinnati Symphony before devoting herself fully to a solo career. Today, she is recognized as one of the most innovative voices in the flute world, admired for her dynamic stage presence, inventive programming, and dedication to expanding the possibilities of the instrument.
Choi has performed as soloist with major orchestras including the Vienna Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Salzburg Mozarteum, and Seoul Philharmonic, with appearances spanning Europe, Asia, and the Americas. She is also deeply committed to new music, having premiered more than 15 concertos written for her, and to reimagining the flute repertoire through her own widely published arrangements, such as the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky violin concerti. Her discography on Sony Classical and other labels showcases both her virtuosity and versatility, ranging from Mozart and Brahms to Claude Bolling and contemporary composers.
In addition to her international career, Choi is a passionate educator, having taught masterclasses at leading institutions including Curtis, Juilliard, Indiana University, and Universität für Musik in Vienna. Her popular YouTube channel, which has garnered over 26 million views, reflects her mission to inspire and connect with flutists around the world.

Dr. Cristina Ballatori
Assistant Professor of Flute
University of Arkansas
Biography
Cristina Ballatori is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Flute at the University of Arkansas where she also serves as flutist with the Lyrique Quintet. She has performed across the United States, Europe, England, and Latin America as a recitalist, soloist, chamber and orchestral musician. Recent performance highlights include guest appearances at the Festivales Internacionales de Flautistas in Lima, Peru and World Flutes Festival in Mendoza, Argentina, concerts in venues such as the Atelier Concert Series in Paris, France, and artist residencies in Spain, Costa Rica, and Mexico. As a chamber musician, Ballatori is a member of the Semplice Duo with pianist Kevin Chance; their debut album, Night Surrendering to Dawn, featuring works by 21st Century composers, will be released on the Centaur label in 2025. Ballatori regularly appears as a guest artist and has been a featured performer, clinician, and adjudicator at many festivals, universities, and conferences including those of the National Flute Association, Music Teachers National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Mid-South Flute Society, and Texas Flute Festival among others. Ballatori is the recipient of numerous awards and grants including the University of Texas System’s Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award. A sought-after and dedicated teacher, Dr. Ballatori previously served as Associate Professor of Flute at both the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her students have been named winners and finalists in local, state, regional, and national competitions, including those sponsored by the National Flute Association and Texas Association of Music Schools, and have been accepted into top summer festivals and graduate programs. Her major teachers include Alexa Still, Peter Lloyd, Katherine Kemler, Judith Lapple, and Diane Smith. Ballatori is a Burkart Artist. Visit www.cristinaballatori.com and @uarkflutes.
For More Information About This Event Dr. Cristina Ballatori, Assistant Professor of Flute– cballato@uark.edu
For More Information About Registration Nastassja Riley, 479-575-6491 or cms@uark.edu
Thanks to our event sponsors!

